High School Seniors Earn Farm Bureau Scholarships
This year marks the 65th year of awarding DeKalb County Farm Bureau Senior Scholarships. The scholarship program was started in 1956 with the first scholarships given to five NIU students totaling $110 each.
This year, ten students attending a variety of colleges will receive a $1,200 scholarship which will assist with their college education expenses.
The DeKalb County Farm Bureau Foundation congratulates local high school seniors who received this year’s Senior Scholarships. A committee of Farm Bureau members made the selection of scholarship recipients based on academics, leadership and community service.
Students receiving the scholarship are featured with a listing of their high school, college choice and major. Farm Bureau salutes these college-bound students of Farm Bureau families.
“Thank you so much for this scholarship to help me with my college education at the University of Illinois. I have worked hard over the past four years to earn good grades and make money to put toward my college career. This scholarship is very helpful and I am very grateful for your generosity.” -Ava Splear
Zach Anderson Indian Creek High School 
Brooklyn Botterman Genoa-Kingston High School 
Deloris Drendel Genoa-Kingston High School 
Tyler Ekstrom Sycamore High School 
Andrew Heinisch Rockford Christian 
Lauren Hopkins Rochelle High School 
Joey Newport DeKalb High School 
Karl Peterson Sycamore High School 
Ava Splear Indian Creek High School 
Erin Templin Sycamore High School
Award Recognitions
Farm Bureau Senior Scholarships were presented to Ava Splear and Zach Anderson at the Indian Creek High School awards night by Foundation Director Kathy Bock.
Dr. Mike Schelkopf, Farm Bureau Foundation Director, presented scholarships to seniors Brooklyn Botterman and Deloris Drendel during the Genoa-Kingston High School awards program.
Joe Barshinger Ag Scholarship Granted
Indian Creek High School
University of Illinois
Logan Bend was chosen to receive the Joe Barshinger Ag Scholarship from the DeKalb County Farm Bureau Foundation. The Barshinger family established the endowed scholarship last year with the Foundation in memory of Joe and to honor his dedication to agriculture, history, leadership and education.
The Barshingers created the scholarship to benefit an Indian Creek student studying agriculture in college.
“I was very honored when I was presented with the Joe Barshinger scholarship. I have always been passionate about agriculture and will use this scholarship towards strengthening my knowledge in the agricultural field,” said Logan.
“I would like to greatly thank the Barshinger family for this opportunity and I will do my best to continue to represent the distinguished qualities of Joe Barshinger,” he said.
Logan recently graduated from Indian Creek High School and was co-president of the FFA. He won the state FFA proficiency award in crop production.
“Joe would have been supportive of Logan’s FFA honors in crop production and excited about the new improvements he will bring back to his family farm,” said Phyllis Barshinger. “Joe always enjoyed driving around the countryside, looking at the fields, and then sharing information at the coffee shop with his fellow farmers.”
Logan plans to attend the University of Illinois this fall and major in agribusiness markets and management. His parents are Farm Bureau members Rick and Erin Bend of rural Shabbona.