2019 AAE Scholarship Recipients

SANAUZ ALAEI
Community Economic Development/Pulver-Shaffer Scholarship

Sanauz is a senior majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics and Environmental
Science. This year she is an intern at the Office of Sustainability, and chair of the ASM
Sustainability Committee. In her free time, Sanauz enjoys being outdoors in all types of
terrain from hiking to scuba diving. Next year she intends to go to graduate school for
marine science/biology conservation while hopefully still taking some environmental
economics classes!

VERITY ALTENBERGER
Community Economic Development/Pulver-Shaffer Scholarship

Verity is a sophomore majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics and pursuing
certificates in Environmental Studies and French. As a freshman, she was a member
of the Wisconsin Women’s Rowing Team; this year she joined the female fitness group
Mind Body Badger. This summer, Verity had two positions: she interned at the Wisconsin
Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters this summer as an editorial assistant for their
magazine, Wisconsin People & Ideas, where she helped with research, composition and
fact-checking; and she worked as a senate page in the capitol. During the academic
year, she will continue working in the Senate and will intern in the Office of the State
Treasurer.

ADDISON ARNDT Ontario, WI
Babcock House Mark Sherry Memorial Scholarship
Farm Credit Services Scholarship
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship
Dick Weigle Memorial Scholarship

Addison is a senior majoring in Agricultural Business Management and working towards certificates in Religious Studies and Sustainability. He interned with Premier Cooperative this summer and fell in love with the energy field. He’ll continue to work with Premier throughout the school year and looks forward to a career somewhere in Wisconsin as an energy specialist upon graduation. Addison is currently a Faith & Vocation Fellow through Lutheran Campus Ministry, serving as a middle and high school youth leader. He is also treasurer for Collegiate Farm Bureau, fundraising chair for National Agri-Maketing Association, and steward for his beloved college home, Babcock House. In his free time, Addison loves to spend time with friends and family or read a good book.

BRANDON BIESE Chilton, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Brandon is a junior majoring in Dairy Science with a Certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. He grew up on his family’s 350-cow dairy farm and plans to return home to the farm in some capacity in the future. Brandon is currently involved in Alpha Gamma
Rho, Intramural Sports, and will serve as the activities officer for Badger Dairy Club this year. This past summer, Brandon interned at Milksource Genetics LLC in Kaukauna, WI, where he focused on show cattle care and calf management. Outside of the classroom, Brandon enjoys feeding calves at home, showing dairy cattle, and playing volleyball.

ALLIE BREUNIG Sauk City, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Allie is a senior studying LifeSciences Communication and pursuing certificates in Management for Agricultural &Life Sciences and Entrepreneurship. She found her passion for agriculture and sharingher story by growing up on her family’s 450-cow dairy farm, Mystic Valley Dairy, in Roxbury, WI. On campus she is involved with the National Agri-Marketing Association, Badger Dairy Club and Association of Women in Agriculture. Allie has been an intern at Filament Marketing and BASF, working in marketing communications and sales roles. In the future, she looks forward to pursuing a career in agriculture, but she’s not quite sure where or what that will be.

CODY BOL Chetek, WI
Carrie Aberle Demeter Scholarship

Cody is a senior double majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics and Agronomy. He loves farming, economics, and helping people. He is gaining skills that he believes will help him to be an asset to his local community and throughout the world. He is working on his family’s farm, which he plans to own/manage in the future. Outside of school and work he is involved with his church, does a lot of reading, and enjoys traveling the world, learning about new
people and cultures.

ATTICUS CLARK Elm Grove, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Atticus will be graduating in May with a degree in Biological Systems Engineering – Machinery Systems and a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. He has enjoyed his time in Madison, especially his involvement with agriculture through the Renk Agribusiness
program as well as Saddle and Sirloin. This summer he interned with Komatsu Mining Corporation in Milwaukee, WI, as a product support engineer. After graduation he plans on getting an MBA and then enroll in law school to study agricultural patent law.

