In 2024 Lely expanded its Future of Dairy Scholarship program to include high school students in addition to those already enrolled in college, actively pursuing an education in agriculture.
Year-over-year the Lely North America team continues to be impressed by both the quality and quantity of entries for the Future of Dairy Scholarship. More students applied this year than ever before and we are pleased to announce the latest recipients of our $1,500 collegiate and $500 high school scholarships.
After a thorough review and considerable deliberation, the Lely North America team is proud to announce six remarkable individuals as recipients of this year’s Future of Dairy Scholarships.
Travis Michel - Dairy Technology Scholarship
Travis is descended from three previous generations of farming. From dairy production to grape production, he has seen and had a hand in a wide variety of farming disciplines and embraces all areas of agriculture. This New York native attends Iowa State University where he is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Systems Technology, while also acting as Assistant Dairy Herd manager at a NY dairy and expanding his knowledge as a Design Engineering intern in Seneca Falls.
Aidan Ainslie – Dairy Industry Scholarship
Aidan is a junior at Cornell University in New York where he will graduate next year with a degree in Animal Science and Interdisciplinary Studies. His passion for agriculture has taken him all over the world, participating in study programs in California, Greece and Italy. Aidan focuses on research that can help farmers via risk management and financial services, and after graduation plans to further expand his knowledge by pursuing a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics with a focus in dairy.
High-School Scholarships
Natalie Haase
Described by one of her mentors as “an exceptional role model for her peers,” Natalie takes an active role in her community and on her family farm. A resident of South Dakota, she participates in FFA and 4-H, acting as local president of both organizations as well as captain of her varsity volleyball team. She also works as a farm hand, caring for dairy and beef cattle at a nearby dairy. Upon graduating high school she will attend South Dakota State University where she will begin her studies in Agricultural Business.
Clarissa Hill
In the fall of 2024 Clarissa will embark on her educational journey in Dairy Management at the Michigan State University Institute of Agriculture Technology. In pursuit of this academic career, she has been an active member of her local 4-H club and FFA chapter, serving as president of both. She also continues to work on a Michigan dairy farm where she has milked cows and cared for calves since she was a child. Clarissa believes that hard work, problem solving and networking skills are the key to success in the dairy industry.
Garret Fincham
Garret has lived and worked on his family’s Kansas dairy farm for his entire life. With a natural curiosity for problem solving and a mechanical understanding of how things work, his interests have ranged from small robots to the large farm equipment he frequently operates. Due to a desire to help solve problems for dairy producers, Garret plans to study Manufacturing Technology at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln this fall where he hopes to eventually design farm equipment and buildings that support cow comfort and welfare.
Isabelle Brumm
Isabelle has grown up on her family’s fourth-generation, 300-head Holstein dairy in rural Iowa where she milks cows, helps raise calves and organizes farm tours. She is actively engaged with her local 4-H and FFA groups, holding multiple offices, and routinely takes part in the Agricultural Education programs offered at her high school. Continuing a life-long passion for agriculture and dairy, Isabelle plans to pursue a degree in Agricultural Studies and Marketing at Iowa State University.
The team at Lely North America thanks all the fantastic students who applied for this year's scholarship, and our team is excited for what the future holds with such bright young individuals!