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Franklin County Farm Bureau would like to congratulate our 2025 scholarship recipients.

Elayna Foor, is an incoming fourth-year student at Miami University, pursuing a degree in psychology, neuroscience, and premedical studies. Alongside her academics, Foor serves in multiple executive positions across campus, including as the incoming president of Nu Rho Psi and as a teaching assistant. She is a proud member of Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity and greatly enjoys her behavioral neuroscience research centered around understanding PTSD and related conditions. Foor is exceptionally proud of her family’s agricultural history, seeking to honor her roots by serving the community as a future physician.

Katherine Radwanski, a third-year business administration major specializing in marketing at the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. She is also pursuing a minor in agricultural communications. Having been a member of 4-H for 9 years, she is a proud supporter of Ohio Farm Bureau. At Ohio State, she is involved in leadership roles in Women in Business, Art Scholars, and the Buckeye Gaming Collective.

Natalie Tolliver, is a 2023 graduate of Grove City High School. She was a member of the Grove City Clover Crew 4-H Club for 13 years while also being a member of various committees and boards for the county. She is now entering her junior year of college at Ohio University, majoring in marketing and data analytics. She has been selected as a member of the Copeland Scholars program that helps to develop driven leaders. She also balances playing trumpet in the Marching 110 and being the vice president of membership for Kappa Kappa Psi, which is a service fraternity dedicated to helping the music community around Athens. For the university, she balances being a member of the University Program Council, where they plan free, fun events for the student body as well as working as a student ambassador for the office of Signature Academic Experience, where the team works to improve the quality of student life at OU.

Isabella Byrd, is a senior at Ohio State University’s School of Environmental and Natural Resources, majoring in natural resource management with a studio art minor. She has spent the past two summers as a Surface Water Modeling intern with the Ohio EPA and is returning this year as a Surface Water – Water Quality intern. During the school year, she works as a Soil Drainage Research Assistant for the USDA ARS. On campus, Byrd is actively engaged in leadership and environmental initiatives. In the upcoming year, she will serve as co-president and Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed liaison for the Society of Ecological Restoration and the role of censor for Alpha Zeta Partners, the first and oldest collegiate agricultural society. Beyond campus, Byrd is dedicated to community involvement, volunteering as a swim coach for the Groveport Special Olympics. She recently traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in the World Federation of United Nations Associations’ Advanced Training Program. There, she practiced tackling climate policy issues at a global scale and was exposed to the organizational structure of the UN. This fall, she plans to collaborate with Dr. Marijke Hecht on the Great Lakes Urban Environmental Education Fellowship research project, driven by her desire to help others understand the importance of agricultural and environmental stewardship through hands-on environmental education experiences. Byrd extends her sincerest gratitude to Franklin County Farm Bureau for their support and all the work they do to support and strengthen the community.

Melina Kopczewski, is an incoming junior at The Ohio State University, studying environmental policy and decision making with a minor in history. She has worked with the Ohio Farm Bureau as both an ExploreAg staff member and a 2025 Young Ag Professionals Winter Leadership Experience social media ambassador. At Ohio State, she is an active member of Collegiate Farm Bureau and Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She is also honored to be a part of the Order of Omega Greek honor society and Alpha Zeta Partners, a professional agriculture and environmental fraternity. In her free time, Kopczewski is an ambassador for Free the Facts, a non-partisan nonprofit that promotes policy literacy, and she also competes in scholarship pageants, formerly serving as the 2024 USA National Miss Ohio Teen. 

Jack Boomershine, is a proud graduate of Grove City High School, continuing his education at The Ohio State University, where he is majoring in radiologic sciences and therapy. He is a 13-year member of the Fantastic Futures 4-H Club, where he developed a passion for learning through hands-on projects—his favorites focused on rabbits and natural resources. Boomershine was honored to receive the Ohio 4-H Achievement Award in Environmental Sciences, recognizing his longtime interest in natural resources. During high school, he was active in the marching band as a saxophonist, played in the show choir combo band, and participated in the ski club. He sincerely appreciates the support of the Franklin County Farm Bureau in helping him pursue his college education.