LOGAN FITCH East Troy, WI
Bradford Richmond Award

Logan is a freshman studying Agricultural Business Management. He has been employed at two produce farms and was the vice president of his high school’s FFA Chapter.

EMILY FRANKE Oakfield, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Emily is a junior studying Dairy Science with a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. She is vice president of the Association of Women in Agriculture, outreach coordinator for the Badger Dairy Club, a member of the Collegiate Farm Bureau and a CALS Ambassador. This past summer Emily served as the milk marketing intern for Grande Cheese Company. She is currently the communications and outreach intern for Professional Dairy Producers. Outside of class, Emily enjoys taking pictures and spending time with her family and friends.

NICOLE GLESINGER
Vicky Lee Hirsh Endowment for Conservation Scholarship

Nicole is a freshman majoring in Agricultural Business Management.

ABBEY GRAF
Community Economic Development/Pulver-Shaffer Scholarship

Abbey is a senior majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics with a certificate in
Food Systems. The only thing that matches Abbey’s love of food and agriculture is her
love for travel. Last spring semester, Abbey studied abroad in Kenya and interned at
Farming Systems Kenya. This past summer, Abbey interned at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture as a policy analyst.

EMMA GWIDT Pulaski, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Emma is a sophomore majoring in Dairy Science with a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. She grew up on Double Nickel Dairy, her parent’s farm that manages a 120- cow Holstein herd. Through her experience on the farm, she grew to love the agriculture industry and dairy cattle, which led her to UW-Madison. She is involved in Badger Dairy Club, the Association of Women in Agriculture and the Collegiate Farm Bureau. This summer she interned with ST Genetics in South Charleston, Ohio, and is currently a part-time AI relief technician for Central Star Cooperative.

CARMEN HAACK Algoma, WI
Otto and Gaylord Hill Family Dairy Science Legacy Scholarship
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Carmen is a senior pursuing a double degree in Agricultural Business Management and Dairy Science. She has been involved in both the Badger Dairy Club and Association of Women in Agriculture on campus. In her free time she enjoys camping, concerts, and attending dairy cattle
shows. After completing three dairy-focused internships with UW Extension, Hall’s Calf Ranch, and Brey Cycle Farms, Carmen realized that her agricultural passion is strongest when she is in the barn alongside cows. After graduating in May of 2020, Carmen hopes to find a career as a herdsperson or herd manager in the Wisconsin dairy industry; which she believes will allow her to capitalize on her knowledge in both dairy science and agricultural business management.

HUNTER HUSCHITT Monroe, WI
Bradford Richmond Award

Hunter is a freshman majoring in Agriculture Business Management. In high school he was an active member of his FFA and 4-H clubs. He was also a member of the National Honors Society, Link Crew, and played basketball. This summer Hunter worked at Klondike Cheese Company in Monroe, Wisconsin. Outside of school, Hunter enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his
family and friends.

MATTHEW LAND Middleton, WI
Martin A. Abrahamsen Undergraduate Scholarship
Vicky Lee Hirsh Academic Merit Award

Matthew is a senior majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics. While at UW-Madison, he has been very involved with the Wisconsin Track Club, currently serving as the organization’s president. He has taken advantage of research opportunities on campus, completing an independent study and working as a research assistant this summer. Matthew is graduating in December and is currently applying to full-time jobs and intends to pursue graduate school in
economics in the near future.

MATTHEW LASKA Fond du Lac, WI
Vicky Lee Hirsh Academic Merit Award
Bruce and Ruth Marion Scholarship

Matthew is a senior double majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics and GIS/Cartography. This past summer he interned with the City of Fond du Lac where he gained valuable experience utilizing GIS programs on various projects. Outside of classes, he enjoys all things outdoors and traveling. Matthew currently serves as a vice president of the Wisconsin Track Club.

