News Archive
Posted 09/21/2019
For immediate release: Sept. 21, 2019
For more information, contact:
Warren Zenker, NDSF president: (701) 320-2585 • warrenzenker@daktel.com
Julie Ellingson, NDSA executive vice president: (701) 223-2522 • jellingson@ndstockmen.org
Emily Bendish, NDSA communications director: (701) 223-2522 • ebendish@ndstockmen.org
Stockmen’s Foundation awards eight scholarships
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation (NDSF) awarded eight scholarships during the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) 90th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Minot, N.D., this afternoon.
The NDSF awarded four $500 Legacy Scholarships to Kyle Kostelecky of Dickinson, N.D., Shaye Koester of Steele, N.D., Iris Dukart of Manning, N.D., and Madison Baumgartner of Bismarck, N.D.
Kostelecky is a farm and ranch management major at Dickinson State University (DSU). He is the son of Daryl and Sheila Kostelecky of Dickinson, N.D. After college, Kostelecky plans to return to his family’s operation and work full-time to expand his cow-calf herd. He was an active 4-H and FFA member, serving as vice president and participating in parliamentary procedure and livestock judging in high school.
Koester is the daughter of Steve and Tracey Koester of Steele, N.D. She is a sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in animal science. After college, Koester plans to return home to her family’s operation and continue raising registered and commercial Red Angus cattle. She is a member of the Red Angus Association of America, the North Dakota Red Angus Association and the Junior Red Angus Association, serving on its board. In high school, Koester participated in FFA, 4-H and the Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit.
Dukart, the daughter of Derrick and Angie Dukart of Manning, N.D., is a freshman at North Dakota State University (NDSU). She is majoring in agricultural education and minoring in animal science. Dukart hopes to become an agricultural education teacher to teach youth about the importance of agriculture and what they can do to make an impact in their communities. While in high school Dukart was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and 4-H. She served as the senior class president, the president of the Killdeer FFA Chapter, a youth representative for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Parish Council and on the NDSU Dunn County Advisory Board.
Baumgartner is the daughter of Nancy and Michael Baumgartner of Bismarck, N.D. She is a junior at the University of Minnesota, where she is pursuing a degree in animal science with an emphasis in pre-veterinary medicine. Baumgartner plans to finish her bachelor’s degree in animal science and then attend veterinary school with the hope of one day opening her own clinic. She was very involved in high school as a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, holding several offices and serving on the national committee as the Mountain Plains regional communications director; student council president and vice president; 2017 St. Mary’s Central High School class president and salutatorian; and the 2017 Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota. While in college, Baumgartner was elected as the Pre-Veterinary Club’s College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources science student board representative and is the new member educator for the Beta of Clovia Sorority.
Chase Bader, the son of Rick and Stacy Bader of Lehr, N.D., was awarded a $500 Endowment Scholarship by the NDSF. Bader is a sophomore at NDSU, majoring in agricultural engineering with dreams of designing machinery and other equipment after college. Bader is very passionate about agriculture and was the Wishek FFA vice president, National Honor Society president, varsity basketball co-captain and a Fellowship of Christian Athletes student leader.
Mattie Schmitt of Rugby, N.D., received a $500 Tokach Angus Ranch Memorial Scholarship. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in plant science at NDSU. She is the daughter of retiring NDSA board member Randy Schmitt and his wife Stacey. Schmitt has always loved agriculture and wanted to come back to the family ranch. She was an active FFA and 4-H member, participating in various livestock judging competitions in high school, including the national contest. While in college at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, she was a member of the Animal Science Club. After graduation, she plans to work for a crop consulting firm and to increase her cow-calf operation.
Grace Dragseth of Watford City, N.D., was awarded a $500 Junior Scholarship by the NDSF. She is the daughter of Kyle and Julie Dragseth and transferred to NDSU this fall to pursue a degree in agricultural education and 4-H youth development/Extension. Dragseth plans to become an ag education teacher in the western part of North Dakota after graduation and educate children about the cattle industry and its importance. She is an FFA and 4-H alumna and has completed artificial insemination training.
Sydney Tastad, the daughter of Matt and Cynthia Tastad of Rolette, N.D., received the $750 Jack and Vander Reich Memorial Endowment Scholarship. Tastad is a freshman at Kansas State University, pursuing a degree in animal science. She dreams of becoming a beef cattle embryologist after college. Tastad is a member of the National Junior Angus Association and North Dakota Junior Angus Association. She was the 2017 North Dakota Angus Princess. In high school, Tastad was an active FFA member, serving as president, and participating in livestock judging and prepared speech. She also was a North Dakota State High School Rodeo Finals qualifier in 2017 and 2019.
The NDSF will be offering scholarships again in 2020. Information and downloadable applications can be found at www.ndstockmen.org/foundation. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2020.