Farm Bureau Selects Scholarship Winners
Monroe County Farm Bureau has awarded three $750 scholarships to local students pursuing careers in agriculture. Recipients of the awards can use the funds to attend college, trade school, or apprenticeship programs that support the agricultural industry.
The Betty Bliss Scholarship has been awarded to Jackson (Jack) Iott of Ottawa Lake. This scholarship has been presented annually since 1988 and is named after long-time County Office Administrator Betty Bliss. Jack is the son of John and Patty Iott; he graduated from Whiteford Agricultural High School in 2023. While in high school, Jack was on the football team all four years and served as Captain in his Senior year, all while working through injuries. He was also a member of National Honor Society, active in the FFA and 4-H. Jack is attending Monroe County Community College to study Agribusiness.
The Dale Lynn Mason Scholarship, which honors long-time secretary Dale Lynn Mason who served the bureau for over 28 years, was awarded to Jacob (Jake) Iott of Ottawa Lake. Jake is attending Monroe County Community College and studying Agribusiness. He graduated from Whiteford Agricultural High School in 2023 and is the son of John and Patty Iott. In high school, Jake excelled at track and football, served as a Captain on the football team his Senior year, he was a member of National Honor Society and was also active in 4-H and the FFA.
The oldest scholarship awarded by the bureau, the Young Farmer Memorial Scholarship, was renamed ten years ago as a tribute to the Young Farmers of our group whose lives were cut short before reaching their full potential. This year’s recipient of the scholarship is Erica Holup of Ottawa Lake, and this is her second time earning a scholarship from our organization. She graduated from Whiteford Agricultural High School and is the daughter of Andrew and Loel Holup. Erica is majoring in Animal Science at Michigan State University and is active in multiple MSU clubs.
Winners are eligible to compete in all years of school against new applicants, provided they continue their studies in an agriculture-related field. Since 1988, Monroe County Farm Bureau has invested over $50,000 in the future agricultural leaders of our community! We wish everyone who competed for these awards the best of luck as they continue their studies. They are truly the future of agriculture in Monroe County!