Five students have been awarded scholarships to the 2025 Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Cornerstone Dairy Academy by the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation (WROF). These students include Will Cordes from Stratford, Wis.; Stacy Eberly from Monroe, Wis.; Regan Kramer from Ames, Iowa; Chelsea Scheider from De Pere, Wis.; and Max Schenkenberg from Poynette, Wis. Collectively, they attended the Influential Leadership and Servant Leadership pillars of the Cornerstone program.
Cordes serves as the research program manager/supervisor for the University of Wisconsin-Marshfield Ag Research Station. In this role, he works with USDA and UW researchers to ensure research projects follow proper protocols. Previously, he worked as a dairy nutritionist and later returned to his family’s dairy farm before joining UW-Marshfield in 2015. “I’m eager to improve my communication and management skills through this opportunity,” Cordes said.
Eberly brings diverse dairy experience to her role as a mentor and landlord to a new dairy farmer. Having previously owned and operated a dairy farm, she has also served on several agriculture boards. “Attending the Influential Leadership pillar will help me gain knowledgeable confidence to enhance my leadership skills,” Eberly shared.
Kramer, a senior studying agriculture at Iowa State University, grew up on a family farm near Eastman, Wis. She is enthusiastic about building connections in the dairy industry through the Influential Leadership pillar. “I look forward to gaining insights that will help me succeed in my future career,” Kramer said.
Scheider co-owns Zirbel Dairy Farms with her family, managing both human resources and financial operations. A UW-Platteville graduate, she participated in the Servant Leadership pillar. “The Cornerstone program provided valuable skills that I can apply daily on our farm,” Scheider noted.
Schenkenberg works as a herdsman for Maier Farms LLC in Waunakee, Wis. Having attended Cornerstone Dairy Academy before, he completed the Servant Leadership pillar. “The Influential Leadership pillar offered me additional strategies to improve my leadership skills on the farm,” Schenkenberg said.
“One of our goals at the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation is developing tomorrow’s dairy professionals and industry leaders,” said Dr. Jerry Gaska, DVM, WROF board member. “We are proud to support these five recipients with scholarships to Cornerstone Dairy Academy, particularly since that program equips attendees with essential communication and leadership skills.”
The WROF continues its mission of investing in Wisconsin’s rural communities by supporting students dedicated to advancing the dairy industry.
