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ALBANY — Two New York high school seniors have received the distinct honor of being named recipients of the statewide 2025 New York Farm Bureau Agricultural Youth Scholarship. NYFB also named eleven district scholarship winners.
To qualify for scholarships, applicants must have a student or family membership in Farm Bureau. A panel of judges selects the winners based on their essay submissions and applications, which include community and agricultural engagement. District winners then compete for state scholarships.
Jack Beyer from Lowville, NY is the first-place state winner. He received a $3,000 scholarship from New York Farm Bureau, plus $250 for being the District 6 winner. He is a member of the Lewis County Farm Bureau and is a senior at Lowville Academy and Central School. Beyer plans to attend SUNY Morrisville or SUNY Cobleskill to major in agricultural business or agricultural communications, with a career goal related to advocating for the agricultural industry. His agricultural experience comes from working on his family’s dairy farm and raising pigs for pork. He has been an active member of FFA, including serving as the 2024-2025 New York FFA State President, and has received many FFA awards and recognitions, as well as opportunities to travel across the United States and visit farms in Spain. He is also active in his school’s band, volunteers at his local church and volunteers teaching children how to skate.
Anna Maxwell from Cambridge, NY is the second-place state winner. She received a $2,000 scholarship from New York Farm Bureau, plus $250 for being the District 8 winner. She is a member of Washington County Farm Bureau and a senior at Salem Washington Academy. Maxwell plans to attend Cornell University to major in animal science or agribusiness, with a goal of having a career in agribusiness/agricultural law. She hopes to earn a law degree and become an agricultural lawyer. Her experience in agriculture includes working at several farms over the years and at a veterinary clinic. She has been an exhibitor at the Washington County Fair since she was seven years old, leasing Holstein heifers and calves from a local farm to show at the fair. Maxwell was the 2023-2024 Washington County Dairy Princess and the 2024-2025 New York FFA State Secretary. She has been active in many school activities, including her school’s drama club, band, chorus, track and field, as well as serving as the lead lawyer in her school’s mock trial.
Each district winner receives a $250 scholarship. The 2025 district winners, excluding Districts 6 and 8 as listed above, are:
District 1: Katrina Schrantz of Gerry, NY, is a member of Chautauqua County Farm Bureau. She plans to attend SUNY Cobleskill to study animal science, with a career goal related to livestock management.
District 2: Landen Stoddard of East Bethany, NY, is a member of Genesee County Farm Bureau. He plans to attend Alfred State College to study agriculture business and management, with the goal of starting his own custom farming business.
District 3: Alexis Schultz of Marion, NY, is a member of Wayne County Farm Bureau. She has not chosen a college/university yet but plans to study agricultural business management, with the goal of working in agricultural finance for a dairy genetics company.
District 4: Alison Mills of Greenwood, NY, is a member of Steuben County Farm Bureau. She plans to attend Cornell University and major in animal science, with the goal of having a career in large animal veterinary medicine.
District 5: Adrienne Hodge of Norwich, NY, is a member of Chenango County Farm Bureau. She plans to attend Liberty University to study law, with the goal of having a career in agricultural law.
District 7: Emily Pinheiro of Crown Point, NY, is a member of Essex County Farm Bureau. She plans to attend Alfred State University to study surveying and geomatics engineering technology with the goal of becoming a licensed surveyor and helping farmers expand their businesses.
District 9: Ryann McElroy of Roscoe, NY, is a member of Sullivan County Farm Bureau. She plans to attend Alfred University to study equine business management, with the goal of becoming an equine trainer/facility owner.
District 10: Joana Koehler of Kerhonkson, NY, is a member of Ulster County Farm Bureau. She plans to attend SUNY Morrisville to study equine science, with the goal of becoming an equine rehabilitator and opening her own equine rehabilitation facility.
District 11: Micah Santiago of Rocky Point, NY, is a member of Long Island Farm Bureau. He plans to attend the University of Connecticut to study computer engineering, with the goal of having a career in agricultural drone technology/renewable energy.
—New York Farm Bureau
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