AG COMMITTEE SCHOLARSHIPS
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Back in October 2024, the Gothenburg Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee made a promise: If the annual Beef & Wine fundraising event brought in $25,000, the committee would give $25,000 in scholarships in 2025. Supporters met the challenge, and the Ag Committee kept its word.
Earlier this month, the Chamber Ag Committee presented 11 awards totaling more than $25,000. During the annual awards night at Gothenburg High School, Ag Committee scholarship chair Emily Keiser expressed gratitude to the community for supporting the future of agriculture. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community and the continued success of our annual Beef & Wine event, we are thrilled to share that we met our goal of $25,000 for 2025. That means this year alone, we are able to award $25,000 in scholarships and grants,” Keiser said. “These funds come entirely from local support — our sponsors, donors and event attendees who believe in the power of investing in the next generation.” One of the long-standing scholarship awards by the Ag Committee is a partnership with Agriculture Future of America. The AFA scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who plans to attend a four-year university and major in an agriculture-related field or food science. Selection is based on academics, community service, leadership and vision for the future. In addition to a $3,200 scholarship, recipients also attend the AFA Leaders Conference in Kansas City, an incredible opportunity to network with top leaders and companies in the agriculture industry nationwide. The 2025 AFA scholarship recipient is Max Wyatt, who plans to study ag business and ag marketing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Three years ago, the Chamber Ag Committee recognized the growing importance of trade careers in agriculture and launched a scholarship for students planning to attend a two-year trade or technical school. These students are essential to the ag landscape and often return to rural areas. Two trade school scholarships worth $1,500 each were awarded to Lizzie David and Brett Harbur. David will study to become a vet tech and Harbur plans a career in welding. In 2024, the Ag Committee expanded its scholarship offerings to include students pursuing degrees outside agriculture, recognizing that nearly all career paths in Nebraska connect somehow to ag. This year, two non-ag scholarships worth $1,000 each were presented to Alec Winney and Joey Holland. Successful fundraising helped the Ag Committee create several new scholarships for 2025. A three-tiered award for graduates pursuing ag-related degrees from four-year universities totaled $10,000 and was open to students across Dawson County. SEM graduate Jaelin Wolfinger received a $5,000 scholarship while Maddox Jones, also from SEM, received a $3,000 award and Parker Walahoski from Overton received $2,000. Also new this year are scholarships for Gothenburg alumni who are currently pursuing post-secondary degrees. These were open to juniors and seniors in college or graduate students, recognizing those continuing their commitment to agriculture and education. The recipients of these $2,000 alumni scholarships are Helene Keiser and Neligh Anderson. Keiser attends West Texas A&M studying animal science and Andersen is an Iowa State University student pursuing a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Lastly, the Ag Committee has provided a new opportunity for young ag professionals through the Young Ag Entrepreneur Grant. This $3,000 grant is available year-round to community members under 35 who are starting or growing an agriculture-related business. The first grant recipient is Heath Keiser, who will use the funds to expand embryo transfer within his cattle herd to advance genetic progress. “We are proud to continue to support young people as they take the next steps in their educational and professional journeys,” Keiser said, “steps that will lead them to make a meaningful impact in agriculture, our community and beyond.” The Beef & Wine double platinum sponsors who lead the way in underwriting the Ag Committee scholarships are Beck’s/Farmacy, Flatwater Bank, Gothenburg Health, The Home Agency and Tyson. This financial support has a direct and lasting impact on the lives of students and the future of agriculture in our region. If you would like to become a sponsor for Beef & Wine and help make more scholarships possible, contact the Gothenburg Chamber of Commerce. Beef & Wine 2025 will be Nov. 8 with a Husker tailgate theme. 
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The Scholarships:
Graduating Senior pursuing an ag degree: OPEN TO DAWSON COUNTY SENIORS
Graduating Senior pursuing an ag degree: OPEN TO DAWSON COUNTY SENIORS
- Three applicants will be ranked 1-3 and awarded the corresponding amount. – Applications available in January
- Gold Scholar - $5,000
- Silver Scholar - $3,000
- Bronze Scholar – $1,500
- Two applicants will be awarded $1,500 each – Applications available in January
- Two applicants will be awarded $1,000 each – Applications available in January
- AFA Leaders Conference Scholarship - $3,200 (includes trip to conference) – Applications available in January
- Junior/Senior in College or Masters Program: Open to Gothenburg Graduates
- Two applications will be awarded $2,000 each – Applications available in January
- If selected, applicants will receive a $3,000 grant. These grants are available at the committee's discretion and can be awarded any time – Apply Here
