Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation Awards $16,000 In Scholarships
The Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2026 Scholarships. These awards are given to outstanding high school and college students who have achieved a well-rounded high school and collegiate career and understand the value of volunteerism. These applicants were selected based upon their academic, school, and community involvement by an independent committee appointed by the Rock Island County Farm Bureau® Foundation Board of Directors.
This year, the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation awarded one $2,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior. The 2026 Foundation Scholarship winner is:
This scholarship has been made possible thanks to the financial gifts from several families and our members. We also want to extend our sincere appreciation to the family of Myron and Helen Mueller who donated over $5,000 to the Foundation in support of funding one of the Foundation Scholarships each year beginning in 2009. Currently, because of their additional giving, the funds have grown and will help fund a Foundation Scholarship each year until the funds are exhausted. The Lowell Johnson Charitable Foundation and the Churchill Family Foundation have contributed $1,500 and $2,000, respectively, towards the scholarships for the RICFB Foundation as well. The family of Glenn Mueller has also donated funds in support of Foundation Scholarships.
KENNETH BUSH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This year, one graduating high school senior will receive a $2,000 scholarship toward their post-secondary education courtesy of the Kenneth Bush Memorial Scholarship. The 2026 Bush Scholarship winner is:
The Kenneth Bush Memorial Scholarship was established in 2020 by the Kenny Bush Family. Kenny and Marilyn Bush have been long-time supporters of the Rock Island County Farm Bureau and its Foundation. Inducted into the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation in 2011, both served on the foundation board of directors for a number of years. Their belief of hard work, education, and the value of family and faith is of the utmost importance in life. Kenny also served as the Vice-President of the Rock Island County Farm Bureau from 1968-1970 and President from 1970-1974. Kenny Bush passed away in April 2020, and his family dedicated a generous scholarship contribution to be awarded annually in his honor.
KEPPY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
This year, four students will receive a $2,500 scholarship for their continuing education courtesy of the Wilbert and Carol Keppy Charitable Foundation. The 2026 Keppy Scholarship winners are:
GEORGE AND IRENE STULZ FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
This year, two students will receive $1,000 scholarships towards their post-secondary education courtesy of the George and Irene Stulz Family Scholarship. The 2026 Stulz Scholarship winners are:
The Stulz Family Scholarship was established in 2018 by George and Irene Stulz. The scholarship awards monies to post-secondary students enrolled as a Junior or Senior at a four-year university with a career focus in an agricultural field. George and Irene were long-time members of the Rock Island County Farm Bureau and were inducted into the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation Hall of Fame in 2012. George served as director on the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation board of directors until his passing in 2024. The Stulz family has continued their support of the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation and has dedicated a generous scholarship contribution to be awarded annually in George and Irene’s honor.
A reminder that scholarship applications are available from the Farm Bureau office in January each year. For more information regarding the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation and their scholarships, please contact the FB office at (309) 736-7432, or visit www.ricofarmbureau.org/foundation.
This year, the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation awarded one $2,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior. The 2026 Foundation Scholarship winner is:
- Alexis Morgan Flickinger, a 2026 graduate of Rockridge High School. She will attend Illinois State University this Fall, where she will study Psychology.
This scholarship has been made possible thanks to the financial gifts from several families and our members. We also want to extend our sincere appreciation to the family of Myron and Helen Mueller who donated over $5,000 to the Foundation in support of funding one of the Foundation Scholarships each year beginning in 2009. Currently, because of their additional giving, the funds have grown and will help fund a Foundation Scholarship each year until the funds are exhausted. The Lowell Johnson Charitable Foundation and the Churchill Family Foundation have contributed $1,500 and $2,000, respectively, towards the scholarships for the RICFB Foundation as well. The family of Glenn Mueller has also donated funds in support of Foundation Scholarships.
KENNETH BUSH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This year, one graduating high school senior will receive a $2,000 scholarship toward their post-secondary education courtesy of the Kenneth Bush Memorial Scholarship. The 2026 Bush Scholarship winner is:
- Colton Reid, son of Chris and Joe Reid, a 2026 graduate of Rockridge High School. He will study Criminal Justice-Conservation Tract at Buena Vista University this Fall.
The Kenneth Bush Memorial Scholarship was established in 2020 by the Kenny Bush Family. Kenny and Marilyn Bush have been long-time supporters of the Rock Island County Farm Bureau and its Foundation. Inducted into the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation in 2011, both served on the foundation board of directors for a number of years. Their belief of hard work, education, and the value of family and faith is of the utmost importance in life. Kenny also served as the Vice-President of the Rock Island County Farm Bureau from 1968-1970 and President from 1970-1974. Kenny Bush passed away in April 2020, and his family dedicated a generous scholarship contribution to be awarded annually in his honor.
KEPPY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
This year, four students will receive a $2,500 scholarship for their continuing education courtesy of the Wilbert and Carol Keppy Charitable Foundation. The 2026 Keppy Scholarship winners are:
- Tanner McKeag, son of Michelle and Tyson McKeag, a 2026 graduate of Rockridge High School. He will study Ag Business at Western Illinois University this Fall.
- Ali Ehrhardt, daughter of Jenny and Jeff Ehrhardt, a 2025 graduate of Rockridge High School. She is attending Purdue University studying Accounting and Economics.
- Claire Stanforth, daughter of Joey and Kirk Stanforth, a 2025 graduate of Rockridge High School. She is studying Radiation Sciences at the University of Iowa.
- Macy Hoag, daughter of Mandy and Steve Hoag, a 2025 graduate of Rockridge High School. She is in the Ag Transfer program at Joliet Junior College.
GEORGE AND IRENE STULZ FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
This year, two students will receive $1,000 scholarships towards their post-secondary education courtesy of the George and Irene Stulz Family Scholarship. The 2026 Stulz Scholarship winners are:
- Cassie Bohnert, daughter of Karen and Scott Bohnert, a 2024 graduate of United Township High School. She will be a junior this Fall attending Iowa State University studying Dairy Science.
- Emily Saddoris, daughter of Amy and Mike Saddoris, a 2024 graduate of Riverdale High School. She will be a junior this Fall studying Agriculture Studies and International Agriculture at Iowa State University.
The Stulz Family Scholarship was established in 2018 by George and Irene Stulz. The scholarship awards monies to post-secondary students enrolled as a Junior or Senior at a four-year university with a career focus in an agricultural field. George and Irene were long-time members of the Rock Island County Farm Bureau and were inducted into the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation Hall of Fame in 2012. George served as director on the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation board of directors until his passing in 2024. The Stulz family has continued their support of the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation and has dedicated a generous scholarship contribution to be awarded annually in George and Irene’s honor.
A reminder that scholarship applications are available from the Farm Bureau office in January each year. For more information regarding the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation and their scholarships, please contact the FB office at (309) 736-7432, or visit www.ricofarmbureau.org/foundation.
Scholarship guidelines and eligibility
To download guidelines and eligibility, click the file below or view on a non-mobile device.
| 2026_rock_island_county_farm_bureau®_foundation_scholarship_guidelines.pdf |
