National Sorghum Producers Foundation And Scholarships Duerksen Keren

About Foundation & Scholarships

Promoting Research, Education and Leadership

The National Grain Sorghum Foundation promotes research and education for sorghum and develops the leadership potential of active university students interested in studying agriculture and, more specifically, the sorghum industry.

National Sorghum Foundation Members

National Sorghum Foundation members have financially contributed to the advancement of education and science within the sorghum community.

There are also members of the Golden Grain Society who have contributed $5,000 or more in current gifts or $10,000 or more in future gifts, through wills, insurance etc.

Agriculture Scholarships for the 2023-2024 School Year

National Sorghum Foundation Scholarships

View 2023-2024 Winners and Scholarship Criteria:

2023-2024 Agriculture Scholarships

National Sorghum Foundation - BASF Joint Scholarship

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Questions and Submissions
Applicants must be the child or grandchild of a National Sorghum Producers member and be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in an agriculturally-related curriculum. Undergraduate applicants must be entering at least their second year of study during the 2023-2024 school year.

Applications
Applications are due by Dec. 1, 2023 and must include the following:

Completed Application
Official transcript
At least two letters of recommendation
A headshot photo for media release

Timeline
October 1, 2023 – Applications open
December 1, 2023 – Application deadline
January 15-31, 2024 – The winner(s) will be contacted

2022-2023 Winners – Max Harman & Breely Huguley

The National Sorghum Foundation and BASF awarded joint scholarships for the 2021-2022 school year. The scholarships will include a $2,500 award for tuition.

Harman is a first year Ph.D. student studying molecular plant genetics at Michigan State. Max is the son of NSP members Todd and Janell Harman.

Huguley, a senior agricultural communications major at Texas Tech University. Breely is the daughter of NSP member Preston Huguley.

2023-2024 Agriculture Scholarships

Bruce Maunder Memorial Scholarship

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Scholarship Benefits
A selection committee made up of the Sorghum Foundation Board of Directors will rank the applications and award the winner of the Bruce Maunder Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship will consist of the following:

$1,500 award to be applied toward one semester of tuition expenses

Applications

Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are closed.

Questions and Submissions
For questions, please contact Jeff Dahlberg at jeff@sorghumgrowers.com or (559) 305-3555.

2023-2024 Winner – Shin Myat Naing

Shin Myat Naing, the recipient of the prestigious Bruce Maunder Scholarship, is a junior pursuing a double major in agricultural and applied economics and general business at Texas Tech University. Shin grew up in Singapore and realized how heavily her country relied on foreign supplies for food, which has led her to further her education in sustainable innovations for food production and distribution.

2023-2024 Agriculture Scholarships

Darrell Rosenow Memorial Scholarship

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Scholarship Benefits
A selection committee made up of the Sorghum Foundation Board of Directors will rank the applications and award the winner of the Darrell Rosenow Memorial Scholarship package. The scholarship package will consist of $1,500 to be applied toward one semester of tuition expenses.

Applications
Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are closed.

Questions and Submissions
For questions, please contact Jeff Dahlberg at jeff@sorghumgrowers.com or (559) 305-3555.

2023-2024 Winner – Landon Trout

Landon Trout was honored with the Darrell Rosenow Memorial Scholarship. Trout is a junior agronomy major at Kansas State University and is from Western Kansas where he grew up working on his family farm. Trout plans on pursuing a Ph.D. and working in research to help farmers in the future.

2023-2024 Agriculture Scholarships

Bill Kubecka Memorial Scholarship

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Scholarship Benefits
A selection committee made up of the Sorghum Foundation Board of Directors will rank the applications and award the winner of the Bill Kubecka Memorial Scholarship package. The scholarship will consist of the following:

$1,500 award to be applied toward one semester of tuition expenses.
A trip to Washington, D.C., with NSP or a virtual meeting. Students will meet their Congressional representatives and watch the legislative process as association leaders discuss and resolve timely agricultural issues for the producers they represent. The trip will coincide with NSP’s legislative fly-in.

Applications
Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are closed.

Questions and Submissions
For questions, please contact contact Jeff Dahlberg at jeff@sorghumgrowers.com or (559) 305-3555.

2023-2024 Winner – Clayton Roy Elbel

Clayton Roy Elbel, the recipient of the Bill Kubecka Memorial Scholarship, is currently pursuing a master’s degree in agricultural economics and public policy at Texas A&M University. He is from Spring Branch, Texas, and looks forward to pursuing a career focused on agricultural policy with a focus on international trade and global development.

Testimonials

Hear From Past Recipients

“...communicating where you are from and what you do to other people, especially in D.C., is really important in this day and age...”
“I think talking to lawmakers and all of the farmers that I went around Capitol Hill with really exposed me to the idea that communicating where you are from and what you do to other people, especially in D.C., is really important in this day and age where not that many people are still involved on the farm. You may think they know what is going on but they really don't. If you don't tell them, someone else is going to tell them for you."
- Ciera Ware | Bruce Maunder Sorghum Leadership Scholarship | Texas Tech University - Plant and Soil Sciences

“…in school I loved math and science, and I thought about combining those two things. That led me to agronomy, and I’ve loved it ever since…”
“Growing up on a small farm, I always loved asking dad questions. I was the fourth child and my brothers all grew up and left the home, so my parents took me to all the farm meetings, all the different insurance meetings, and I loved asking questions,” Duerksen said. “I loved learning about it. But in school I loved math and science, and I thought about combining those two things. That led me to agronomy, and I’ve loved it ever since."
- Keren Deurksen | Darrell Rosenow Memorial Scholarship | Kansas State University Agronomy Major

“…you kind of have to see if you relate to that in a sense that it is not only a monetary support, it is an investment in your future…”
“No matter what the scholarship is, you need to do your research. There’s usually clues about the goals and the values of the scholarship as well as related to the organization. You kind of have to see if you relate to that in a sense that it is not only a monetary support, it is an investment in your future,” Traskowsky said. “So you want to make sure that you are wanting to learn more about it or doing something that is going to benefit both yourself and the organization that is putting the money out there to help you go to school."
- Mardi Traskowsky | Sorghum Feed & Food Scholarship | Kansas State University - Milling Science & Management Major

Foundation

Sorghum Foundation Leadership

Jeff Dahlberg, Chairman

Prior to his role with the National Sorghum Foundation, Dahlberg worked for more than a decade as the director of the University of California Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier and has spent time as the research geneticist and sorghum curator at the USDA Agricultural Research Service Tropical Crops and Germplasm Research Center in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. He also dedicated 20 years to working as the research director for National Sorghum Producers and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program, during which he served for two years as the president of the Whole Grains Council.

Sorghum Foundation Board

Jeff Dahlberg National Sorghum Foundation Chairman Parlier, California

J.B. Stewart Keyes, Oklahoma

Scott Staggenborg Longmont, Colorado

Doug Keesling Chase, Kansas

National Sorghum Producers Staff Larry Lambright

Larry Lambright Lubbock, Texas

Sorghum Foundation Highlight

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Foundation & Scholarships

Promoting Research, Education and Leadership

Questions & Submissions