The McLean County Farm Bureau Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 scholarship recipients. A total of $13,500 has been awarded to eight outstanding students pursuing careers in agriculture-focused fields.

Four students were selected to receive the $2,000 MCFB Agricultural Leadership Scholarship, which honors excellence in leadership, community involvement, and commitment to agriculture:

• Elizabeth Ellis, Chenoa – A 2025 graduate of Prairie Central High School. Ellis plans to study Equine Science at Black Hawk College East.
• Preston Wiltz, Lexington – A 2025 graduate of Lexington High School. Wiltz plans to study Agribusiness at Iowa State University.
• Lauren Mohr, Carlock – A senior at Iowa State University majoring in Animal Science. Mohr is a graduate of Normal West High School.
• Preston Rhode, Carlock – A senior at Oklahoma State University majoring in Animal Science. Rhode is also a Normal West High School graduate.

Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors, the Foundation is also able to award the following named scholarships:

• $1,000 Sun Ag Scholarship: Adam Swartzendruber, Minier – Precision Agriculture Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• $500 Bloomington Meats Scholarship: Lauren Mohr, Carlock – Animal Science, Iowa State University
• $500 COUNTRY Financial Scholarship: Morgan Mouser, Bloomington – Agricultural Communications & Leadership, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• $500 Evergreen FS Scholarship: Kaden Semlow, Bloomington – Mechanical Engineering, Cedarville University
• $500 IAA Credit Union Scholarship: Preston Wiltz, Lexington – Agribusiness, Iowa State University
• $500 One Earth Energy Scholarship: Matthew Davis, Hudson – Diesel Power Technology, Illinois Central College

In addition, $500 MCFB Foundation Scholarships have been awarded to:

• Matthew Davis, Hudson – Diesel Power Technology, Illinois Central College
• Morgan Mouser, Bloomington – Agricultural Communications & Leadership, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Kaden Semlow, Bloomington – Mechanical Engineering, Cedarville University
• Adam Swartzendruber, Minier – Precision Agriculture Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

“Agriculture is of vital importance to McLean County. Our goal for the scholarship program is to support students who want to be part of agriculture’s future and develop their career in the industry,” said Mark Hines, President of the McLean County Farm Bureau Foundation.

The McLean County Farm Bureau Foundation is funded by voluntary contributions from Farm Bureau members and community supporters. The Foundation remains committed to supporting the next generation of agricultural professionals through education and leadership development. To learn more about the McLean County Farm Bureau Foundation scholarships, visit www.mcfb.org/foundation.