FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Steve Pooch, Secretary MLBA, 651-288-4314 

2019 MINNESOTA LIVESTOCK BREEDERS’ 

ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS 
The Minnesota Livestock Breeders’ Association Scholarship is presented each year to 
4-H and FFA youth who are active members and exhibitors during the year of application. 
The participants are selected based on leadership experience and personal growth 
achievements. Additionally the scholarship rewards academic excellence and outstanding 
livestock production. 
 
Committing to exceptional youth as an investment to further the agricultural 
industry, the MLBA is proudly awarding $65,000 in scholarships to 41 outstanding youth. 
This year, 3 of the scholarships are $4,000, 15 of the scholarships are $2,000 in value and 
23 are $1,000. “The support from the greater livestock community is phenomenal and very 
appreciated,” Steve Pooch, MLBA Secretary. Since the inception of the scholarship program 
there have been 388 scholarships given, totaling $526,000. 
 
The funding equation for the scholarships is a combination of donations from 
livestock industry leaders and supporters, matched by MLBA 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction 
proceeds. Each year during the Minnesota 4-H State Fair a purple ribbon auction is 
conducted selling the premiums of outstanding youth livestock exhibits with 78% of the 
funds going directly to the youth and the remaining invested in the scholarship fund and 
expenses related to the auction. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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$4,000 Award Recipients:  County:   Sponsor:  

Samuel Bobendrier  Pipestone  Boehringer Ingelheim 

Martha Moenning  Mower  Cargill Animal Nutrition 

Hannah Neil  Dakota  Don McClure, SkyRide 

$2,000 Award Recipients:  County:  Sponsor:  

Regan Carlson  Swift  Riverview LLP 

Jay Dicke  Goodhue  Holden Farms 

Sean Doyle  Faribault  MN Pork Board 

Kelsey Erf  Goodhue  Corn Roast Concessions, Brad & Lori 

Ribar 

Ryan Hansen  Freeborn  Cargill Animal Nutrition 

Anica Herrera  Carver  Independent Community Bankers of 

Minnesota 

Isabelle Lindahl  Chisago  Mouth Trap Cheese Curds 

Thomas Netzke  Redwood  MN Farmers Union 

Noah Netzke  Redwood  Pipestone Grain Co. 

Gigi Otten  Freeborn  Compeer Financial 

Cal Schultz  Rice  LA-CO Industries 

Cara Teigum  Watonwan  Michael Dove, Gislason & Hunter and 

Gary Koch, Christensen Farms 

Tormanya Tut  Fillmore  Big Gain Feeds 

Jacob Welch  Fillmore  Midwest Machinery 

Mikayla Wetzel  Rice  Federated Co-ops Inc.  

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

$1,000 Award Recipients:  County:  Sponsor: 

Lauren Arthur  Steele  Interstate Power Systems 

Emily Benrud  Goodhue  Schroeder Concessions 

Molly Carnell  Brown  Anderson Seeds 

Kyerra Carter  Pope  Mary Bennett Kriva, Juanita Reed 

Boniface & Dick Boniface 

Sydney Eickhoff  Fillmore  Hubbard Feeds 

Brittany Erickson  Cottonwood  Extended Ag Services & Steve Resler 

Brock Erickson  Mower  Holden Farms 

David Hassing  Faribault  Kent Thiesse & Steve Pooch 

Leah Heffley  Mille Lacs  Jake & Lindsey Grass 

Maia Irvin  Mower  Duke’s Poutine 

Colton Ivers  Mower  Hormel Foods 

Taylor Jerde  Dakota  In Memory of Helen Anderson 

Carissa Klienwort  Dodge  Shanghaied Henri’s 

Elizabeth Krienke  McLeod  Pronto Pups-The Karnis Family 

Hannah Kruse  Rock  Minnesota Cattlewomen 

Tyson Meidl  Brown  Isabel Burke's Saltwater Taffy 

Lukas Pierson  Watonwan  Davis Family Dairies 

Faith Sayles  Mower  Topigs Norsvin USA 

Kyle Stranberg  Chippewa  Minnesota Simmental Association 

Matthew Strobel  Waseca  Commodity & Ingredient Hedging 

Justin Thomforde  Goodhue  Interstate Power Systems 

Gentrie Vatthauer  Traverse  DLCC Ranch, Dar & Lynn Giess 

Ashley Wagner  Jackson  Minnesota Corn Growers Association