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Menly Lutz and Jimmy Priest, both of Muskingum County, were the recipients of an intensive scholarship program coordinated through Muskingum County Farm Bureau and Nationwide Insurance.

The high school seniors, who have an interest in agriculture, had to fill out an application, go through the interview process, complete an intense two-week job shadowing internship and then give a final presentation in order to receive their scholarship. Both students received $1,500 scholarships.

“One in every seven jobs is tied to the agriculture industry,” said Kari Burkey, Farm Bureau organization director. “We wanted to provide an opportunity to expose youths to the diversity of the agriculture field and allow them to network with industry leaders.” Lutz plans to attend the University of Kentucky and study agriculture business. Priest will be attending the University of Charleston to study integrated communications and marketing.

Lutz and Priest visited various agriculture businesses in the surrounding area to tour operations and talk to the owners about what they do in their field of business. The job shadowing locations included: Hanby Farms, Susan McDonald Attorney at Law, Dickinson Cattle Company, Ohio Farm Bureau’s policy and communications teams, Farm Credit Mid-America, Bell Farms Ag, Cox Seed Sales, Farm Service Agency, OSU Extension, Soil & Water Conservation District, Three Rivers Energy, Boyer Nationwide Insurance, Olde Village Meats, Mills Bulk Food, Sarbaugh Poultry Farm, Coshocton Grain, Hogue’s Dairy Farm, KD Guest Ranch, Dorsets-N-Daylilies, McDonald’s Greenhouse, The Kitchen Incubator, Huston Farms and Hittle Farms.