Young Leader Scholarship Program
The MACA Young Leader Scholarship Program (YLSP) is designed to introduce future agriculturalists to the crop protection industry and career opportunities. Recipients will benefit from exposure to and networking with MACA members for potential job opportunities, as well as receiving financial compensation. MACA members benefit by developing a talent pool of future industry leaders and through the awareness of MACA within the participating universities.
Reminder: Application Deadline
Submit your application online, along with your resume and unofficial transcript, by noon on November 19, 2025, to MACA.
Please contact Program Coordinator Michelle Kilper at michelle@maca.org if you have any questions about the program or require more information.
2026 YLSP Scholarship Recipients
Brandon Boyd
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Caleb Burnside
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Sara Dammann
Michigan State University
Emma Hamilton
Kansas State University
Bryce Haubenschild
South Dakota State University
Molly McGuire
The Ohio State University
Peter Metivier
University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign
Kylie Saathoff
Purdue University
Clare Viau
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Will Vlasek
Iowa State University
Aliza Yoder
University of Missouri - Columbia
2025 MACA Young Leaders
The Views on Agriculture from the Next Generation Young professionals shared their views on the market with 2025 MACA attendees.
By Eric Sfiligoj
For 13 years now, one of the highlights of the annual Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) meeting has been hearing from the next generation of ag professionals. These Young Leaders are granted scholarships from MACA members and come to the event to network with long-standing participants and share their individual stories on what drew them to agriculture as a career in the first place.
According to Adam Loker from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, he grew up on a family farm in Southern Illinois.
“What drew me to agriculture was the people,” said Loker.
“I wanted a job where I could add value to people directly, make connections, and best represent whatever company I
was with. So, I took a sales course, and I loved it! That’s why I am going into ag sales.”
Another Young Leader, Natalie Clemenson from the University of Wisconsin, said what drew her agriculture was
the chance to help the industry improve its overall image – especially with the general public.
“I think one of the biggest challenges for our industry is the public’s viewpoint of agriculture,” said Clemenson. “Every
generation is getting further from having that experience on the farm. Many of their viewpoints aren’t always true.”
In her mind, the best way for agriculture to address this issue is simple – swap stories.
“Having growers and ag retailers share their stories with the public is the key,” said Clemenson. “Those kinds of personal stories will help people make a much better connection with agriculture, even if they’ve never taken part in it.”
According to Reagan Koester from Purdue University, another way agriculture can help improve its image with the general public is through sustainability.
“I think sustainability is a piece of the puzzle that will energize the future of agriculture,” said Koester. “We have less acres to work with – and an ever-growing population to feed – so how do we optimize these acres in the best way possible?
Sustainability is the answer, and one the public will appreciate and understand.”
Another future trend for agriculture to grow is technology, said Blaine Cords from Michigan State University.
“I think technology is going to be a way bigger selling point for agriculture,” said Cords. “In particular, drones will be big in application. Recently, my dad who farms couldn’t get his sprayer into the field because of the plants being too high. But we could use drones to apply, so that’s what we did.”
Young Leader Scholarship Program Sponsors
Albaugh, LLC; AMVAC; BASF; Bayer Crop Science; Certis Biologicals; Corteva; FMC; Foster Logistics; Gowan; GreenLeaf; GROWMARK; Helm Agro; IEDS; KALO; MFA; Morris Bixby Group; Nutrien Ag Solutions; Rosen’s; Syngenta Crop Protection; and Valent USA.
Candidates
We’re looking for high-potential college students pursuing an academic focus in agriculture. Ideal candidates will be enrolled at a university and have secured a summer internship in the agricultural field—preferably within the crop protection industry.
In addition, the selected recipient must attend the MACA Annual Meeting in Omaha, NE, from September 8–10, 2026. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with MACA members, build your professional network, and gain a deeper understanding of the crop protection industry.
Specific Requirements
- Academic Progress: Applicants must be on track to complete at least 60 credit hours by December 2025, with a focus on agriculture.
- Summer Internship: Applicants must plan to participate in a summer 2026 internship within the agricultural field, with preference given to those in the crop protection sector.
Selection Process
After all applications are submitted, the MACA Education Committee will carefully review and evaluate each application. One recipient per state will be chosen to receive a $2,000 scholarship, awarded directly to their university. MACA will coordinate with the university to ensure the funds are applied to the student’s account.
- Final Decision: All decisions made by MACA are final.
- Eligibility: Previous scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply.
- Notification: The selected recipient will be notified by March 2026.
Participating States
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
Scholarship Application
To apply, please submit the following:
- Internship Description: Provide a brief overview of your summer internship, including the company or organization, location, and key responsibilities. If your internship has not been secured by November 19, 2025, include the details of the internships you’ve applied for, along with the expected acceptance date.
- Application Letter or Essay: Write an essay (500 words or less) explaining why you believe you’re a strong candidate for this opportunity.
- Resume: A current resume highlighting your academic and professional achievements.
- Unofficial Transcript: A copy of your most recent unofficial transcript.
General Program Requirements
- GPA: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required while enrolled in college.
- Application Deadline: Submit your application online, including your resume and unofficial transcript, by noon on November 19, 2025, to MACA.
- MACA Annual Meeting: The scholarship recipient must be available to attend the MACA Annual Meeting in Omaha, NE, from September 8–10, 2026. MACA will reimburse all travel and lodging expenses.
- Online Training: The recipient is required to attend monthly virtual presentations hosted by MACA members from April to August 2026. These 1-hour sessions, held once a month in the evening, will cover career and professional development.
- Promotion: After the Annual Meeting, the recipient will help promote the scholarship to students and student groups at their university.
Program Benefits
- $2,000 Scholarship: A cash scholarship provided to the recipient’s university.
- Travel Stipend: MACA will cover all expenses for attending the Annual Meeting, including travel and lodging.
- Networking: The scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to network with MACA members during the Annual Meeting.
- Mentorship: Recipients will be paired with a MACA member mentor for guidance and career development.
- Attendance Requirement: The recipient must attend the MACA Annual Meeting in Omaha, NE, from September 8–10, 2026. All related expenses will be covered by MACA.
Timeline
- November 19, 2025: Application deadline.
- Mid-February 2026: MACA committee reviews applications and selects recipients.
- Early March 2026: Selected recipients will be notified.
- April–August 2026: Monthly online meetings for professional development.
- September 8–10, 2026: Attendance at the MACA Annual Meeting in Omaha, NE, is required. All expenses will be covered by MACA.
Young Leader Scholarship Program
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