The Wisconsin Pork Association (WPA) recognized scholarship recipients during the organization’s annual meeting held on February 1st, 2024, in conjunction with the Corn/Soy Expo in Wisconsin Dells. Six high school seniors and college students from across the state were awarded a total of $6,000 in scholarship funds.
Whitmore Memorial Scholarship
The Whitmore Memorial Scholarship was established as a legacy to the late Rex Whitmore, a master statesman and communicator who served as the first executive director of the Wisconsin Pork Association. Applicants for this scholarship must be a junior or senior at University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, or University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Preference is given to those pursuing an Animal Science degree or also a similar major.
Chad Achenbach is the recipient of the $1,500 scholarship. Achenbach is from Eastman, WI, and is double majoring in Animal Science and also Agricultural Business with a minor in Soil and Crop Science at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He grew up having a strong passion for showing pigs, beef, and lambs
through 4-H and FFA. He plans to stay involved in the swine industry and would like to raise his own
livestock someday. Achenbach recognizes the significance of hands-on experiences and will continue to be an ambassador for the swine industry by providing experiences to Wisconsin youth through livestock projects and WPA opportunities.
Gunderson Memorial Scholarship
The Wisconsin Pork Association, in cooperation with the family of Buell Gunderson, established a scholarship program in 2007 to recognize the many contributions that Buell Gunderson made to the
Wisconsin pork industry. Gunderson, together with his wife, Bernice, served as Secretary/Treasurer of
the Wisconsin Pork Association for 20 plus years and assisted in growing the organization from its initial
roots to the successful organization that it is today. Consideration is given to youth who have established their own production herd, been involved in their family operation, as well as shown specific interest in pork production or livestock judging.
Amy Jentges was selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship and Hillary Klubertanz received a $750 scholarship.
Jentges grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Port Washington, WI. After her family sold the cows in 2016, she became involved in 4-H and FFA showing livestock. Through this involvement, she fell in love with raising and showing pigs and also being a leader within youth organizations. Jentges currently serves as the Wisconsin FFA State Secretary and has held various other leadership positions. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls studying Agricultural Education with the hopes of
becoming an Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor.
Klubertanz is a resident of Waterloo, WI, where she is highly involved in her family’s farrow-to-finish
operation and also owns some Hampshire sows on her own. She is also very involved in her local FFA
chapter. Klubertanz plans to attend Kansas State University to major in Animal Science with an emphasis in Swine Nutrition and Production Management. Her goal is to work in the swine industry before returning home to the family farm.
WPA Fredrich Memorial Scholarship
The Fredrich Memorial Scholarship was established in 2018 through funding from the Southeast
Wisconsin Pork Producers. This scholarship honors Clarence Fredrich who was actively involved in the
Southeast Wisconsin Pork Producers Association. He was very supportive of youth programming in
agriculture as well as community events and activities. This scholarship is offered to students in
Walworth, Racine, and also Kenosha counties.
Landon Rehberg and Luke Hying each received a $1,000 scholarship, and Piper Nuehring was
awarded a $750 scholarship.
Rehberg is from Elkhorn, WI, and plans to attend Iowa State University to major in Agricultural Engineering and also Agricultural Business. He has shown cattle and pigs at all levels of competition and
is highly involved in his FFA chapter- both of which have taught him many lifelong lessons. After college,
he would like to work for John Deere designing and enhancing equipment to better serve the
agriculture industry. He looks forward to giving back to the industry that has given him so much.
Hying grew up on his family’s grain farm near Waterford, WI. Throughout high school he has worked on a neighboring sod farm and also been heavily involved in FFA. After graduation this spring he plans to continue his education at Southwest Technical College studying Agronomy. After college, he plans to return to the family farm and incorporate practices and knowledge that he learned in school to improve and continue their family operation while also continuing his employment at the sod farm.
Nuehring is from Elkhorn, WI, and will be attending University of Wisconsin-River Falls to major in Agricultural Education after graduation. She exhibited livestock at her county fair and also had a lot of involvement in her 4-H and FFA chapters. She hopes to impact youth whether its getting them interested in a career in the agricultural industry or teaching them something new they didn’t know. Above all she hopes to present them opportunities within the industry just as her agriculture educators did for her.
Leave a Reply