MAXWELL LAWRENCE Middleton, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Max is a junior majoring in Agricultural Business Management and pursuing a certificate in Global Health. He’s always had a keen interest in sustainability, but after taking Professor Du’s commodity
market class, Max has developed a newfound love for commodity trading, ultimately joining the commodity trading club. This summer he worked with Silva Labs researching cover crop utility for weed suppression on no-till plots. Next summer he hopes to intern as a merchandise trader. Outside of class, Max enjoys hiking, backyard games, making his friends laugh, and playing Super Smash Brothers against anyone willing to lose.

MEGAN LEHR Monticello, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship
Glenn Webb Education Fund /The GROWMARK Foundation
Dick Weigle Memorial Scholarship

Megan is a junior majoring in Agricultural Business Management. On campus she is involved in the Association of Women in Agriculture as the secretary for this academic year and she has also been involved in the Agricultural Business Management Club for the past two years. This summer she worked at Wisconsin Cheese Group in Monroe, Wisconsin, as a customer service representative and also coached middle school softball in her hometown. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and doing crafts.

JESSICA MEHRE Glenbeulah, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Jessica is a junior studying Dairy Science and Agronomy with a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. Her deep appreciation for agriculture comes from living and working on her parents’ 50-cow dairy farm. This summer she was a TMR quality control intern with Quality Liquid Feeds, assisting farmers in their feeding programs in the Magic Valley and Treasure Valley of Idaho. The summer before she interned with Wallendal Farms, LLC, where she worked a variety of jobs, from on-farm research trials, field operations, and dry bean breeding nursery care. After graduation, she plans to earn a PhD. in the realm of forages. Jessica will be attending Wageningen University in the Netherlands this spring for a study abroad program. In addition to club involvement and campus research, Jessica enjoys running any distance, from Turkey Trots to the Boston Marathon.

MICHAEL MOEDE Algoma, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Michael is a senior studying Dairy Science with a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. He is currently president of the Badger Dairy Club and active in the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. He spent this past summer as an intern with Phibro Animal Health as a Nutritional Specialties. In his free time, he likes playing and watching sports and showing dairy cattle around the Midwest. After graduation, he hopes to find a job in the agriculture industry.

BEN MROTEK Cedarburg, WI
Chicago Farmers Scholarship
Madison West Kiwanis-Dickson Scholarship

Ben is a senior double majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics and Environmental Studies with a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. He is interested in energy efficiency and renewable energy and is considering the REDA program after graduation. Ben is currently the president of his fraternity, Psi Upsilon, and is also part of the largest student-run philanthropic organization in the state, Humorology. Outside class, Ben enjoys playing tennis,
baseball, and fishing.

DAWSON NICKELS Watertown, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Dawson is a junior majoring in Dairy Science and pursuing a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. He is very active within the dairy industry, traveling across the U.S. preparing dairy cattle for exhibit. Based on Dawson’s extensive experiences, he was offered a
fall internship at the Great Northern Land and Cattle Company’s sale barn in Fond du Lac, WI. He spends most weekends as an employee of Budjon Farms, assisting with their preparations for World Dairy Expo.

JESSICA NOBLE Burlington, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Jessica is a junior studying Dairy Science with a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. She is involved with many clubs on campus including Babcock House Cooperative, Badger Dairy Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau, and National Society of Leadership and
Success. This summer she plans on getting an internship on a dairy farm, so she can gain more experience before she returns home to run her family’s dairy farm.

KIRSTEN NOVAK
Truman and Sylvia Graf Scholarship
Wisconsin Rural Youth Scholarship

Kirstin is a freshman majoring in Agricultural Business Management. She grew up on a grain andproduce farm and plans to expand the operation with more fruits and vegetables after she returns from college. In fall, she enjoys returning home to pick pumpkins, gourds and squash. Outside of class her favorite thing to do is spend time with her goats and dog. When winter comes, you can find her downhill skiing.

BRAYDEN PAUR Menomonie, WI
Martin A. Abrahamsen Undergraduate Scholarship

Brayden is a senior majoring in Agriculture and Applied Economics with a certificate in Development Economics. His passions range from playing the drums with Badger Cru, backpacking in the Rocky Mountains and reading what many consider, dry and somewhat boring economics and history books. This past year he completed an internship with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture as a member of their international trade team. This year Brayden is working with Data Forest Network, a startup focusing on creating timber price index reports. Following graduation in December, Brayden plans on attending graduate school in Applied Economics.

