The Board of Directors of the Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation has selected nine individuals as recipients of the Year 2009-10 Foundation Scholarship award program. Steven Zary of Elk Grove Village, was awarded the Howard Paarlberg Excellence in Agriculture Award for $2,500; Kristen Yunker of Frankfort, received $1,750; Jennifer Czaja of Wheeling, received $1,750; Lauren Brown of Streamwood received $1,250; Matthew Bauer of Schaumburg, received $1,250; Colin Rogers of Compton received $750.00; Abigail Roeters of Worth, received $750.00; Nicholas De Santo of LaGrange Park, received $500.00; and Cady Walsh of Homer Glen, received $500.00 The scholarships were awarded to the successful applicants, in their pursuit of agriculturally related careers, to be applied toward their tuition and fees at the college or university of their choice in the fall semester.

The CONSERV FS FFA Scholarship is offered to high school seniors participating in an approved FFA Program. The objective of this scholarship is to increase and broaden student and parent awareness of Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation programming, and provide incentive to high school students to seek a career in agriculture. The $1,000 scholarship recipient is Brian Castro of Chicago.

The Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation was established by the Cook County Farm Bureau to carry out charitable, literary and educational work in Agriculture. The Foundation Board established the Agricultural Scholarship Program to provide financial assistance to students pursuing education for agricultural careers and to encourage the best and brightest young minds to return to Agriculture as their chosen career.

As a not-for-profit entity, the CCFB Foundation solicits and distributes private funds and tax-deductible donations to enhance agriculturally related education and leadership training. Ag-in- the-Classroom programs, research in agriculture, and other charitable activities.

Scholarship recipients were selected to receive the scholarships for the 2009-2010 school year based on exceptional academic ability, financial need, demonstrated interest in agriculture, evidence of self-help, focus on an agriculturally related need and overall character.

James Brandau, President of the Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation, says, "We commend each of the scholarship winners for the quality applications submitted. We congratulate these young agricultural leaders of tomorrow and we wish them the best in their academic studies and in their pursuit of ag-related careers."

Congratulations to All the Scholarship Recipients and Good Luck in School.

Steven Zary

The recipient of the award designed to honor Mr. Paarlberg, the first President of the Foundation and President of the Farm Bureau for 16 years, was designated as the top rated applicant carrying the prestige of being the best candidate and a greater financial reward for the individual.

Steven Zary is a senior at James B. Conant High School in Hoffman Estates. He will be graduating with "A" Honor Roll, National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society awards. He has earned Tri-Music Honor Society as well as Outstanding Musician Award. Steven plans on majoring in Biology with a Pre-Veterinary Medicine Choice. Steven has had a love of animals since childhood and as a result is employed at Hoffman Estates Animal Hospital. Through his employment at the Animal Hospital, Steven says, "this job continues to provide me with experiences that only solidified my ambition to become a doctor of veterinary medicine." Steven is the son of Michael and Joanne Zary of Elk Grove Village.

Kristen Yunker

Kristen Yunker will be a sophomore this coming year at Murray State University. Her first year has earned her many awards such as the Hart Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta. Her passion is horses which her many awards in horse related clubs and national championships have proven. Kristen plans on a degree in Nursing and Equine Science. Kristen says, "this scholarship will help me get closer to my dreams of being a horse trainer and breeder, allowing me to make contributions to children’s health care and the agriculture businesses in our country." Kristen is the daughter of Mark and Heidi Yunker of Frankfort.

Jennifer Czaja

Jennifer will be a Junior at the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana. She is majoring in Landscape Architecture. She was appointed by the head of the Landscape Architecture Department to be the sole representative on the board. She continues to maintain a high GPA which earns her the James Scholar Honor Program award. Jennifer says, "I hope to aid in restoring the prairie by joining a firm which focuses on ecology, is environmentally friendly and add green to courtyards, balconies and parks." Jennifer is the daughter of Brenda and Edward Czaja of Wheeling.

Lauren Brown

Lauren is currently a freshman at Iowa State majoring in Agronomy. During her first year, she was a research assistant in the seed science division and is currently working another project in the agronomy department. Lauren is very active with her community work and girls volleyball team. Lauren would like to "promote the care of our planet." She also "loves the study of genetics and wants to pursue the idea of creating healthier crops without using much antibiotics and fertilizer." Lauren is the daughter of Wade and Susan Brown of Streamwood.

Matthew Bauer

Matthew is currently a freshman at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. During his first year, Matthew has attained the Dean’s List and selected to join the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. He is majoring in Forestry Management. Matthew has many goals with his career choice such as finding ways to conserve the forest while still allowing it to be used for recreational and farming purposes. Another goal of his is "to educate land owners of the importance of a healthy forest and its impact on the environment and make sure that the forest survives for future generations to use." Matthew is the son of Lorenz and Catherine Bauer of Schaumburg.

Colin Rogers

Colin will be entering Illinois State University after two years at Joliet Junior College graduating on the President’s Roll of Excellence, Roll of Honor. He has an ambitious goal with a double major in Agronomy and Agronomy Industry Management and minor in Chemistry. After graduation he plans on working for Del Monte in their research farm and work in the area of sweet corn development. Colin says, " with the degrees and experience I have gained, I hope that I can aid in finding a better replacement for the aging hybrid they are already using." Colin is the son of Sherman and Kelly Rogers of Compton.

Abigail Roeters

Abigail has been accepted to Eastern Illinois University this fall. She is majoring in pre-veterinary medicine at Eastern and then will proceed to the University of Illinois Veterinary School for her Veterinary degree. She plans on specializing in the study of large breed and small breed animal medicine. Abigail says, "she would like to help with the evolution of modern medicine. This would be able to help farmers with their livestock, homeowners with their pets, and ranchers with their horses." Abigail is the daughter of Peter and Phyliss Roeters of Worth, IL.

Cady Walsh

Cady will be entering Joliet Junior College this fall. She graduated Illiana Christian High School with High Honors and Honor Roll for all four years. She is going to major in Horticulture and Greenhouse Production. Cady has extensive agricultural experience with growing up on a farm and from working in the fields to watering flowers, and working at the Farmers Markets on Saturdays. She is also an active volunteer with her church and youth activities. At Joliet Junior College, she plans on learning more about plants and crop growing. Cady says, "I will learn new ways to improve plant production and study about soils and insects that all go into growing plants. My goals are to improve the family farm with new ideas and techniques." Cady is the daughter of Ruth Zeldenrust, Chicago Heights and Mark Walsh, Homer Glen.

Nicholas DeSanto

Nicholas is currently a junior at the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana. He is majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Nicholas is the president of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and a member of the President’s Council and New Life Volunteering Society. He works at Chase Products in the lab during his spring and summer breaks as administrative support of Director of Engineering, laboratory assistant and quality control. Nicholas says, "I would like to do some type of research, either pharmaceutical or environmental. The reason for this goal is that I want to see my work impact people’s lives and the world we live in." Nicholas is the son of Albert and Debbie DeSanto of LaGrange Park.

Brian Castro

Brian is a high school senior at Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. He is an active member of the National FFA Organization. He has been a reporter, treasurer and president of the organization. He has participated in many volunteer organizations from Livestock Judging Team to a Veterinary Mentoring Program. Brian has attended many agricultural related activities such as National FFA Convention, Illinois State FFA Convention and Leadership Training School. He plans on attending the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana majoring in Animal Science with plans on entering Veterinary Medical School in 2013. Brian would like to "be remembered as the Mexican American doctor from Chicago, who dedicated his life to help the special animals that share this planet with us." Brian is the son of Antonio and Maria Castro of Chicago.