Three of this year’s four scholars are their high schools’ first-time recipients of the four-year, $10,000 college scholarship since the program started in 1986 to advance agriculture in rural communities.

The reach – and resulting impact – of the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship continues to expand in Wisconsin after 33 years.

Three of the four recipients this year are the first graduating high school students from their respective schools to be selected for the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship.

The presentation of the four-year, $10,000 college scholarship to each recipient this spring raises the total of Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms scholars to 109 since the start of the program in 1986. And the collective money awarded to the scholarship winners in the history of the program has climbed to more than $700,000.

To be considered for the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship, students must be in their final year of high school, graduating from a high school that is within 150 miles of Green Bay, in good academic standing, planning to attend an accredited four-year college or university, and committed to pursue a career in agriculture that will enhance Wisconsin’s rural communities.

“In keeping with the vision my grandfather had when he created the scholarship foundation over three decades ago, we are delighted to once again support young, resourceful and aspiring students who have a passion for agriculture and a desire to someday strengthen their own communities as they further their education,” said President Matt Lutsey of Waseda Farms, which sponsors the scholarship program through Green Bay-based Lutsey Enterprises.

Matt’s late grandfather, Thomas H. Lutsey, was a dairy farmer from Pulaski, Wisconsin, who created Gold Bond Ice Cream (later rebranded as Good Humor-Breyers) and ice-cream novelties such as the Eskimo Pie. Thomas H. Lutsey’s son, Tom Lutsey, founded Waseda Farms in 2008. Waseda Farms is an organic farm in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, that distributes certified organic food to several restaurants, grocery stores, other retailers and schools throughout Wisconsin as well as other locations in the Midwest.

2018 Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship Recipients

This year’s scholars include a valedictorian, a salutatorian, a businesswoman and a fireman, all from different parts of Wisconsin.

“These four students stood out among a large pool of applicants, all worthy of consideration for the scholarship award by the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship Selection Committee,” Matt Lutsey said. “It’s impressive to see how each of the scholars excelled in the classroom, participated in numerous activities, took on leadership roles and balanced all of that with time-consuming work on the farm.”

The 2018 Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship recipients are:

Sarah Albers, Prairie du Sac, Wis. Inspired daily by her late father’s hardworking mindset, Albers graduated at the top of her class at Sauk Prairie High School with a 4.3 grade-point average. Combining her love and experience of caring for livestock as a farmhand with extensive leadership opportunities in organizations such as FFA and 4-H, Albers plans to study animal science at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and pursue a career as a veterinarian.

Jessica Jurcek, Jefferson, Wis. Having grown up and worked many years on her family’s grass-fed beef farm, Jurcek is passionate about sustainable agriculture. So much that the salutatorian of Jefferson High School’s graduating class with a 4.3 grade-point average and former Student Council president will enroll at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities to study sustainable systems management so she can help farmers implement renewable technologies.

Olivia Pusch, Rubicon, Wis. A top-10 student at Hartford Union High School with a 4.1 grade-point average and a well-rounded pedigree of multiple extracurricular activities, Pusch made her mark as a young entrepreneur, too. She started to raise, show and sell Angus cattle as a 14-year-old, expanded the operation to breed Wagyu cattle and will pursue a degree in animal science at UW-Madison with a career goal of researching livestock genetics and nutrition.

Austin Vandertie, Brussels, Wis. As the eighth Lutsey-Waseda Farms scholar from Southern Door High School (matching Denmark High School for the most Lutsey-Waseda Farms scholarship recipients from one school), a highly involved Vandertie excelled academically as well as outside the classroom. The longtime farmhand on his family’s dairy farm aspires to lead the operations there as a fifth-generation farmer after he pursues a degree in dairy science at UW-Madison. Vandertie also is a state-certified firefighter who plans to continue helping his volunteer fire department.

A Commitment to Sustainable Farming and Education

Waseda Farms is a certified organic, sustainable farm in Door County that encourages the best environmental practices and humane animal treatment and provides agricultural jobs to the community. Waseda Farms also operates Waseda Farms Market on the farm in Door County and provides curbside pick-up for market orders at its facility in De Pere, Wisconsin. More information on Waseda Farms can be found at wasedafarms.com.

The Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship underscores Waseda Farms’ commitment to organic, sustainable and responsible farming and its commitment to education. Thomas Lutsey was a strong believer in hard work and diligence being essential to success. He wanted to help students who had a passion for agriculture and a dedication to furthering their education to better their local communities. The annual goal is to support students in rural communities who go to college and plan to commit themselves to living and working in those communities to advance Wisconsin’s agricultural future.

Referring to someone or something for turning a hundred can be made in different ways. A century is a period of time that spans 100 years. A centennial is a birthday or anniversary of 100 years. A centenarian is a person who is 100 years old.

Make room in the “100 Club” for the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship.

With the selection of six new recipients who will become part of tomorrow’s agricultural future, the scholarship program has surpassed the century mark for the number of exemplary students who earned financial means to realize the dreams they have for their own rural communities.

Since 1986, a total of 105 graduating high school students have benefited from over $600,000 in scholarships gifted through the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship. Each scholarship recipient is given a $10,000 scholarship over four years.

