Scholarships
Application Due Date: February 1, 2024
Helping to Promote Agricultural Careers
The Jefferson County Agri-Business Club’s membership has approved awarding scholarships to residents of Jefferson County or students attending Jefferson County school districts for the 2024 – 25 school year.
Application Submission
Submit no later than February 1, 2024.
Download Application or you may also request the application by emailing [email protected]
Completed scholarship application, transcripts, and letter of recommendation emailed (preferred) to [email protected] or
Mail to:
Jefferson County Agri-Business Club
P.O. Box 64
Jefferson, WI 53549.
Grant Guidelines
- Resident of Jefferson County or student enrolled in a Jefferson County school district
- Involvement in agricultural youth programs
- High school senior planning to attend a 2-year college/technical school or a 4-year college, majoring in an agricultural or ag-related program as a full-time student. Also eligible are college students currently enrolled in a 2- or 4-year agricultural program and planning to continue enrollment in an agricultural program next year.
- Recipients will be asked to volunteer a minimum of five hours at the Jefferson County Fair Agribusiness Food tent anytime between July 10th and 14th, 2024. If you are unable to work, a family member or friend can work in your place.
1. Download application, You may also request the application by emailing [email protected]
2. Application should be typed with all questions answered with well-thought-out responses and correct grammar
3. Sign and date application
4. Must include a recent letter of recommendation (from an individual not related to applicant)
5. Must include most recent school transcript (high school or college)
6. Completed scholarship application, transcripts, and letter of recommendation emailed (preferred) to [email protected] or mail to Jefferson Co Agri-Business, P.O. Box 64, Jefferson, WI 53549.
7. Application deadline: February 1, 2024. Emailed or postmarked by this date.
- Plans for a career in an agricultural field
- Understanding of agriculture and current trends as discussed in essay questions
- Academic record
- 4-H activities and leadership roles
- FFA activities and leadership roles
- High school activities (clubs, athletics, leadership)
- Community (church, service) activities and leadership roles
- Involvement in Agribusiness activities (4th grade farm tour, fair food stand, holiday meat and cheese sale)
- Employment or work experience during non-school hours
- Financial Need
- Letter of recommendation
Selection of recipients is done by the Jefferson County Agri-Business Club youth activities committee and approved by the club membership at the February monthly meeting. Recipients will be recognized at the club’s April meeting.
Scholarship funds will be dispersed after volunteer hours have been met and after proof of successful completion of first semester classes, indicating you are a student in good standing with a GPA of at least 2.0. Documentation to be sent to Jefferson County Agribusiness Club, P.O. Box 264, Jefferson, WI 53549 or emailed to [email protected]. The request for scholarship funds must be received by May 31st, 2025. Please indicate to whom the check should be made out and where to send it.
2023 Agricultural Scholarships Awarded
Jefferson County Agri-Business Club Scholarship Recipients:
Front: Alyssa Jaehnke, Hanna Brattlie, Melia Schueller, Hanna Lemke (for sister Emma Lemke)
Back: Andrew Dettman, Tawney Hadler, and Luis Avila Vette
Recipients unable to attend are pictured below.
The Jefferson County Agri-Business Club honored 12 students with scholarships at its April meeting. The evening included a catered meal and the scholarship presentation at Fairview Sports Bar & Grill in Jefferson.
It has been a tradition for many years that the Jefferson County Agribusiness Club annually award scholarships to students pursuing careers in agriculture through post-secondary education. Funds to finance this venture are raised throughout the year primarily from the food stand at the Jefferson County Fair and an annual cheese sale prior to the Christmas holiday. “We had a very successful Jefferson County Fair food stand and holiday cheese and meat sale, so we are able to make $8,750 available to 12 local youth in the form of college scholarships,” shared Leigh Cheesebro who chaired the scholarship sub-committee.
Students submitted a formal written application accompanied by a letter of recommendation. The application asked for details about their school activities, leadership, work experience, plus responses to two agriculture-related essay questions. The recipients this year include five students currently enrolled in college.
