2021 Scholarship Winners

WinnersScholarship

The Illinois Beef Foundation is pleased to announce the 2021 scholarship recipients. The Foundation recognizes the incredible talent of young, beef industry enthusiasts and helps them achieve their educational goals. Recipents will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Sheridan Hank

Sheridan Hank is the daughter of Jeff and Trisha Hank of Aledo. She is a member of the Lake Land College Livestock Judging Team and was named to the Illinois State 4-H Livestock Judging Team. She is a former 4-H and FFA President and has been showing cattle since she was seven years old. She is a freshman at Lake Land College as an agriculture-transfer student. Iowa State University or Texas A&M will be next, where she will major in ag business/pre-law with an emphasis in agriculture taxation. The final step will be law achool, with the ultimate goal of opening her own rural, agriculture-focused law office in her hometown.

Eric Schafer

Eric Schafer is the son of Aaron and Sue Shafer of Owaneco. He is actively involved on his family’s row crop and Angus cattle farm, Schafer Stock Farm. Eric has served on the Illinois Junior Angus Association board, Illinois Junior Beef Association board, participated in the Royal Highland Beef Judging Contest in Scotland and was part of the International Student Livestock Exchange Program. Eric is a freshman at Butler Community College studying agribusiness and remaining active on the livestock judging team. After Butler he plans to continue his education at a major university and eventually attend law school to lobby on behalf of the ag industry.

Katelyn Engel

Katelyn Engel is the daughter of Kevin and Lori Engel of Galesburg. She grew up on her family farm raising purebred Angus cattle and growing crops. She has been involved in her local 4-H and FFA where she has had opportunities to become more involved in the beef industry. Through 4-H, Katelyn has been involved in Federation, livestock judging and the Illinois State Livestock Ambassador Team. Katelyn plans to attend the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign and major in agricultural communications and minor in animal science. She hopes to pursue a career in agricultural journalism or agricultural broadcasting and continue to own a cattle herd.

Emily Brooks

Emily Brooks is the daughter of Jeff and Shelley Brooks of Prophetstown. She is highly involved in the agriculture industry at her high school. Emily is the 5th generation on her family’s farm and shows Angus cattle nationally. She has held numerous leadership positions as an active member of the Illinois Junior Angus Association, Prophetstown Lyndon Tampico FFA, National Honor Society, the EP Panther Varsity Volleyball Team, and her local 4-H club while maintaining academic excellence. Emily plans to attend University of Illinois and major in agricultural and consumer economics.