Farm Credit East Celebrates National FFA Week with Scholarships to Local FFA Students

ENFIELD, CONN. — In honor of National FFA Week taking place February 21-28, Farm Credit East has announced its awarding of 14 scholarships to students involved in The National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Organization to support their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). The scholarship recipients had strong projects and expressed a clear understanding of their projects’ impacts on their future careers in agriculturally related fields.

“Farm Credit East is committed to supporting the next generation of Northeast agriculture,” said Farm Credit East CEO Mike Reynolds. “These aspiring students have drive and passion, and their SAE projects are an important part of their development. We’re pleased to support their endeavors as they strive toward a career in agriculture or related fields.” 

The following students each received a $1,000 scholarship to support their current SAE project or to enhance their knowledge of the agriculture, commercial fishing or forest products industries.

• Annaleen Aukema, from Chenango Forks High School in Binghamton, NY
• Brycen Aukema, from Marathon Central School in Marathon, NY
• Fenton Aukema, from Chenango Forks Middle School in Binghamton, NY 
• Mya Bearup, from Homer Senior High School in Homer, NY
• Claire Kleinman, from Suffield High School in West Suffield, CT
• Taylor Lawrence, from Lyman Memorial High School in Lebanon, CT
• Riley Mahaffey, Housatonic Valley High School in Falls Village, CT
• Ana McConnon, from Midlakes High School in Clifton Springs, NY
• Samantha Miller, from Union Springs Central School in Union Springs, NY
• Lillian Perham, from Mayfield Central School District in Mayfield, NY
• Madalynn Ploetz, from Springville-Griffith High School in Springville, NY
• Madeline Rea, from Salem Central School in Salem, NY
• Griffin Von Uderitz, from Tully Junior Senior High School in Tully, NY
• Tyler Wood, from Tully Junior Senior High School in Tully, NY 

Scholarships to aspiring FFA students are offered twice per year. The next scholarship application deadline is June 30, 2026. Applicants must be active in their local FFA chapter and reside within the eight states Farm Credit East serves. To apply for a Farm Credit East FFA scholarship, please visit FarmCreditEast.com/FFAscholarship.

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