Fayetteville, AR (July 1, 2019) - The Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA) announced the 2019/2020 IPSA Scholarship winners.

This year, IPSA received 130 applications from students seeking this honor. The following students were selected, and will receive their scholarships during IPSA's 31st Annual Meeting Jan. 13-15, 2020 in Kansas City, MO.

IPSA says a special thank you to all who applied, those members who spread the word about the scholarships, and to the education committee for their time and efforts.

Karson Kimpling

Karson Kimpling, a graduate of the Flanagan-Cornell High School, is the son of Kyle and Lynn Kimpling of Flanagan, IL.

During high school, Karson was active in FFA, Student Council, National Honor Society, and basketball. As a senior, Karson served as the Section 9 FFA President and was part of the Illinois Association FFA State Officer Team.

This fall Karson will be attending the University of Illinois majoring in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication. Karson plans to be involved in the Collegiate Farm Bureau, Agricultural Education Club, and the Orange Krush. He will also be a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. While attending the U of I, Karson will be working at the Agricultural Library as the Library, Information, and Alumni Center Intern where he will continue to improve on his communication skills.

Karson would also like to thank the Independent Professional Seed Association for his scholarship as well as the opportunity to attend the IPSA Conference in January.

Karson will receive the TOM BURRUS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP, given in memory of our Past IPSA President Tom Burrus.

Mckenzie Carvalho

Mckenzie Carvalho is from Maxwell, CA and will be a senior at Oklahoma State University.

She is pursuing a dual degree in Agribusiness and Agricultural Communications. Mckenzie is actively involved on campus with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Ambassador team, the Student Foundation, the Student Alumni Board, and the China Agriculture University Student Mentor Program.

She served as a Lloyd Noble Scholar in Agriculture at the Noble Research Institute, an OSU Legislative Intern in Agriculture, and currently serves as the Science and Regulatory Affairs/Communications intern at CropLife America.

After graduation, Mckenzie plans to obtain a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics and ultimately pursue a career in government relations and lobbying.

Katie Gardner

Katie Gardner is a junior honors student at the University of Arkansas pursuing a double major in agribusiness & agricultural education, communications & technology with a concentration in communications and a minor in leadership.

She serves as a College Ambassador, on the Honors Student Board, Razorback Foundation Executive Board, and Razorback Leadership Academy Steering Committee. She is active in Associated Student Government and serves as a Senator and Caucus Chair for her College, as well as on the staff for the Freshman Leadership Forum.

In Summer 2019, she was a White House Intern in the Office of Communications and White House Press Office. Prior to this experience, she interned at USDA through the Office of the Secretary’s One USDA program in Washington, D.C. where she worked with the Research, Education, & Economics mission area. She also served the past two years as a Media Intern for Arkansas FFA during State Convention.

Makenna Green

Makenna Green is the daughter of Justin and Monica Green of Arthur, IL. She is a recent graduate of Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond High School where she graduated as the Valedictorian of her class.

She is the sixth generation on her family's corn and soybean operation in East Central Illinois. This is where she found her true passion for agriculture and more specifically agronomy.

She plans to attend Lake Land College in the fall of 2019 to obtain a degree in agriculture while competing on the livestock judging team. Following her first two years, she aspires to continue judging livestock and earn an advanced degree in Crop Science.

Makenna hopes to utilize her passion for agronomy and crop science to make an impact on our food system.

Miriam Hoffman

Miriam Hoffmanhails from a diversified crop and livestock farm in rural Northern Illinois, where her family and community ingrained in her a deep passion for agriculture, stewardship, and service to others.

She spent her first year out of high school as a Major State Officer for Illinois Association FFA, representing over 30,000 agriculture education students across the state as she facilitated workshops, presented speeches, and advocated for agriculture and agricultural education.

She will be attending Illinois Valley Community College this fall before transferring to Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the Fall 2020 semester, earning a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Business Economics. She plans to stay heavily involved in her church, community, and on-campus clubs and organizations.

Miriam looks forward to continuing to use her God-given talents to serve and unite the agriculture industry in her future career path.

Jack Howard

Jack Howard is from Livingston County, KY where he just graduated as Salutatorian of his high school class.

Jack grew up on a multi-generational, three-thousand-acre corn and soybean farm where he established his roots in the agriculture industry. Jack is very active in his school and community, maintaining involvement in several organizations including FFA, Student Council, the local historical society, his church, and several other organizations. Through FFA, Jack has become an active member and leader serving as chapter president, regional reporter, and serving on two state committees.

In the fall, Jack will be attending Murray State University to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy.

Anna Mathis

Anna Mathis is a 2019 graduate of Valley Springs High School where she graduated as the valedictorian of her class.

Anna has won numerous local and state awards throughout high school. She was a member of the National FFA Band and she was the state champion in FFA Prepared Speaking where she advocated for the increased use of GMO products. Anna was elected to be the President of the Arkansas FFA Association in April. She will attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in the fall of 2019 where she will major in Agriculture Communications and Leadership.

Her goal is to become a lobbyist where she can advocate for agricultural producers on a much larger level.

Mackenzie Trader

Mackenzie Trader is the daughter of Kevin and Melinda Trader of Scheller, IL.

She was born and raised on her family’s fifth generation farm, Trader Family Farms, where they raise hogs and Angus cattle, and grow corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay. Besides the farm, she also works for Bayer CropScience as a Technology Development Field Assistant.

Being a recent graduate from Rend Lake College, she will be transferring to Murray State University in the fall as an Agronomy major. Mackenzie’s goal is to be a crop consultant and help farms meet their maximum potential.

Not only will she be helping neighboring farmers, she will also bring the knowledge she has gained back to her own family’s farm, helping to carry on their legacy for generations to come.

Natalie Vujanov

Natalie Vujanov is a senior majoring in Crop Sciences with a concentration in Agribusiness and a minor in Food and Agribusiness Management at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

She was born and raised in Princeton, IL. At the U of I, she is the President of the Field and Furrow Agronomy Club and Treasurer of Sigma Alpha Agricultural Sorority. She is also active in ACES Council and the Student Advancement Committee.

She would like to thank her parents Nick and Gina Vujanov, for being lifelong supporters of her goals.

This summer, Natalie is working for Bayer CropScience in Minnesota as a U.S. Row Crops Sales Intern. She looks forward to working to make positive impacts in the ag industry throughout her career.

Sierra Williamson

Growing up in rural Minnesota, Sierra Williamson has witnessed many agricultural opportunities at home and within her local community.

With her father in the seed sales industry and grandfather operating an independently owned local seed business, her family ingrained in her a strong appreciation for honesty, respect, responsibility, and generosity in agriculture and entrepreneurship.

She is pursuing a degree in Agricultural and Food Business Management with minors in Business Analytics and Marketing at the University of Minnesota. Sierra strives to be a student leader and actively participate in meaningful opportunities.

She interned with Land O'Lakes for the previous two summers first as a Global Food Challenge Intern and currently as a Strategic Sourcing Intern. She hopes her career will contribute to meeting future food demands, making sure food supplies are safe and nutritious, and creating a safe farming environment.

Whether she is selling agricultural products, teaching farming techniques, researching and applying technology, or starting an agricultural-based business, Sierra looks forward to establishing her future in agriculture.