DYLAN PECKHAM Lodi, WI
Georgia M. Hellberg Scholarship
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Dylan is a senior graduating in December with a degree in Agricultural Business Management and certificates in Business and Entrepreneurship. He enjoys working with the commodity and financial markets. This last year, he interned at UBS Financial Services in Madison. Outside of his classes Dylan enjoyed being a student leader in a student finance organization on campus and fishing with the fishing club. Dylan is unsure where he’ll accept a full time position, but is considering positions with Cargill, BP, and UBS.

ERIK OHMAN Plymouth, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Erik is a junior majoring in Microbiology and pursuing a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. His passions as an aspiring scientist, outdoorsman, and agriculture enthusiast have directed Erik into a career path of protecting our natural resources using new technologies and sustainable food production, while also improving nutrition for our global population. This past summer, he interned with Land O’Lakes Inc. in the Global Food Challenge. During this internship, Erik worked on a food sustainability project while also traveling with Land O’Lakes to three countries in Africa, a member cooperative in Kansas, as well as many farms in Minnesota. In his free time, Erik enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and spending time with his friends on the lake.

LINDSEY SARBACKER Stoughton, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Lindsey is a junior studying Dairy Science and Life Science Communications with a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. On campus, Lindsey is an active member
of the Badger Dairy Club and Collegiate Farm Bureau. She has leadership positions in the National Agri-Marketing Association, where she serves as president; and the Association of Women in Agriculture, where she serves as the communications officer. In addition, Lindsey is a co-host on AgChat, the student radio station. This past summer Lindsey was the food export intern at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. She provided Wisconsin companies with key market research to increase export sales globally, analyzed Wisconsin’s export data monthly and recruited companies to participate in buyers missions and export programs. Lindsey is excited to continue her internship this school year.

ASHTYN SMITS Cambria, WI
Vicky Lee Hirsh Academic Merit Award
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship
Dick Weigle Memorial Scholarship

Ashtyn is a junior majoring in Agricultural Business Management and pursuing a certificate in
Sustainability. She is an active member of her community and loves volunteering for local events and fundraisers. This summer she interned with SeedLink LLC, a Pioneer Sales Agency, out of Columbus, WI. She assisted with the seed sales process, bookkeeping, and company/warehouse organization. Outside of going to school, Ashtyn finds joy in helping on her family’s dairy farm, working with the beef cattle, and getting outside to enjoy nature.

BRITTANY TEUNISSEN Cedar Grove, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Brittany is a sophomore majoring in Agricultural Business Management. On campus she is involved in the Association of Women in Agriculture as well as the Collegiate Farm Bureau where she serves as the club’s secretary. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends and working on her family’s farm.

MENA SCHMITT Sun Prairie, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Mena is a junior majoring in Dairy Science with a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. On campus she is a member of Association of Women in Agriculture, Badger Dairy Club, and Collegiate Farm Bureau. In the summer of 2019, she spent two months in Minnesota interning at Riverview, LLP, as an assistant herdsman on a large dairy farm. Off-campus, she is very involved on her family’s farm and competitive showing of registered cattle at national levels.

MFONOBONG UFOT Gaithersburg, MD
Abagail Catania AAE/ABM Diversity Scholarship

Mfononbong is a senior majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics and International Studies with a certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies. She is also a Posse Scholar and has been a house fellow at Chadbourne Residential College and a front desk assistant with the UW- Madison Graduate School.

TUCKER WEDIG Belmont, WI
Renk Agribusiness Institute Scholarship

Tucker is a senior majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics and Environmental Science with a certificate in Business Management for Agricultural & Life Sciences. He has long been involved in agriculture at various levels, and enjoys spending free time on his family’s dairy and beef farm in southwestern Wisconsin. Outside of school Tucker enjoys spending time with friends, hunting and playing sports.