Helping the Next Generation Farmer
Marion County Farm Bureau Scholarships
Scholarship applications will be judged by a panel of Marion County Farm Bureau members and judged on accuracy, neatness and organization, financial need, agricultural experience, and GPA. Scholarships ranging up to $2500 may be awarded. Award recipients will also receive a one-year supporting membership to the Marion County Farm Bureau.
Applications for the 2025-26 school year are OPEN.
Thank you to all the students that submitted a scholarship application to the Marion County Farm Bureau. We appreciate your time and effort, and the scholarship committee was impressed by the quality of submissions we have received this year.
We will carefully review all applications in the coming weeks. We anticipate notifying the award recipients mid-May.
Questions? Contact our office at office@marioncofarm.com or 503-877-1999
Mary Petzel Scholarship
The Mary Petzel Memorial Scholarship was created in honor of Mary Petzel, the long-time secretary of Marion County Farm Bureau. Mary was recognized for her disciplined approach to all aspects of the Farm Bureau. She also served as a member of the Oregon Farm Bureau Women’s Advisory Council. Her family continues to farm in the Brooks/Gervais area.
Eligibility:
- The applicant must be an immediate family member (parent, sibling, or grandparent) of a voting or supporting member of the Marion County Farm Bureau, OR enrolled in 4-H or FFA, OR majoring in Agriculture.
- The applicant must be a graduating high school senior or a full-time freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior (continuing to a graduate level degree program) at an accredited college or trade school.
- The applicant must be from Marion County.
Scott Miller Scholarship
The Scott Miller Memorial Scholarship was created in honor of Scott Miller, the fourth generation of his family to farm their land in Woodburn. He farmed row crops and fresh market produce and was on the Marion County Farm Bureau board of directors. He tragically died when the tractor he was driving was rear ended by a vehicle in 2014.
Eligibility:
- The applicant must be an immediate family member (parent, sibling, or grandparent) of a voting or supporting member of the Marion County Farm Bureau.
- The applicant must be a graduating high school senior or a full-time freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior (continuing to a graduate level degree program) at an accredited college or trade school.
- The applicant must be from Marion County.
Roger DeJager Scholarship
The Roger DeJager Memorial Scholarship was created in honor of Roger DeJager, a dedicated dairy farmer from Jefferson, Oregon. Roger served on the MCFB board from 2002-2018, as well as many other co-op/organizational boards. He passed away in 2021.
Eligibility:
- The applicant must be an immediate family member (parent, sibling, or grandparent) of a voting or supporting member of the Marion County Farm Bureau.
- The applicant must be a graduating high school senior or a full-time freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior (continuing to a graduate level degree program) at an accredited college or trade school.
- Applicant must be from Marion County.
- Preference will be given to students pursuing a degree in Dairy Husbandry & Production, Large Animal Veterinary Sciences, or similar Ag related fields of study.
Requirements:
- Download and complete the application. All scholarships use the same application.
- Provide a current semester high school and/or college (if applicable) transcript.
- Provide two letters of recommendation. One must be from an employer or agricultural advisor.
- Write a biography including reasons for your choice of major subject and what your plans are for the future. (Limit to one single-spaced 8.5″ x 11″ page.)
- Write a personal statement describing your agricultural experiences, if any. This may include past work experiences. (Limit to one single-spaced 8.5″ x 11″ page.)
Please make sure you have a complete application and all supporting documents before submitting. View PRINTABLE CHECKLIST here. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
To Apply:
You can submit your application and supporting documents two ways:
Electronically– You can email your application and supporting documents to office@marioncofarm.com. Packets must be received by April 15.
Mail– Completed forms can be mailed to: Marion County Farm Bureau, Attn. Scholarships, PO Box 12216, Salem OR 97309. Packets must be received by April 15.
All scholarships use the same application. Deadline is April 15.
Questions? Contact our office at office@marioncofarm.com or 503-877-1999
2024 Award Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the Scott Miller, Mary Petzel, and Roger De Jager Memorial Scholarships for 2024! It is impressive to read all the applications which makes it challenging to select the recipients. This year, we had a record number of applications, and all of the applicants were enthusiastic, imaginative, creative, and hardworking.
