Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Artac, Ciolkosz, Hoesly, Sweney, Werner, Schraufnagel, Montalvo, Lyon, Bangart, Doman, Frisk, Gindt, Havelka, Helle, Hetke, Kollross, Koopmans, Kreklau, Lebal, Loppnow, Martin, McCourt, Moorse, Mueller, Page, Post, Sellent, Smidel, Stowe, Tomandl, Wanek
----Source: The Clark County Press, (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/30/2020
Three County Students Receive FarmFirst Dairy Coop. Scholarships (2020)
Three County Students Receive FarmFirst Dairy Coop. Scholarships
FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative has congratulated Clark County residents Wyatt Artac, Carley Jo Ciolkosz and Paul Hoesly as 2020 FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative Scholarship recipients. The cooperative recently awarded over $21,000 in scholarships to 27 high school and collegiate students pursuing postsecondary education.
Since 2013, FarmFirst has provided scholarships to 192 individuals, awarding more than $166,000 throughout the past eight years.
“This is truly an outstanding scholarship program, made possible by the commitment of members and board leaders throughout the years to support the future endeavors of our youngest generation involved in agriculture,” wrote Julie Sweney, FarmFirst director of communications and marketing, in an Aug. 20 press release. “As students pursue and build their careers, they know that FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative is supporting them.”
Wyatt Artac, Greenwood, has received a scholarship from FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative. He is attending Chippewa Valley Technical College. Submitted photos
Wyatt Artac, son of Wayne and Lisa Artac of Greenwood, is a freshman this fall pursuing a degree as a diesel technician through Chippewa Valley Technical College.
“It takes a special student to excel in an area that requires a high level of knowledge and a certain set of skills. Wyatt’s hard work ethic, attention to detail, and passion for his craft allows him to be a contributing member to his team,” said Noah Werner, Greenwood High School technology education teacher. “Above all of Wyatt’s great attributes one of them stands above the rest, his willingness to help others. He is a member of 4-H, FFA and the Greenwood Fire/EMS Department. There are not a lot of high school students that are willing to put their life on the line for others; Wyatt has done just that.”
Carley Jo Ciolkosz, a Thorp graduate, will use the FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative Scholarship she received to support her studies at UW-River Falls.
Carley Jo Ciolkosz, daughter of William and Bridget Ciolkosz from Thorp, is a freshman this fall pursuing a degree in dairy science through the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
“Work ethic is the first characteristic that I would use to describe Carley. She holds three jobs, along with maintaining high academic and being an FFA officer. Working for the local hardware store as a cashier and stocking shelves, while also working for Thorp Equipment in assembly and milking cows on the family farm seems like an overload for any person. Throw [in] a full academic schedule with multiple college courses to top it off in addition to a very busy FFA chapter schedule,” said Thorp FFA advisor Glen Schraufnagel.
Loyal High School graduate Paul Hoesly has received the FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative Scholarship. He is pursuing a degree through Madison Area Technical College.
Paul Hoesly is the son of Dean and Mary Hoesly of Granton. He is a Loyal High School graduate and is a freshman this fall enrolled in Madison Area Technical College, as he pursues a degree as a John Deere technician.
“Paul is a fine young man and very easy to work with. When Paul sets his sights on a project, he makes sure to see it through. He is always looking for ways to make shop operations run smoothly and is not afraid to try to repair anything and everything in the shop. He often chooses to be in the shop during his free time to help organize and plan the next unit. His knowledge makes him a valuable member of our program,” said Randy Montalvo, Loyal High School shop teacher. “Paul excels both in the classroom and in the shop. From fixing electrical devices to getting an engine to run, he is always willing to work and help others. He is a great team player and great leader.”
Scholarship recipients were selected based on leadership, scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, essay responses and their future plans and career goals. All members of FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative and their children attending four-year universities, two-year technical programs or short courses and high school seniors planning for postsecondary education were eligible to apply for the scholarships.
“Education is a vital piece to the foundation of our cooperative, for our members today and our future members, which includes today’s youth. FarmFirst continues to dedicate resources to building up the next generation of agricultural leaders by giving back to our members and their families,” says FarmFirst general manager Jeff Lyon. “When these students succeed, in the classroom and later on in their careers, we all succeed.”
In addition to Artac, Ciolkosz and Hoesly, the scholarship recipients are: Claire Bangart of Stratford; Judson Doman of Rib Lake; Abby Frisk of New Lisbon; Katie Gindt of Boyd; Rebecca Havelka of Wallace, MI; Jordan Helle of Worthington, IA; Serenity Hetke of Ladysmith; Paul Kollross of Arpin; Makenna Koopmans of Cambria; Kari Kreklau of Stetsonville; Wyatt Lebal of Kennan; Morgan Lebal of Kennan; Makayla Loppnow of Reedsville; Kaitlyn Martin of Pulaski; Anastasia McCourt of Fond du Lac; Grady Moorse of Minnesota; Laura Mueller of Newton; Benjamin Page of Gresham; Amber Post of Lake Wilson, MN; Bailey Sellent of Almena; Abigail Tomandl of Medford; and Brianna Wanek of Cashton.
