2024 Delaware County Scholarship recipients

Congratulations to the following students who are recipients of 2024 scholarships from Delaware County Farm Bureau.

Clifford Rhoades was a member of the basketball team and participated in a variety of other extracurricular activities, such as National Honor Society and Student Council. He is an active member of Christian Life Church in Delaware and is a life-long resident of Concord Township, Delaware County. His family’s hobby farm involves feeder cattle and layer chickens, along with the rural lifestyle that goes with it. During school breaks, Clifford works for Lee Farms in Radnor. He will be attending The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences as a freshman in the fall of 2024 where he plans to major in agribusiness and applied economics.

Kyle Kline, actively engaged in 4-H and FFA, is dedicated to pursuing a career in firefighting, a profession he has long aspired to. His enthusiasm stems from the opportunity to contribute to his community by safeguarding its members. He will be applying to be a part of the Ohio Fire Academy.

Haylie McComas was active in the FFA program where she was a member of the state-winning and national runner-up Food Science & Technology CDE Team and received her State FFA Degree. Haylie also attended the Delaware Area Career Center’s Health Technology & Nursing program. She is a 9-year member of the Eagle Country 4-H Club, raising and exhibiting market lambs and breeding sheep at the Hartford Independent, Delaware County and Ohio State Fairs. This fall, Haylie will be attending Marion Technical College to pursue a degree in nursing and will be working as a phlebotomist with Ohio Health.

Hanah Rhoades actively participated in volleyball and track in high school, demonstrating a consistent dedication to both sports. Additionally, she engaged in FFA, holding various leadership positions, including the esteemed role of chapter president. Hanah’s involvement in 4-H spanned nine years, showcasing her expertise in showing market hogs and dairy feeders. Her academic pursuits will continue at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois, where she plans to pursue a double major in Spanish and business entrepreneurship, complemented by a minor in English as a Second Language. Hanah aspires to combine her passion for teaching ESL with her entrepreneurial spirit to establish her own business in the future.
Zack Wecker’s future plans are to attend The Ohio State University’s Columbus Campus where he will study animal sciences.
Farm Labor Resources
Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
Mandy Way's avatar
Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
Strong communities
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
Ernie Welch's avatar
Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
Leadership development
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Young Ag Professionals program
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
Jaclyn De Candio's avatar
Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
Growing our Generation
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
Jenna Gregorich's avatar
Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Groovy Plants Ranch
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
Jared Hughes's avatar
Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
Austin Heil's avatar
Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
Advocacy
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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