GREEN BAY, Wis. — Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative has announced Grant Buwalda and Wyatt Dietsche as the recipients of $1,000 scholarships to assist in their post-secondary education.
Students competing for the scholarships were judged on academic achievement, leadership and participation in school and community activities, academic honors, goals and aspirations, recommendations and work experience.
Buwalda helps on his family’s farm, Buwalda Cottonwood Farms LLC in Waupun, Wis. Currently a student at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, he will be entering his junior year in the fall and is studying agricultural business management with a minor in agricultural engineering technologies.
Buwalda has been involved in numerous organizations, including serving as vice president of the UWRF’s Agricultural Business and Marketing Society and treasurer and event chair of the Beef Management Team. He is a member of UWRF’s Collegiate Farm Bureau and Dairy Club and has volunteered with campus ministry and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin.
“Growing up on a dairy farm has given me so much, especially a passion for agriculture,” Buwalda said. “Thank you, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, for helping me achieve a degree as I better educate and prepare myself to contribute to the agriculture industry. It is a blessing to have the support of organizations like Edge to help make college possible for me. Attending UW-River Falls has given me countless opportunities, which I have benefited from both as a person and an agriculturalist.”
Dietsche recently graduated from Loyal High School in Loyal, Wis., and is planning to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to study business administration. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Future Farmers of America, American Angus Association, math league and played football and baseball.
Dietsche works on his family’s dairy farm, Dietsche’s Dairy. He said that studying business administration will help prepare him for modern dairy farming and allow him to return home and follow his dream of running his family’s dairy.
“I want to thank Edge for this scholarship,” Dietsche said. “Not only do they help advance our dairy farm, but also help advance the future of agriculture through these generous scholarships.”
This is the eighth time Edge has offered scholarships to help finance higher education for children of its members. Tim Trotter, Edge’s executive director, said the co-op plans to continue the program for exceptional dairy-minded students in the years to come.
“As the voice of milk, Edge recognizes the importance of developing future leaders in our dairy community,” Trotter said. “Grant and Wyatt demonstrate the leadership and mindset to meet challenges and sustain successes in the agricultural community. We are happy to support them and look forward to seeing the positive difference they will make.”