The scholarship winners individually came to the front of the banquet hall and introduced themselves, any guests, and gave an overview of themselves and their future plans so the membership could learn more about the recipients.
Hanna Brattlie
Hanna Brattlie will graduate from Cambridge High School and attend the University of Wisconsin – Platteville to study animal/meat science. In high school, she was a four-year volleyball player and was an Academic Decathlon team member.
She is a 10-year member for the Lake Ripley 4-H Club and an active Cambridge FFA member for six years. Hanna was Secretary and President of her 4-H Club. Hanna served as Secretary of her FFA chapter and her communication skills were developed in Creed Speaking, Discussion Meet, and Meats Judging. Her FFA SAE is in poultry production, and she was the showmanship winner at the Wisconsin International Poultry Show.
Hanna has worked at Jelli’s Market picking fruit and working the produce stands. She also gained experience at Schuster’s Playtime Farm, Premiere Couture dress shop, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Daycare Center.
Andrew Dettmann
Andrew Dettmann graduated from Watertown High School and attends the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is majoring in agronomy and hopes to bring his knowledge back to the family farm. When not at college, he works alongside his dad and grandfather on the operation, doing field work, caring for the animals, as well as machinery repair and maintenance.
At UW-Madison, Andrew is active in the Badger Crops Club, Badger Dairy Club, and crops judging. Andrew ran cross country and was in the band for Watertown High School. In Watertown FFA he was a member of the agricultural mechanics team and competed in the agricultural sales event. Andrew also competed in FFA quiz bowl on the state level.
Andrew was a member of the Farmington All-Stars, where he has exhibited at the county and state fair. He carried projects in dairy, sheep, and rocketry. Andrew was a member of the county meats judging team as well as the county dairy quiz bowl team.
Alyssa Jaehnke
Alyssa Jaehnke will graduate from Waterloo High School and plans to major in environmental science at Madison College. She will then transfer to UW-Platteville, and hopes to work for the USDA as a hydrologist or soil scientist after graduation.
Alyssa is a member of Waterloo FFA and had a diversified horticulture project. FFA officer positions included President and Sentinel. In high school she was in forensics, National Honor Society, band, solo and ensemble, and pep band for all years of high school. Alyssa qualified for state competition for forensics, speech, and solo and ensemble. Her speech won Silver at the state competition.
For employment, Alyssa works as a lifeguard at Waterloo High School and at River Bend Resort.
Emma Lemke
Emma Lemke is a member of Stone School 4-H Club and Fort Atkinson FFA. She attends the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, majoring in elementary education and minoring in agribusiness. Emma served as FFA Vice President of Community Development and Reporter, and carried a sheep project in FFA. Emma earned the highest recognition from the National FFA Organization, the American FFA Degree.
Emma played basketball for three years and was a member of National Honor Society at Fort Atkinson High School. At UW-Platteville, she is on the Dean’s List, serves as Secretary of the Agronomy Club, Historian of the Collegiate Farm Bureau, and is an active member of Block and Bridle Club.
Melia Schueller
Melia Schueller, was a member of Rock River Clovers and Fort Atkinson FFA. With an impressive 3.95 G.P.A., Melia will attend Taylor University on an equine rehabilitation track.
Melia works at Lone Star Stables and has her own horse as her supervised agricultural experience (SAE) project. Also in FFA, Melia was on the dairy judging and horse judging teams. Exhibiting dairy cattle and horses at the county fair were part of Melia’s summers for years. She served as 4-H club secretary and reporter. In high school, Melia was on the swim team and ran track. She was also a four-year member of show choir. These activities helped Melia earn Academic Letter and Vocal Music Letter.
Tawney Hadler
Tawney Hadler plans to head to Western Washington University after her graduation from Fort Atkinson High School to become an agricultural teacher. Tawney was awarded the Will Larsen Memorial Scholarship, given specifically to a student planning to become an ag teacher and FFA advisor.
