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Ashtabula County Farm Bureau recognizes the importance of developing future leaders in the agriculture industry and is committed to investing in their education. With that mission in mind, we are thrilled to announce our 2026 scholarship recipients! This year’s winners represent the bright future of our community, with career paths ranging from agricultural communication and technology to elementary education. We are incredibly proud to support these outstanding students as they pursue their degrees and find unique ways to support the agricultural industry.

Alyssa Bullard receives $900. Alyssa is the daughter of Christopher and Jaime Bullard of Andover. She is a 2026 graduate of Pymatuning Valley High School and will be attending The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster majoring in agricultural communications in the fall. She was an active member of the PV FFA chapter throughout high school. Alyssa plans to use her ag communications degree to bridge the gap between farm research and the public by fighting bad information, promoting new farm practices and making sure lawmakers have the facts they need to make good decisions for our industry.

Ryan Waldo receives $750. Ryan is the son of Ryan and Kris Waldo of Rome. He is a 2025 graduate of Grand Valley High School and is currently attending The Ohio State University majoring in agricultural systems management where he is an active member of the Agricultural Systems Management Club, Crops and Soil Club, and judges dairy cattle with the OSU Dairy Club. Ryan works at the OSU Ag Fabrication shop. He and his family have been Farm Bureau members for multiple years and volunteer at Ag Day. Ryan’s future plan is to use his education in ag engineering and technology to directly improve farm efficiency, boost crop yields and lower input costs for farmers. By learning how to use and retrofit new technologies like lidar and smart equipment, he wants to help ensure that agriculture stays productive and viable for the future.

Alexa Flack receives $350. Alexa is the daughter of Evan and Dana Flack of Williamsfield. She is a 2024 graduate of Pymatuning Valley High School and is currently attending Western Governors University, majoring in elementary education. Flack and her family have been Farm Bureau members for several years, and Alexa has been involved with Farm Bureau through youth activities and mental health initiatives.  When she graduates from college, she plans to integrate agriculture into everyday subjects like science, reading, and history to build early awareness of agriculture. By teaching young students about plant growth, sustainability, and the true cost of wasting food, Alexa hopes to shape a future generation that supports and values American agriculture.

Congratulations to you all and best of luck in your future endeavors!