11 First Staters win scholarships for farm activities

The Delaware Farm Bureau has awarded 11 recent First State high school graduates with scholarships ranging from $500 to $3,500.

Money was given to students for their achievements and involvement in a wide array of agricultural activities. 

The funds for the scholarships were raised throughout the year. The Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee raises funds through its annual strawberry festival in May and the antique tractor pull which is traditionally held on the last day of the Delaware State Fair. 

The Delaware Farm Bureau Women’s Committee also contributed to the scholarship, and raised money by running a food booth at the state fair.

This year’s winners were Olivia Daniels, Emerson Hickey, Sydney Phipps, Laurel Clark, Vanessa Gaines, Dathan Ivory, Zane Adams, Brayden Hearn, Lauren Hudson, Kaitlyn Johnson and Ruby Phillips.

Here’s some of their activities that helped them earn the cash:

New Castle County

Olivia Daniels – New Castle County Farm Bureau Scholarship

Daniels, who’s from Galena, won a $500 scholarship from the New Castle County Farm Bureau as she studies environmental science at Bridgewater College in Virginia.

She graduated from Kent County High School in 2022, and worked at Hoober, Inc. and Daniels Family Farm.

Emerson Hickey – New Castle County Farm Bureau Scholarship

Hickey, who’s from Middletown, won a $500 scholarship from the New Castle County Farm Bureau as she heads to the University of Delaware to study marketing.

She graduated from Middletown High School this year, and was active in the school’s Future Farmers of America chapter, acting as its reporter for a year and earning Greenhand and Chapter degrees.

Over the last several years, Hickey has worked at Emerson Farms and Cowgirls Creamery.

Sydney Phipps – New Castle County Women’s Committee Scholarship Phipps, who’s of Wilmington, won a $1,000 scholarship from the New Castle

County Women’s Committee for her veterinary and biomedical sciences studies at Pennsylvania State University.

She graduated from the Charter School of Wilmington in 2023 and spent her youth working on the family farm.

Through school, she actively volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House Club, Helping Paws Club, Red Cross Club, Bikes for Mozambique Club, Make-a-Wish Club

and National Honor Society. 

She was also a ten-year member of New Castle County 4-H’s Sheep Club for which she was the president for five years.

Kent County

Laurel Clark – Kent County Women’s Committee Scholarship

Clark, who’s from Smyrna, won a $1,000 scholarship from the Kent County Women’s Committee for pre-veterinary studies at University of Delaware.

Clark graduated from Middletown High School in 2023 where she was animal science ambassador for the school’s animal science pathway,

Along with working on nearby farms, Clark has experience working at Metro Seafood and Steak, and Augustine Inn.

Vanessa Gaines – Hubert Cannon Memorial Scholarship from Kent County Farm Bureau

Gaines, who’s from Camden, won the $1,000 Hubert Cannon Memorial Scholarship from Kent County Farm Bureau as she moves on to a college.

Gaines graduated from Caesar Rodney High School earlier this year and plans on attending State University of New York’s College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill to study canine training and management and equine assisted therapies.

During high school, she earned a state degree while participating in the school’s Future Farmers of America chapter. 

She spent many years working for local farms or agricultural businesses, including EVO Family Farms and Haass’ Family Butcher Shop.

Dathan Ivory – Roland Garrison Memorial Scholarship from Kent County Farm Bureau

Ivory, who’s from Marydel, won the $1,000 Roland Garrison Memorial Scholarship from Kent County Farm Bureau as he moves on to study sports management and agriculture business at the University of Delaware.

Ivory graduated from Caesar Rodney High School earlier this year.

He spent summers working at local farms including Fifer’s Orchard and Thomas Family Farm.

Sussex County

Zane Adams – Sussex County Women’s Committee Scholarship

Adams, who’s from Seaford, won a $1,000 scholarship from the Sussex County Women’s Committee as he continues his studies at the University of Tennessee’s

Knoxville campus where he studies environmental and soil sciences.

Adams grew up on a family farm and graduated from Seaford Senior High School in 2021.

He was active in the school’s Future Farmers of America chapter, eventually becoming the treasurer.

As a teenager and young adult, he worked at an ice cream shop and mini golf business, promoting to the title of manager by his graduating year. He also worked as a

first mate on a fishing charter.

Brayden Hearn – Women’s and Young Farmers & Ranchers Committees Scholarships

Hearn, who’s from Laurel, won a $2,500 scholarship from the statewide Women’s Committee and $1,000 from the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee to

benefit his plans of studying agribusiness at Delaware Valley University.

He’s a recent graduate of Laurel High School and was active in its Future Farmers of America chapter, where he served as treasurer and president and earned the

prestigious Greenhand and State Degrees, among other accolades.

The Hearn family operates Sandyloam Farm, a small family farm in Laurel they purchased in 2001, where they have horses, produce and livestock including pigs,

sheep and goats. 

Hearn has also worked at Atlantic Well Drilling.

Lauren Hudson – Sussex County Farm Bureau Scholarship

Hudson, who’s from Lincoln, won a $500 scholarship from the Sussex County Farm Bureau. 

The 2022 Milford High School graduate currently attends the University of Delaware studying elementary education and music.

In high school, she was active in the school’s Future Farmers of America chapter.

In her spare time, Hudson has volunteered at local schools and worked as a substitute teacher, honing in on her educational skills. She was also very involved with several churches.

Kaitlyn Johnson – Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and Sussex County Farm Bureau Scholarships

Johnson, who’s from Selbyville, won a $1,000 scholarship from the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and will also receive a $500 scholarship from the Sussex County Farm Bureau as she heads to the University of Delaware to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. 

She graduated from Indian River High School in 2023, and grew up on the family farm and was a member of the National Agri-Science Summit.

She was the president of the Vex Robotics Club where she also earned various awards, and was a student coach and mentor for Vex IQ Robotics and delegate

for the Rural Electric Washington Youth Tour.

As a Girl Scout, Johnson earned her bronze and silver award, as well.

Her work experience includes working on the family farm, Parson Farms and L&M Cleaning.

Ruby Phillips – Sussex County Farm Bureau Scholarship

Phillips, who’s from Georgetown, won a $500 scholarship from the Sussex County Farm Bureau to benefit her elementary education and Spanish studies at Butler

University in Indiana. 

Phillips graduated from Sussex Academy where she was in the school’s drama department, National Honor Society, choir and band. She took music lessons for 12

years, participated in her church youth group, volunteered as a Sunday School helper and teacher for three years, played the violin for the worship team and was awarded the

Overall Spirit Award through the Distinguished Young Women Class of 2023.

Phillips spent her youth on the family farm where she worked the produce stand for several summers.