Bumpers College's Biswell, Vehige Named Ag Future of America Scholars, Earn Scholarships

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Bumpers College students and Agriculture Future of America scholarship recipients Grace Vehige (left) and Kelby Biswell.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A pair of University of Arkansas students in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences have been named scholars by Agriculture Future of America.

Kelby Biswell and Grace Vehige have been recognized as scholars after receiving AFA scholarships. Biswell is one of four students nationally to earn a Belles of the American Royal organization scholarship. Vehige is one of 30 students nationally to earn an AFA National Leader and Academic Scholarship.

Biswell, from Lincoln, is a horticulture, and agricultural education, communications and technology double-major with an AECT concentration in agricultural education. During her freshman year, she was part of the parliamentary procedure team from Washington County that won the 4-H national championship at the National Western Roundup in Denver. Her team claimed the first national championship for Washington County 4-H.

Vehige is an agricultural education, communications and technology major with a concentration in agricultural communication. She is minoring in agricultural leadership. From Bonnots Mill, Missouri, her family raises registered Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle.

Belles of the Amerian Royal organization provides four AFA Leader and Academic Scholarships to female, Midwest agriculture students with a special interest in agriculture education. This scholarship provides a $3,200 academic tuition/fees scholarship, $1,000 registration fee for AFA Leaders Conference and the opportunity for the student to attend the BOTAR General Membership Meeting in January of her initial scholarship selection year.

AFA provides 30-35 AFA Leader and Academic Scholarships annually to graduating high school seniors or current college students, enrolling or enrolled in a agriculture-related, four-year degree program in the United States. These scholarships are supported by AFA organizational partners. 

AFA provides premiere personal and professional development programs to college students and young professionals in agriculture.

These program address 21 competencies that AFA and its partners have identified as key skills for agriculture professionals. Programs are divided between the Alliance for young professionals and collegiate programs.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.