Jackson County Farm Bureau is now in its twenty-sixth year of offering scholarship awards to outstanding high school seniors, college, or trade school students accepted by or attending a post-secondary educational institution, awarded $500 per recipient.
Please join us in congratulating Alex Weir, Allie Choate, Gibson Overweg, and Gavin Lightner as the 2026 Jackson County Farm Bureau Scholarship recipients!
Alex graduated from Hanover Horton High School last year and is now in his first year at Michigan State University pursuing a degree in the Dairy Education Program. He is very excited about the leadership skills and knowledge he will obtain through his college endeavors to become the next generation to manage farm operations. He is learning about the latest technological advances available, networking with peers, and best practices for farm management.
Allie graduated from Columbia Central High School last year and is now in her first year at Michigan State University. She is working towards her Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Agribusiness management. Her post-graduation goal is to become an animal nutritionist or work in animal nutrition sales as she is passionate about health performance and overall wellbeing of livestock.
Gibson is a senior at Springport High School and is actively participating in Springport FFA Chapter and Westside Hi-Steppers 4-H Club. He hopes to attend University of Michigan, Michigan State University, or Albion College. He plans to study Kinesiology with a focus on becoming a physical therapist or athletic trainer. Gibson also plans to coincide that career path with a long-term goal of restoring their family farm raising livestock alongside his mother and siblings.
Gavin is a senior at Springport High School and is actively participating in the Springport FFA Chapter. He plans to attend Michigan State University this fall focused on Sports & Commercial Turf Grass Management. He has accepted a job working with the Lansing Lugnuts grounds crew to gain real experience before beginning his post-secondary education. He shares that there are many similarities to row crop
farming and lawn care. You must understand how plants grow, soil structure, and
everything that influences their growth. He has also discovered that the work also requires long hours in all weather conditions, just like farming. His experience on the farm has greatly supported his goal of pursuing a career in the turfgrass management industry.
The county farm bureau would also like to thank the scholarship committee for their time and efforts in selecting students for the scholarship: Becky Heim, Tonya Sears, Jim Spink, and Matt Reinker.
Scholarship recipients will receive their first year of membership paid by the county farm bureau and are invited to the County Annual Meeting on August 30th to recognize them before other members of the organization.
For over 20 years now, Jackson Co. Farm Bureau has proudly awarded over $21,000 in scholarships to very deserving students pursuing careers in the agriculture industry.
Please visit our website at michfb.com/jackson or Facebook page @JacksonCountyMIFarmBureau for all of the latest programs available.