Samantha York, is a 2025 graduate of Gahanna Lincoln High School and will be attending Denison University to study biology. She is a 13-year member of the 4-H Dream Achievers 4-H Club and was the 2022 Ohio 4-H Achievement Award Winner in Gardening and Horticulture. She has also served on the Franklin County Junior Fair Board for five years, was runner-up fair queen, and was on the Franklin County 4-H Teen Leadership Council. Her favorite 4-H projects have been market lambs and flower gardening. In high school, she was involved in sailing, National Honor Society, National Chinese Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, HOSA, choir, and orchestra. 

Max Harshman, is a recent graduate from Canal Winchester High School, where he attended Eastland Fairfield Career Center during his junior and senior years, studying diesel mechanics for ag and heavy equipment. He has been a 4-H member for 12 years, showing livestock for the last six years. He’ll be attending The Ohio State University ATI Campus in the fall, studying crop management. Harshman hopes to one day have a farm and/or start a contract farming business. In his free time, he enjoys riding his horse, hunting, and hanging out with friends.  

Lauren Niccum, a recent graduate of Westerville North High School, will be attending the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign this fall, where she will be majoring in animal science with a career goal of practicing veterinary medicine. During her 11 years in 4-H, Niccum held various leadership positions, most recently as club president of both the Whetstone 4-H’ers and the K-9 Wonder Dogs, and she has completed multiple projects related to animals and food/nutrition. Her success in the OSU Animal Science Skillathons led to the opportunity to compete at the 2023 National 4-H Livestock Skillathon Contest at NAILE. Niccum, a member of the 2023 Franklin County Junior Fair Board, served her community through club activities supporting the Clintonville Community Resource Center and by visiting public libraries and skilled nursing facilities with the Ohio 4-H PetPALS therapy dog. As a member of the Delaware Area Career Center FFA, Niccum competed in the Ohio FFA Animal Management, Equine Management, and Veterinary Science CDEs, where her team took 1st place in all three contests and she was named high individual in the Animal Management and Veterinary Sciences contests. Niccu, who is a member of the National Honor Society, plays violin in her school orchestra and has received numerous accolades for her academic accomplishments. During her spare time, she travels throughout the Midwest with her 4-H project dog, Merlin the Border Collie, to compete in AKC conformation shows. 

Elsa Lapierre is studying at Ohio State University’s ATI campus. She will graduate in 2026 with degrees in small ruminant production and beef production and management. After she graduates, she plans to farm full time, focusing on sheep and rabbits.

Caitlin Krebs, is a sophomore at Ohio Dominican, earning recognition on the Fall 2024 Dean’s List for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher. A graduate of Central Crossing High School in Grove City, Krebs was a member of the National Honor Society and received multiple All-Academic Awards throughout her high school career. She is dual-majoring in primary education and intervention specialist. Krebs hopes to combine her love for animals and agriculture with teaching. In her last year of 4-H in the summer of 2024, she was awarded Grand Champion Market Hog. She also won her lightweight division during the Franklin County Fair open show. She plans to continue to show pigs in open shows and share her love for pigs with others.

Ava Riggs, is a recent graduate of Reynoldsburg High School and will be attending The Ohio State University in the fall. She plans to major in natural resource management with a minor in business. During high school, Riggs was actively involved in a variety of leadership and extracurricular roles. She served on the Franklin County Junior Fair Board, was the chief project manager for her robotics team, held the position of first chair in the school orchestra, and was a dedicated member of the 4-H Dog Club.

Kyra Bradshaw, is a rising sophomore at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where she is majoring in elementary education. With eight years of experience in 4-H, Bradshaw remains actively involved as a volunteer, supporting a variety of 4-H events and activities. During her time in the program, she completed numerous projects that deepened her understanding of agriculture, including work with market rabbits, gardening, shooting sports, sewing, and cooking. In addition to her academic pursuits, she is an active member of the campus community, participating in both the Una Voce choir and the university’s theater program.