Four MSU students honored with Michigan Farm Bureau Scholarships

Michigan State University (MSU) honored four students Feb. 24 at Michigan Farm Bureau’s (MFB) Young Farmers Leaders Conference in Port Huron.

Matthew Johnson of Muskegon County, Kerrigan Lynch of Jackson County, Callie Loew of Kent County, and Mackenzie Strong of Gratiot County received MFB’s Marge Karker Scholarship, winning $1,000 to help fund their MSU education.

Michigan Farm Bureau’s Marge Karker Scholarship was established in the 1960s to honor the former coordinator of Farm Bureau women’s programs, which included activities involving citizenship, health, education, legislation, public relations, safety and community projects.

Through her tenure from 1944 to 1964, Karker helped to lay the foundation for MFB’s current Promotion and Education and Young Farmer programming. The scholarship is open to any MSU student of sophomore standing or higher who is studying in the College of Agriculture or Natural Resources (CANR), College of Veterinary Medicine, or Institute of Agricultural Technology.

The next round of applications is being accepted through Oct. 1, 2024.

Matthew Johnson

Johnson is a senior graduating with a degree in Agribusiness Management from MSU CANR.

Raised on his family’s first-generation farm, he played in active role in the operation, performing a variety of tasks from soil sampling to planting corn, and everything in between. Johnson’s background in agriculture led him to join 4-H and FFA, and now has influenced him to be a second-generation farmer on his family’s farm upon graduation.

At MSU, Johnson participates in the Dairy Club and is an active brother in the FarmHouse Fraternity. Outside of the university he is involved in his county Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer program. Matthew is the son of Troy and Stacey Johnson.

Kerrigan Lynch

Lynch is in her final year at MSU CANR where she will be receiving a degree in agribusiness management. Finding her initial passion for agriculture through livestock, Lynch has kept that interest in the animal industry for the past 11 years through 4-H and livestock shows. Aside from her livestock experience, she has also found her niche in crop management. After her time at MSU, Lynch will be working as an agronomist for Walther Farms.

Kerrigan is a member of the MSU Block & Bridle Club and assists in the management of the Champion’s Choice Camps where she shares her knowledge in raising and showing livestock projects with youth. Lynch is the daughter of Tina Bednarski-Lynch and Timothy Lynch.

Callie Loew

Loew is a first-year student at MSU CANR, studying animal science with a dairy concentration. She was raised on a family-owned dairy working in all areas of the operation. Bottle feeding calves with her dad, spending time with her brother raking hay, and assisting her mom in management of their farm are a few reasons why she is inspired to continue working in the dairy industry. Loew envisions helping her brother continue the dairy farm’s legacy through promotion.

Currently serving as the vice president of programming for CANR’s Student Senate, Loew also is involved in the MSU Dairy Club and Rodeo Club. She’s the daughter of Daniel and Holly Loew.

Mackenzie Strong

Strong is in her third year at MSU studying agribusiness management. She developed a passion for agriculture early on but had little involvement in the industry. Taking matters into her own hands, Strong connected with a local family farm and was presented with work opportunities. Her experience working on the farm influenced her to pursue a career focused on agriculture leadership, agronomy and agribusiness.