Spoon River College agriculture students Jonathan Hedges and Nellie Lehnhausen are this year’s recipients of the Compeer Financial Agriculture scholarships. Preference for these scholarships are given to second year or non-traditional students in agriculture or other applied science degrees.

Hedges and Lehnhausen are both second year students working towards Agriculture Business Management degrees. Lehnhausen’s career goal is to work in the field of either wildlife or soil conservation.

Spoon River College was one of 30 participating partner colleges to receive funds for two annual $1,250 scholarships for students enrolled in the college’s agriculture program. The college was also one of five colleges to receive a $25,000 educational grant for career and technical education from the Agriculture and Rural Initiative, Compeer Financial’s donor advised fund. A new greenhouse for the ag department was purchased with those funds.

The agriculture program at Spoon River College is one of the college’s longest running programs, preparing students for a variety of agricultural related careers. It offers an associate in applied science degree, which can also be transferred to a four-year university, as well as certificates in agricultural precision and agricultural production.

Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.