Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

23 ag students will share $85,000 in scholarships

Scholarships awarded by Niman Ranch

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Niman Ranch is helping tomorrow’s farmers get a head start on furthering their education by awarding $85,000 in scholarships that will be shared between 23 students.

The scholarships were presented to students from Niman Ranch’s independent farm families during its Farmer Appreciation Dinner.

The funding acts as a way to raise awareness of the fact that farmers are getting older and the next generation of producers need help to succeed.

Niman Ranch is a network of about 700 farms throughout 28 states, raising beef, pork and lamb.

“Initiatives like the Next Generation Scholarship Fund within the Niman Ranch farm community contribute to keeping the average age of its farmers at 47-years old, which is more than ten years below the national average,” said Jeff Tripcian, Niman Ranch general manager, in a release. “We’re proud to support the next generation of farmers with the funds needed to get a higher education.”

The highest scholarship available is the $7,000 David Serfling Niman Ranch Memorial Scholarship.


Jaclynn Knutson
Photo: Niman Ranch

It was awarded to Centerville, South Dakota’s Jaclynn Knutson, who’s pursuing a double major in animal and agricultural sciences at South Dakota State University. She’s also  minoring in ag business, marketing and agronomy.

“I am very honored to receive this award and excited to use my college experience to advance the pork industry,” she said.


Trending Video

Dr. David Rosero: Fat Quality in Swine Diets

Video: Dr. David Rosero: Fat Quality in Swine Diets

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. David Rosero from Iowa State University explores the critical aspects of fat quality and oxidation in swine diets. He discusses how different types of lipids affect pig performance and provides actionable insights on managing lipid oxidation in feed mills. Don’t miss this episode—available on all major platforms.

Highlight quote: "Increasing levels of oxidized fats in swine diets reduced the efficiency of feed utilization, increased mortality, and led to more pigs being classified as culls, reducing the number of full-value pigs entering the finishing barns."

Meet the guest: Dr. David Rosero / davidrosero is an assistant professor of animal science at Iowa State University. His research program focuses on conducting applied research on swine nutrition and the practical application of smart farming. He previously served as the technical officer for The Hanor Company, overseeing nutrition, research, and innovation efforts.