The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation has recently awarded two Wisconsin students with the Agricultural Banking Scholarship.
The WBF offers two $1,500 scholarships annually to current students pursuing a degree related to agricultural banking at an accredited Wisconsin college or university. The selection criteria include academic achievements, community involvement, career goals, and financial literacy.
Victoria Seif
Victoria Seif is a student at UW-River Falls majoring in agricultural business. She is an active participant in both campus and community organizations, serving as a member of the UWRF Agricultural Education Society and the Agriculture Business and Management Society. Seif’s professional work experience spans customer service and marketing roles. She has worked as a customer service representative at Russell’s of Neillsville and Citizens State Bank of Loyal, as well as a marketing manager for Erica Lawton Realty. These roles serve as a testament to Seif’s commitment to supporting local communities.
Pictured left to right: Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Chair, Treasurer, and Executive Director Rose Oswald Poels, 2025 WBF Agricultural Banking Scholarship Winner Victoria Seif, and WBA Ag Section Board Member Cathy Asher of Security Financial Bank.
“I am interested in a career in agricultural banking because it ties together my interests in agriculture, economics, and financial planning,” Seif says. “Growing up on a farm gave me an understanding of the responsibilities, challenges, and rewards that come with agriculture. I have learned the value of hard work, the importance of planning ahead, and the financial circumstances that come with any agricultural operation.”
Janelle Wolfe
Janelle Wolfe is a UWRF student studying agricultural business. Wolfe is an active member of the university’s Dairy Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Crops and Soils Club, and the Agricultural Business and Marketing Society. Wolfe gained extensive hands-on agriculture experience as an agronomy crop scout intern with Ag Partners, assisting agronomists by scouting crop fields, identifying weeds, diseases, and insects affecting crop development. She also worked as a farm hand at Wolfe Family Farms, assisting with calf care, herd management, and operating farm machinery. Additional work experience includes roles at Suncrest Gardens Pizza Farm, St. Boniface Child Center, and Independence State Bank.
Pictured left to right: Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Chair, Treasurer, and Executive Director Rose Oswald Poels, 2025 WBF Agricultural Banking Scholarship Winner Janelle Wolfe, and WBA Ag Section Board Member Cathy Asher of Security Financial Bank.
“Agriculture has always been a huge part of my life,” Wolfe explains. “I understand the struggles farmers face, and I want to be able to help farmers out. I am very passionate about agriculture and enjoy finances, which are the two driving factors behind why I am so interested in a career within agricultural banking or finance.”
