June 17, 2026
Farm Credit East Awards $206,000 in Higher Education Scholarships
ENFIELD, CONN. — Farm Credit East, the Northeast’s largest agricultural lender, recently awarded $206,000 in higher education scholarships to 38 student recipients. Farm Credit East’s scholarship program supports students with diverse career aspirations in agriculture, commercial fishing, forest products and related fields from across the association’s eight-state territory.
“This year’s scholarship recipients aspire to make a difference in their communities and are well on their way to becoming future industry leaders and entrepreneurs,” said Farm Credit East CEO Mike Reynolds.
Farm Credit East Board Chair John Knopf commented, “The Farm Credit East Board of Directors congratulates these deserving students and wishes them the best for a successful educational experience.”
The following students each received a $5,000 Farm Credit East scholarship. Additionally, four individuals who plan to pursue a career in production agriculture received a Farm Credit East “Futures” Scholarship. Futures recipients receive an additional $4,000 scholarship.
FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
- Royal W. Smith Jr. Scholarship Recipient: Isabella Wilbur, of Orwell, Vt., attends Cornell University where she majors in animal science. Isabella plans to return to her family’s dairy farm.
- Brycen Aukema, of Castle Creek, N.Y., will major in dairy management at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls. Brycen plans to operate his own dairy farm.
- Dennis Azevedo, of Easthampton, Mass., studies sustainable food and farming at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Dennis plans to expand his indoor vertical farm to increase fresh food access.
- Megan Klossner, of Turin, N.Y., attends SUNY Morrisville where she majors in dairy management. Megan plans to return to her family’s dairy farm.
NEW ENGLAND RECIPIENTS
Recipients from Connecticut:
- Tyler Anderson, of Sharon, Conn., studies agricultural power machinery at SUNY Cobleskill.
- Meredith Cope, of Middletown, Conn., will study animal science at SUNY Cobleskill.
- Sophia Garguilo, of Woodbury, Conn., will study veterinary science at Auburn University.
Recipients from Maine:
- Lily Brown, of Exeter, Maine, majors in agribusiness and accounting at Oklahoma State University.
- Nickie Deschaine, of Mars Hill, Maine, attends Cornell University to study agricultural sciences.
- Delaney Dutton, of Fryeburg, Maine, will study animal science at the University of Connecticut.
Recipients from Massachusetts:
- Ava Constantine, of North Reading, Mass., will study applied plant and soil sciences at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.
- Lauren DeCoste, of Attleboro, Mass., will attend Cornell University to major in animal science.
Recipients from New Hampshire:
- Samantha Doyle, of Nashua, N.H., will major in animal science at the University of New Hampshire.
- Oliver Leandro, of Gilford, N.H., will major in livestock industry management at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.
Recipients from Rhode Island:
- Tricia Lourenco Boucher, of Wakefield, R.I., is earning her MBA at the University of Rhode Island.
Recipients from Vermont:
- Liviya Russo, of Lunenburg, Vt., studies animal science at the University of Vermont.
- Amy Vaughan, of South Ryegate, Vt., will attend Cornell University to major in animal science.
- Maxwell Wagner, of Enosburg Falls, Vt., will study environmental engineering at the University of Vermont.
NEW JERSEY RECIPIENTS
- Hannah Beck, of Stewartsville, N.J., studies landscape architecture at Purdue University.
- Carolyn Bilyk, of Belvidere, N.J., will attend SUNY Cobleskill to major in beef and livestock studies.
- Rachel Ewing, of Flemington, N.J., is earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University.
- Kate McHale, of Sea Isle City, N.J., is earning a PhD in agricultural communication, education and leadership at The Ohio State University.
NEW YORK RECIPIENTS
- Benjamin Agle, of Eden, N.Y., will study agricultural equipment technology at SUNY Cobleskill.
- Madison Cresanti, of Bemus Point, N.Y., is earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University.
- Justin Deleo, of Batavia, N.Y., will major in agricultural equipment technology and agricultural business at SUNY Cobleskill.
- Zachary Doyle, of Hammondsport, N.Y., will study agricultural sciences at Cornell University.
- William Dupree, of Water Mill, N.Y., will major in agricultural sciences and engineering at Cornell University.
- Mason Hill, of Candor, N.Y., will attend Cornell University to study agricultural sciences.
- Kaitlyn Kahrmann, of Chester, N.Y., attends SUNY Cobleskill to study animal science.
- Hailey Lincoln Williamson, of Chase Mills, N.Y., majors in agricultural science and agricultural business at SUNY Morrisville.
- Lily Marshman, of Oxford, N.Y., will study animal science at Cornell University.
- Anna Maxwell, of Cambridge, N.Y., will attend Cornell University to study animal science.
- Logan Mills, of Canastota, N.Y., will attend SUNY Cobleskill to study plant science.
- Arthur Schreiber, of Williamson, N.Y., will major in agricultural equipment technology at SUNY Cobleskill.
- Dannielle Snyder, of Cattaraugus, N.Y., will attend Trocaire College to major in veterinary technology.
- Abigail White, of Locke, N.Y., studies animal science at Cornell University.
- Delana Wood, of Walton, N.Y., will attend SUNY Cobleskill to study animal science.
- Cole Ziehm, of Hoosick Falls, N.Y., attends Cornell University to study industrial labor relations.



