Six students were the recipients of Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation scholarships, which were announced during the awards program as part of the 104th Minnesota Farm Bureau Annual Meeting on Nov. 18 in Bloomington. 

The Al Christopherson Scholarship is awarded annually to deserving junior, senior or graduate students enrolled at an accredited college or vocational technical school and pursuing a degree in an agriculture, conservation or forestry-related field.

Recipients of the 2022 Al Christopherson Scholarship include Jaylynn Frandrup, Ross Herber, Maggie Molitor and Zoey Schentzel. 

Frandrup is currently a junior at South Dakota State University majoring in agricultural business. On campus, she serves as treasurer for both the SDSU Horse Club and Sigma Alpha Omega sorority and is an ambassador for borth the Ness School of Management and Economics, and the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. She is the daughter of Jay and Janet Frandrup of Hastings. 

Herber is a junior at South Dakota State University pursuing a degree in dairy production. He is the SDSU Dairy Club treasurer, and is a member of both the National Dairy Challenge Team and Agronomy and Precision Ag Club. He is the son of Scott and Michelle Herber of Utica. 

Molitor is a junior at South Dakota State University majoring in agriculture communications and dairy production. She has many roles with the SDSU Dairy Club, including serving as vice president, Dairy Fest representative, Dairy Digest reporter and Dairy Camp chair. She is also the scholarship chair for Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority, and is a member of the Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow. She is the daughter of Joseph Molitor of St. Cloud. 

Schentzel is currently a junior at South Dakota State University pursuing a degree in agriculture communications. She is a member of the Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority, SDSU Honors College, Alpha Zeta Honors Fraternity and the South Dakota Collegiate Farm Bureau. She also serves as a photographer for the Collegiate, and as an ambassador and photographer for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. She is the daughter of Ken and Malissa Schentzel of Farmington. 

The Paul Stark Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to deserving freshman or sophomore students enrolled at an accredited college or vocational technical school and pursuing a degree in an agriculture, conservation or forestry-related field.

Recipients of the 2022 Paul Stark Memorial Scholarship include Mackenzie Kuschel and Megan Ratka.  

Kuschel is a senior at Sebeka High School, where she has been active in a variety of activities including band, choir, cheerleading, student council, softball and trap shooting, and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is also very active in the school’s FFA chapter, currently serving as the president in addition to being the 2022-23 Region II President. Kuschel has applied to several universities where whe hopes to pursue a degree in animal science. She is the daughter of Miles and Sarah Kuschel.

Ratka is currently a sophomore at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, pursuing a degree in animal science. She is a part of the Land Grant Legacy Scholars cohort, and a member of both the Gopher Dairy Club and Lambda Delta Phi sorority. She is the daughter of Kevin and Kathy Ratka of Cold Spring.