ALTAMONT, IL (Chambana Today) — Thirty high school seniors from across central and southern Illinois were honored last week as Farm Credit Illinois named its 2026 class of Agriculture Scholars, awarding $75,000 in scholarships to students pursuing careers in agriculture.

The class was recognized during a luncheon at the Carriage House Event Center in Altamont on May 21. Each scholar received $2,500 to put toward a degree in an agriculture-related field. Twenty-five of the 30 recipients attended the recognition program.

The 2026 class marks the 22nd year of the Farm Credit Illinois agriculture scholarship program, which has now awarded more than $938,500 to 566 students since its inception in 2004. Recipients are selected based on leadership and participation in school and community organizations, a demonstrated passion for farming and agriculture, and a commitment to pursuing an agriculture-related career.

“Farm Credit Illinois is proud to invest in these remarkable young leaders who will shape the future of agriculture and rural America,” said Kelly Hunt, FCI’s chief executive officer. “Their passion and talent are inspiring, and we look forward to the meaningful impact they will make as they pursue continued education.”

Among this year’s scholars are two students from Champaign County: Alex Barnard of Foosland, who will study agricultural leadership, education, and communications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Hunter Shike of Sadorus, who will study animal science at Black Hawk College.

The full list of 2026 Farm Credit Illinois Agriculture Scholars is as follows: Alex Barnard, Riley Behrends, Rye Bliler, Brody Brown, Helen Butcher, Haven Cash, Eric Cooper, Brooklyn Diel, Ella Eldridge, Abram Girten, Annsley Healy, Lillian Helbig, Will Hilligoss, Collin Johnson, Bailey Leach, Adyson Lowrance, Drew Lueking, Lauryn Maher, Lane Perry, Gavin Range, Maliah Riechmann, Trent Schmid, Landon Schnepf, Hunter Shike, Bryson Stickler, Wade Stine, Daniel Tomas, Alayna White, Shiloh Willis, and Natalie Zwilling.

Farm Credit Illinois is an agricultural financial cooperative owned by more than 17,100 farmer, rural landowner, and agribusiness stockholders across the southern 60 counties of Illinois. More information is available at farmcreditIL.com.