The Kane County Fair board of directors in St. Charles has announced that Samuel Haviland of Elgin and Autumn Kriegel of Hampshire have been named as its scholarship recipients for 2025.
Each student, who has been an active member of a local 4-H Club, will receive $750 per year for four years, or a cumulative total of $3,000, as they continue and complete their higher education.
“We are pleased to award these outstanding high school students monetary assistance for further education,” said Larry Breon, chairman of the Kane County Fair board of directors. “They achieved high academic excellence while being actively involved in their 4-H clubs and at the Kane County Fair, as well as giving back to their communities.”
Haviland will graduate in May from Central High School in Burlington. He earned a weighted GPA of 3.3696 and received a distinguished student award for intro to agriculture. He is involved with National FFA Organization (FFA) and part of the leadership team; an officer of the A-Bit-More 4-H Club, serving as the club treasurer; and served on the Kane County 4-H ambassadors as the secretary. He is a section leader in band and chorale.
Within his community, Haviland has been involved with Feed My Starving Children, the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the Burlington Food Pantry, and service days with his church. He will pursue his college education at Illinois State University, majoring in agribusiness.
Regarding his 4-H story, Haviland says, “4-H has always been something that my family has always believed in and it has had a very large impact on my life. Every year I have participated in the Kane County Fair and shown projects and animals at the Fair. It truly is one of the best weeks of the entire year — from working hard to finish the projects a week before judging to spending a week at the fair with my horse hanging out with friends and showing, plus eating fair food.”
Kriegel will graduate in May from Hampshire High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society and an Illinois State Scholar with a 4.0 GPA. She has been awarded the National Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; a student class council member, and girls basketball player captain. Her community activities include vacation bible school counselor and youth group member of 4-H and the 4-H ambassadors. She will major in accounting at Iowa State University.
Her involvement with the Burlington Ag 4-H Club “has been a part of my life for the past nine years,” Kriegel said. “It has helped teach me responsibility, communication, and efficiency.”
Kriegel has showed cattle at the Kane County Fair. “I enjoy showing off my hard work, making memories and having fun at the fair. The numerous hours spent working with your fair projects is more than most people could ever imagine, but it’s what I love most. I am tremendously grateful for my time spent in 4-H as I have developed as a person in my leadership abilities, agricultural knowledge, and social skills.”
Since the launching of its Kane County Fair 4-H scholarship program over 15 years ago, many Kane County area 4-H students have been awarded financial assistance to further their education from the Kane County Fair board. For information, contact the Kane County Fair at (630) 584-6926.
