Posted 09/24/2022

For immediate release: 

Sept. 24, 2022

For more information, contact:

Dan Rorvig, NDSF president: (701) 797-7338 • rorvigranchco@gondtc.com

Julie Ellingson, NDSF executive vice president: (701) 223-2522 • jellingson@ndstockmen.org

Elizabeth Neshem, NDSF communications director: (701) 223-2522 • eneshem@ndstockmen.org

North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation awards 10 scholarships

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation (NDSF) awarded 10 scholarships during the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) 93rd Annual Convention and Trade Show in Bismarck, N.D., this afternoon.

The NDSF awarded four Legacy Scholarships to Savanna Bader of Lehr, N.D., Shadera Burian of Manning, N.D., Chase Heim of Bismarck, N.D., and Cassidy Strommen of Solen, N.D.

Bader is a freshman at the North Dakota State University (NDSU), studying agricultural economics. She grew up on a farm and ranch that taught her the importance of agricultural production and the role it plays in the environment and economy. In high school, Bader served as her FFA chapter’s president and was captain of her volleyball team. She is the daughter of Rick and Stacy Bader. 

Burian is a sophomore at North Dakota State College of Science, studying welding technologies. She has always loved being in the shop and is excited to expand her knowledge and abilities in the welding field while continuing to grow her commercial Red Angus herd. Burian is a graduate of the Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit and was an active FFA member. She is the daughter of Paige and Brenda Burian.

Heim is a freshman at Eastern Wyoming College studying general agriculture and beef production. He said he hopes to experience other beef operations before returning to his family’s operation and their heifer development program. Heim was active in high school rodeo, where he was part of the Cinch Rodeo Team. He is a graduate of the NDSA’s Tomorrow Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit. He is the son of Alan and Charlotte Heim. 

Strommen is a freshman at South Dakota State University, studying agricultural communications. Strommen grew up on a registered Angus operation, was actively involved in 4-H and FFA, served as a North Dakota Angus Princess and is a past graduate of the Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit. Following graduation, Strommen plans to return to the ranch and pursue a career in the agriculture communications field. She is the daughter of Aaron and Sheyna Strommen. 

The two recipients of the Myron Wold Scholarship, which honors the longtime NDSA member and Watford City, N.D., cattleman, are Ashton Boehm of Mandan, N.D., and Lindsey Vachal of White Earth, N.D.

Boehm is a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, studying research agronomy, on a journey to obtain a doctorate degree. Growing up on a farm and ranch, Boehm learned the importance of crop and seed care. Through FFA, she learned the impact that agriculture industry has on rural communities, as well as the world. Boehm has been involved in FFA as a competitive crop judge and officer and the North Dakota Junior Gelbvieh Association. She is the daughter of Alan and Tracy Boehm.

Vachal is the daughter of Colin and Susan Vachal. She is a freshman at NDSU, studying animal science with plans to pursue veterinary medicine. Growing up on a cattle ranch, Vachal has long been interested in solving problems as they arise and learning more about how to prevent them in the future. Vachal hopes to return to her hometown area and serve local livestock producers’ animal health needs. She was actively involved in 4-H and FFA.

Madison Baumgartner of Bismarck, N.D., received the Tokach Angus Ranch Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship honors the memory of Richard M. “Dick” Tokach, who was the NDSA president from 1984 to 1986. Baumgartner is currently in her third year at the Universtiy of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in animal science with an emphasis in pre-veterinary medicine. After acquiring her doctorate in veterinary medicine, she hopes to assist in alleviating the shortage of food-animal veterinarians that the country has. In high school, she was an active member of the Future Business Leaders of America, holding several offices and serving on the national committee as the Mountain Plains regional communications director; student council president and vice president; the 2017 St. Mary’s Central High School class president and salutatorian; and the 2017 Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota. While in college, Baumgartner was elected as the Pre-Veterinary Club’s College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources science student board representative and is a member of the Beta of Clovia Sorority. She is the daughter of Michael and Nancy Baumgartner.

Jamie Geyer, the daughter of Wylie and Sherry Geyer, was awarded the Endowment Scholarship by the NDSF. She is a sophomore at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kan., studying animal science and agricultural business and participating as a member of the college’s livestock judging team. Geyer has a long background in agriculture, growing up on a registered Red Angus ranch. She has excelled in 4-H and FFA. In 2022, she was high individual and a member of the reserve champion livestock judging team at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo. 

Megan Rodine was awarded the Junior Scholarship. She is currently a junior at NDSU, studying agricultural economics. Rodine has been active in 4-H and FFA and is a graduate of the Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit. Her goal is to continue to work in the agriculture industry and eventually take over her family’s cattle operation. She is the daughter of Kevin and Michele Rodine.

Wyatt Zahn is the son of Jason and Jenny Zahn and the winner of the Jack and Vander Reich Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship honors the memory of Jack Reich, who was the NDSA president from 2008 to 2010, and his son, Vander. Zahn is a freshman at Bismarck State College, studying agronomy. Zahn has played an active role in his family’s cow-calf operation near Towner, N.D., and runs his own portable scale business. His goal is to return to the family operation. He is a graduate of the Tomorrow’s Top Hands Beef Leadership Summit.

The NDSF will be offering scholarships again in 2023. Information and downloadable applications can be found at www.ndstockmen.org/foundation. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2023. 

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