At Fort Atkinson, Tawney was on the debate team for three years, including serving as its captain. She was a quarterfinalist and then a semifinalist in statewide debate competition, and a three-time qualifier for the national debate competition. She also received letters in Academic, Forensic and Performing Arts.
Tawney was a member of 4-H for 12 years, serving as photographer, parliamentarian, treasurer, vice president and president. In the Fort Atkinson FFA, she earned her Greenhand Degree.
Tawney runs her own business painting and selling barn quilts that can be seen throughout Jefferson County. She also worked at Jones Market, and volunteers at many ag related events.
Marnie Draves
Marnie Draves attends UW-Platteville majoring in Land Management and Soil Science with a Business minor.
At Fort Atkinson FFA she completed a maple syrup and jam production Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program. Marnie was in orchestra and played volleyball, softball, and was in swim club. She earned an athletic letter from Fort Atkinson High School. She is employed by Cambridge Winery caring for the grape vines. Marnie also volunteered with the 4th Grade Farm Tour.
Mia Schroeder
Mia Schroeder graduated from Lake Mills High School and is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville studying agri-business with an emphasis in management. Mia raised swine as a member of Two Rivers 4-H, and served as President for five years. As an FFA member, Mia earned her American FFA Degree.
At Lake Mills High School, she played volleyball, softball, and ran track. She also was on the dance team, band, and in the French Club. Mia earned a Varsity Letter, Academic Letter, and was on high honor roll. At UW-Platteville, Mia is on the track and field team and a member of National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA). At college, she also works in the campus bookstore and on the Pioneer Farm.
Luis Avila Vette
Luis Avila Vette graduated from Watertown High School High and attends the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, majoring in Soil and Crop Science.
In Watertown FFA, he participated in Creed Speaking, Soil Judging and on the Parliamentary Procedure Team. Luis served as chapter sentinel and reporter. He also placed first in Parliamentary Procedure and Employment Skills contests. Additionally, he was on the first place team at World Dairy Expo’s Forage Judging Contest. Grain and forage production were his FFA SAE program, as well as vegetable production where he maintains a garden and sells to local customers.
He carried several projects in the Lebanon Luckies 4-H Club and played youth baseball. Additionally, Luis is active in church with projects and serving as a confirmation mentor.
At UW-Platteville, Luis is on the collegiate soils judging team, is a member of the Pioneer Dairy Club, and Horticulture Club.
Luis feeds cattle at his grandfather and uncle’s farm during planting and harvesting of corn, oats, alfalfa, and wheat when not at college.
Paige Wangerin
Paige Wangerin will graduate from Fort Atkinson High School with plans to become a large animal veterinarian. She served as an officer in 4-H for five years, played softball for four years and earned an Academic Letter and an Athletic Letter. She has volunteered with the food pantry, Meals on Wheels, and Feed Your Soul. She has worked on farms and is a retail associate at Tuttles’ Hallmark.
Nathan Hartwig
Nathan Hartwig will graduate from Fort Atkinson High School and will study agricultural business at UW Madison or Iowa State University.
With extensive experience working at Hartwig Poultry Farms, Nathan was on the FFA poultry judging team. He was also a four-year baseball (served as team captain) and basketball player at Fort Atkinson High School. He also ran cross country and was on the Homecoming Court. Nathan enjoys baseball and volunteered at camps for younger baseball players.
Emily Zillisch
Emily Zillisch graduated from Jefferson High School and attends Iowa State University, majoring in agronomy and dairy science. Her future career will be in seed sales, dairy nutrition, or calf management.
At Iowa State, Emily is involved in the Agronomy Club and is currently serving as the public relations officer of the Dairy Science Club.
She was the Jefferson FFA President twice and also served as chapter historian. Emily played volleyball for three years, gymnastics for three years, and track and field for four years. She earned her varsity letter in all three sports.
While in high school she milked cows and fed calves at Magritz Dairy LLC. In her free time, Emily volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul thrift store and at her church’s fall festival.