Trent Beier among group that receives 2023-24 CHS Foundation Scholarship Awards

 

October 31, 2023 (MANHATTAN, Kan.) – Trent Beier of Clifton, Kansas, a junior in agribusiness; Riley Buss of Grantville, Kansas, a senior in agricultural economics and mathematics; Courtney Clinesmith of Cimarron, Kansas, a junior in agribusiness; James DeRouchey of Wamego, Kansas, a sophomore in agribusiness; Cody Fosket of Mitchell, Nebraska, a senior in agribusiness; Mollie Reno of Cheney, Kansas, a senior in agribusiness and Emma Thorpe of Andale, Kansas, a junior in agricultural economics and global food systems leadership; have each been awarded a CHS Foundation Scholarship through the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center and the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. Three freshmen were also awarded CHS Foundation Scholarships through the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University: Grace Allee of Arcadia, Indiana, a freshman in agricultural communications and journalism; Dillon Mai of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, a freshman in agricultural economics; and Reagan Richards of Avon Park, Florida, a freshman in agricultural communications and journalism.

Trent Beier is a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and served in a leadership role as Vice Noble Ruler of Operations and Management. He is a member of the K-State Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness Club and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers. Trent was selected as a student fellow for the Center for Risk Management Education and Research (CRMER) and maintains high academic standards. He grew up on a farm and still helps the family farm while also working as a student assistant for the college of agriculture. Trent completed internships with ADM and Crop Quest. Upon graduation in May 2024, he hopes to work as a commodity trader or grain merchandiser as well as farm part-time on the family farm. The Beier family is affiliated with the following cooperatives: CVA, Cloud County Cooperative Elevator, Blue Valley Technologies and Farm Credit.  

Riley Buss serves as a K-State College of Agriculture Ambassador and is a student fellow in the Center for Risk Management Education and Research (CRMER). She is a member of the K-State Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness club and Alpha Zeta Fraternity where she held a leadership role as secretary. Riley has worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant and also completed two internships, one with Cargill Animal Nutrition and one as part of a trade product control team. She is very interested in embarking on a career managing risk, especially in agriculture, after she graduates in May 2024. The Buss family is affiliated with AgMark LLC, Cloud County Cooperative Elevator, Free State Electric Cooperative and Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative.

Courtney Clinesmith serves as a K-State College of Agriculture Ambassador and holds a leadership position in Kappa Kappa Gamma. She is a member of the Collegiate Cattlemen’s Club, Christian Challenge, Wheat State Agronomy Club and Block and Bridle. Courtney completed internships with Western State Bank and Prairieland Partners. And, during the school year works as a student assistant in the Animal Science department.  Upon graduation in May 2025, Courtney plans to pursue a career as an agricultural loan officer or as an agricultural sales specialist.  The Clinesmith family is affiliated with the following cooperatives: Credit Union of Dodge City and United Telephone Association.

James DeRouchey is a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and has served in a leadership role as Vice Noble Ruler.  He serves as a K-State College of Agriculture Ambassador and has also served on the junior board of directors for the National Junior Swine Association. James is a member of Block and Bridle and the K-State Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness Club. He’s taking K-State’s fast track program in Agricultural Economics to obtain his undergraduate and master’s degrees in an accelerated timeframe. Upon graduation in December 2026, James hopes to work as a financial advisor for large-scale commercial swine operations. The DeRouchey family is affiliated with the Bluestem Electric Cooperative.

Cody Fosket is actively involved in the K-State Rodeo Team and served as a team captain. He transferred to K-State after earning an associate’s degree from Casper College in Casper, Wyoming. This summer he completed an internship with Purina Mills through the LeRoy Cooperative Association and past summers were spent working with Scottsbluff County Weed Control and Odenbach Cattle. Upon his graduation in May 2024, Cody hopes to work in ag sales. The Fosket family is affiliated with the following cooperatives: Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company, Panhandle Cooperative Association and WESTCO.

Mollie Reno is a member of Gamma Phi Beta and has served in several leadership roles. She was an Office of Recruitment and Admissions Ambassador and is a member of the K-State Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness Club. Mollie worked for several summers at the Farmers Co-op Elevator Company and completed an internship with CoMark Equity Alliance. She plans to pursue a career in ag sales after graduating in May 2024. The Reno family is affiliated with the following cooperatives:  Farm Credit Services of America and Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company.

Emma Thorpe serves as a Staley School of Leadership Ambassador, a Food Security Scholar and a Cargill Global Scholar. She held several leadership positions in these organizations and was also a member of the Quest Freshman Honorary. Emma is a first-generation college student and works two jobs while maintaining a high academic standard. She gained experience with cooperatives by spending the summer of 2021 working at the Kanza Cooperative and interning with Trinity Ag, LLC. this summer. Upon graduation in December 2024, Emma plans to pursue a career as a commodity broker. 

 “The CHS Foundation Scholarships are one way the CHS Foundation is giving back to future agricultural leaders at Kansas State University,” states Professor Brian Briggeman, director of the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. The CHS Foundation, funded by gifts from CHS Inc., the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative, has awarded $218,600 in scholarships through the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University since 2006.

To be eligible for the scholarship, the students must be U.S. citizens or legal residents properly enrolled as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior during the current academic year majoring in an agriculture-focused or ag-related STEM undergraduate program. Recipients must demonstrate academic ability and exhibit leadership qualities through the university, community or ag industry involvement. Priority is given to students demonstrating an interest in agriculture-based cooperatives. Continuing K-State students are encouraged to fill out the K-State scholarship application to be included in the university scholarship process for the 2023-2024 academic year.

The awarding of the CHS Foundation Scholarships is coordinated through the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. “Additional contributions by those who want to support the purposes of cooperative scholarships are welcome,” Dr. Briggeman said. They should be made payable to “KSU Foundation/ACCC” and sent to the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center, Department of Agricultural Economics, 305 Waters Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. 66506. 

 

About CHS Foundation

The CHS Foundation, funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., is focused on developing agriculture leaders for life-long success.  Together with our partners, we are advancing understanding of the ag cooperative business model, cultivating student success through university partnerships, and growing high impact ag leadership programs.  For more information on our programs, visit chsfoundation.org.

 

About the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center

The ACCC is a public-private partnership between the Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics and the Kansas Cooperative Council. The ACCC provides research-based information, education and assistance to people with and interested in cooperative businesses, including cooperative members, directors, managers and employees. The Center also works with students and faculty at educational institutions, the general public and public officials as well as owners, directors, managers and employees of agribusinesses. Further information can be obtained about this scholarship or about establishing additional scholarships by contacting Brian Briggeman at the same address or e-mailing, bbrigg@ksu.edu.

 

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K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

Story by: Arthur Capper Cooperative Center
Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University
K-State Research & Extension

 

Photo caption is as follows (back row, left to right): Cody Fosket, Trent Beier, Dr. Brian Briggeman, ACCC Director and KSU AGEC Professor, Riley Buss and Emma Thorpe at the K-State Agricultural Economics Awards Banquet, September 22, 2023.