The Brett Renk/Renk Seeds Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation, Inc. (WORF) Board Scholar is Archie Cooley of Mount Hope, Wis. He received a $1000 scholarship towards his education. Cooley was selected from over 300 applicants from rural Wisconsin.
Cooley, the son of Dan and Jennifer Cooley, is a 2020 graduate of River Ridge High School in southwestern Wisconsin. He is currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Platteville pursuing a degree in agribusiness. “I hope to use my degree in agribusiness to successfully run my own business and farm,” states Cooley. Growing up, Cooley worked side-by-side with his grandfather. This experience had a huge influence on his life, driving his dream to farm and be a business owner as well. For nearly a decade, Cooley has helped manage his grandparents 400-acre beef farm where he is responsible for field work, animal identification and animal health. He has grown his own herd to include five animals. During his high school tenure, Cooley was active in FFA where he served in two different officer positions. He was participated in football, basketball, FBLA, Wellness Club, Outdoors Club and more. His passion is being outdoors either farming, fishing or hunting.
The WROF is honored to announce the inaugural class of board scholars. Nine rural Wisconsin students were selected to receive a scholarship that is funded and supported by a board member of WROF. “I am proud to sponsor a board scholar recipient. Our family has been involved in the WROF for a number of decades and sponsoring this award this a continuation of our commitment to this organization and agriculture,” remarks Brett Renk of Renk Seeds.
Since 1934, the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation, Inc. has invested in the education of people from rural Wisconsin so they, in turn, can transform and improve the economic health and quality of life in their rural areas. As a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, more than 6000 individuals have received over $6.2 million in scholarships and grants in agricultural and rural health care education in over 30 different Wisconsin educational institutions and programs.
