The AGCO Parts team awarded five agriculture scholarships worth $6,500 in partnership with the Kane County Farm Bureau in Illinois. All five 2020 scholarship recipients are Illinois-resident students pursuing an agriculture-related field of study. 
 
Based in Batavia, Illinois, USA, AGCO Parts employees funded the scholarships with their “jeans day” promotion. For a cash donation, employees were permitted to wear jeans to work. The AGCO Global Women’s Network (AGWN) Batavia members organized and collected the funds, and the winning scholarship recipients were selected by a Kane County Farm Bureau committee. 
 
agwn-agco-parts-logo-lockup-white-background-pr-image
AGCO Parts employees have raised $21,500 in scholarship funds over the past four years. “AGWN Batavia is proud that during this time of uncertainty and turmoil, our employees were still able to provide support to our local youth in furthering their education in agricultural related fields of study,” explained AGWN Batavia Site Lead Andrea Achermann. “We recognize it is important to continue to invest in the future. This is the fourth year in a row we have provided employee-funded scholarships. It is the third year that we provided five scholarships totaling $6,500 per year!”
 
Scholarship applicants were evaluated on academics, exceptional leadership involvement, professional goals, financial need and references. 2020 scholarship funds were distributed as follows:
 
  • One $2,500 AGCO Parts Platinum Scholarship
  • Two $1,000 AGCO Parts Scholarships
  • Two $1,000 AGCO Parts / AGCO Global Women's Network Scholarships (for women only)
“The Kane County Farm Bureau Foundation sincerely appreciates the support of AGCO Parts, and especially the local employees here in Batavia, in making our scholarship programs a success,” stated Steve Arnold, Manager of the Kane County Farm Bureau. AGCO Parts employees provide a total of five of the 15 scholarships that this county Farm Bureau sponsors annually. “Due in part to their contributions, we were able to provide scholarships to 15 future Ag industry professionals for 2020-2021. We look forward to continuing our partnership with AGCO to help build a brighter future for college-bound students and our industry.” 
 
Meet the 2020 scholarship winners:
 
AGCO Parts Platinum Scholarship, $2,500
The AGCO Parts Platinum Scholarship is given to a student who resides in Illinois and is pursuing higher education in an agriculture-related field. It is funded by AGCO Parts employees in Batavia.
 
  • Erin Kettelkamp of Elburn, Illinois, was awarded the 2020 AGCO Parts Platinum Scholarship for $2,500. A 2013 graduate of Kaneland High School and currently a senior at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Erin is working towards her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
AGCO Parts Division Scholarship, $1,000 each
The AGCO Parts Division Scholarship began in 2017 and provides $1,000 college scholarships annually to Illinois-resident students who are pursuing higher education in an agriculture-related field. The scholarship is funded by AGCO Parts employees in Batavia. The 2020 AGCO Parts Division Scholarship went to two students.
 
  • Austin Brockman of Garden Prairie, Illinois, is a 2017 graduate of Belvidere High School and a 2019 graduate of Rock Valley College. He is currently a senior at the University of Illinois, majoring in Agri-Accounting and Agri-Business.
  • Jacob Larkin of Pontiac, Illinois, graduated from Pontiac Township High School in 2017 and is a 2019 graduate of Parkland College. He is currently a senior at South Dakota State University, majoring in Precision Agriculture Technology.
AGWN Scholarship, $1,000 each
The AGWN Scholarship began in 2018 and provides a $1,000 college scholarship annually to each of two female students who reside in Illinois and are pursuing higher education degrees in agriculture-related fields. The scholarship is funded by the employees of AGCO Parts in Batavia. The 2020 recipients of the AGWN Scholarships are as follows:
 
  • Catherine Austin of Harvard, Illinois, graduated in 2018 from Harvard High School and is currently attending the University of Wisconsin in Platteville, double majoring in Agribusiness and Accounting.
  • Kristen Hoffman graduated in 2017 from Hiawatha High School in DeKalb County and is currently a senior at Iowa State University, majoring in Agricultural Business.
AGWN is dedicated to developing, promoting and advocating leadership of women as growers of profitability, collaboration and a diverse culture across AGCO. AGWN Batavia has a proud history of giving back to the community, including raising money for youth agriculture education scholarships. AGWN is an integral part of TRAIT, AGCO’s diversity and inclusion program. 
 
Serving as active members and giving back to the communities where we live, work and do business is an essential part of who we are at AGCO. Through TRAIT, which encapsulates AGCO’s core values of Team Spirit, Respect, Accountability, Integrity and Transparency, AGCO works to make positive contributions to improve the lives of our neighbors and local communities. Actively supporting youth education helps the students who represent the future of the agriculture industry to have what they need to be successful in their educational careers now—and in their career choices in years to come. It also helps AGCO to build our brand as a socially and environmentally responsible company.
 
The Kane County Farm Bureau is a voluntary-membership association serving the needs and interests of more than 15,000 local families. Membership is open to all who support a stable, profitable farm and food sector as a vital part of a strong and prosperous economy in a free society. The Kane County Farm Bureau has been recognized by the American Farm Bureau Federation as a County Activities of Excellence (CAE) Award winner.