We are launching an event at our annual meeting in November to raise funds to be able to help more deserving students in our county continue their Ag education. Keep an eye out for more announcements this fall!
Mary Petzel Scholarship
In 2024 the Mary Petzel Memorial Scholarship will award scholarships totaling $3,000. Mary Petzel was the long-time secretary of Marion County Farm Bureau and was recognized for her disciplined approach to all aspects of Farm Bureau. She also served as a member of the Oregon Farm Bureau Women’s Advisory Council. Her family farms in the Brooks/Gervais area.
Issac Santiago from Salem and Salem-Keiser FFA will be a freshman at Oregon State University this fall. He will be pursuing degrees in Animal Science and Biology and is looking forward to a career as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Brandon Metzger grew up in Salem and will be starting his education with dual enrollment at Chemeketa Community College and Oregon State University this fall as a freshman. His majors are Agricultural and Food Business Management, which will prepare him for his career in agriculture.
David Tribbett attended Silverton High School and will be a freshman at Chemeketa Community College in the fall. His major in Diesel Technology with a minor in Business will help prepare him for his career in farming.
Jared Mehlschau is from Jefferson and will be continuing his education at Oregon State University this summer as a junior. His major is Agricultural Sciences which will prepare him for his career as a farmer or rancher.
Scott Miller Scholarship
The Scott Miller Memorial Scholarship will award scholarships totaling $5,500 in 2024. Scott Miller was the fourth generation of his family to farm on their land in Woodburn. He farmed row crops and fresh market produce and was on the Marion County Farm Bureau board of directors. He tragically died when the tractor he was driving was rear ended by a vehicle in 2014.
James Davidson from St. Paul will be a freshman at Corban University in the fall. His major will be Agricultural Education with a minor in Religious Studies preparing him for a career as a High School Agriculture Teacher.
Lena Tribbett, who graduated from Silverton High School will be entering her junior year at Corban University this fall. She is majoring in Agriculture Science with a minor in Business and she is looking forward to a career as an Ag Business Financial Accountant for her family’s farm.
MaKayla Rose from Silverton will be entering her freshman year at Corban University this fall. She will major in Agriculture Business Management with a minor in Religion. She is looking forward to a career in Farm Management in her family’s business.
Emily Barnett from Aurora will be attending Carroll College as a freshman in the fall. Her major is Business: Accounting and Strategic Finance and she is preparing for a career as bookkeeper/nursery manager.
Hanna Krahmer from Salem will be attending Linn Benton Community College as a freshman this fall. Her major is Diesel Technology with Ag Business Management and Animal Science as her minors. She will be pursuing a livestock or equipment related role in production agriculture.
George Pohlschneider from St. Paul will be attending Oregon State as a freshman in the fall. His major will be Business, which will help him out with any number of career choices.
Ainsley Goughnour from St. Paul will be a junior at the University of Idaho in the fall. Her major is Agricultural Education with a minor in Agricultural Sciences Communications and Leadership. Her career goal is to be a High School Agricultural Science teacher and FFA advisor.
Samuel Schuster grew up on his family’s farm in Gervais. He is continuing his college career as a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this fall. His major is Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics leading to his future occupation as a Professional Engineer at NASA.
Rebecca Noordam from Mt Angel will be attending Corban University as a sophomore in the fall. Her majors are Agricultural Science and Business Administration with a minor in Biblical Studies. She is preparing for a career as an Agricultural Lobbyist.
Roger DeJager Scholarship
In 2024 the Roger De Jager Memorial Scholarship will award scholarships totaling $1,000. Roger was a dairy farmer in Jefferson, Oregon, and a long-time board member of Marion County Farm Bureau. He and his wife Jessie were recognized with the Community Service Award from ODFA in 2020 and he also received the Diamond Pioneer Award from Oregon State University.
Denali Bosco from Hubbard and North Marion High School will be continuing her education at Oregon State University this fall as a sophomore. Her major of Animal Science with minors in Wildlife Conservation or Range Land Science will help her to reach her goal of becoming a large and small animal mobile veterinarian.
Kamryn Keller from Clackamas County is currently getting hands on experience at a dairy in Marion County. She will be attending Linn Benton Community College as a sophomore in the fall. Her major is Animal Science, and her career goal is to work in Dairy Husbandry and Production.