Thomas H. Lutsey was a dairy farmer from Pulaski, Wis., who created Gold Bond Ice Cream (later rebranded as Good Humor-Breyers) and ice-cream novelties such as the Eskimo Pie. His son, Tom Lutsey, founded Waseda Farms, an organic farm in Baileys Harbor, Wis., that also has two local markets and distributes food to several restaurants in the region.

Waseda Farms President Matt Lutsey, grandson of the late Thomas Lutsey, noted the significance of the 100^th scholarship being given out this year.

“Knowing that so many people have been given an opportunity that they may have not had otherwise is really an amazing feeling,” he said. “I know that my grandfather would be proud to see how this his little scholarship has grown over the years. This was near and dear to his heart.”

2017 Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship Recipients

The selection of six scholarship winners this year is an increase of one from previous years.

“We had a very difficult time narrowing it down with so many deserving scholars this year,” Lutsey said. “We really felt that adding the extra scholar this year was the right thing to do.”

All of this year’s scholarship recipients are children of farmers and/or farm operators.

The students expertly balanced their school studies and extracurricular activities while tending to daily chores and work duties on the farm. One recipient graduated at the head of her class as valedictorian, and two others are salutatorians by ranking second academically.

“We have no doubt that this small contribution to enhancing rural communities here in our backyard will pay dividends for years to come,” Lutsey said.

The 2017 Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship recipients are:

Lillian Feider, New Holstein, Wis. While working on her family’s third-generation, 300-cow dairy farm and leading her FFA chapter, Feider starred in the classroom with an exceptional 4.1 grade-point average to rank No. 2 at New Holstein High School.

Emma Gwidt, Pulaski, Wis. The oldest of six kids, Gwidt aspires to run her family’s multigenerational dairy farm, where she has raised a herd of 15 Holstein cattle. After serving as president of her local FFA and 4-H chapters and qualifying for the 2017 National Holstein Convention, the Pulaski High School graduate plans to study Dairy Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jessica Mehre, Glenbeulah, Wis. With vast interests that included participation in music, theater and sports as well as serving as president of her FFA and AFS-USA chapters, Mehre ranked second in her class at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School. A partner in her family’s third-generation dairy farm, she will enroll at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study Dairy Science with an interest in dairy systems research.

Erik Ohman, Glenbeulah, Wis. A Plymouth High School graduate who was a team captain in football and wrestling and attained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, Ohman heads to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study Biochemistry. He wants to promote organic farming and operate a small livestock farm, having already logged 15 years of helping out with the cattle and swine at his family’s farm.

Iris Schira, Mosinee, Wis. The Mosinee High School valedictorian with an unblemished 4.0 grade-point average plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Schira has distinguished herself as a leader, from class president in Student Senate and team captain in track and field at school to mentoring as a “Big” in Big Brothers Big Sisters to managing a herd of 28 beef cattle on her family’s dairy farm.

Joseph Tomandl, Medford, Wis. An entrepreneurial mindset has Tomandl thinking about starting a farm or an agriculture-focused business in his rural community as the Medford Area Senior High School graduate moves on to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to pursue agricultural engineering. He has been president of his FFA and 4-H chapters, a cross-country team captain and entrusted with leadership responsibilities at his family’s grass-based dairy farm, including raising a herd of Hereford cattle organically. 

A Generational Commitment to Farming and Education

Thomas Lutsey’s son, Tom Lutsey, continued his father’s passion for the farm and purchased land in Baileys Harbor, Wis., that is now Waseda Farms.

The certified organic, sustainable farm encourages the best environmental practices and humane animal treatment and provides agricultural jobs to the community. Waseda Farms also has a store on the farm in Door County as well as Waseda Farms Market in De Pere, Wis. More information on Waseda Farms can be found at wasedafarms.com.

The Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship underscores Waseda Farms’ commitment to organic, sustainable and responsible farming and its commitment to education. The four-year, $10,000 scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors with a rural background who live within 150 miles of Green Bay and are pursuing a college degree in agriculture that will enhance rural communities.

Thomas Lutsey was a strong believer in hard work and diligence being essential to success. He wanted to help students who had a passion for agriculture and a dedication to furthering their education to better their local communities.

Three generations of the Lutsey family have carried on the legacy that started with the gifting of the first scholarship in 1986. The annual goal is to support students in our rural communities who go to college and plan to commit themselves to living and working in those communities to advance Wisconsin’s agricultural future.

Hazel Schira grew up on a family farm in Mosinee, Wis., a community of nearly 4,000 people. It was early mornings, long days and never-ending hard work. And Schira loved every minute of it.

“Growing up on the farm has been an incredible experience,” recalls Schira. And that love of farming has taken her from Mosinee to Madison.

Schira is now a senior at UW-Madison double majoring in Biochemistry and Chinese. Next year, she will present her research on white blood cells at a conference in Chicago. She is fluent in Mandarin and has studied abroad twice in China.

As a graduating senior, Schira gets asked a lot about what comes next. Right now, she’s isn’t quite sure, and she isn’t concerned about it either. Options include graduate school, medical school, or maybe the peace corps.

She ultimately plans on returning to a rural community where she can help; in a similar way her home community of Mosinee has helped her family.

“I am looking to move to a more rural community, like the one I grew up in. It’s a great place to raise a family,” she said. “They are supporting my family in our time of need.”

Schira is referring to the health struggles both her parents face. Her father is disabled, bipolar and faces an ongoing struggle with depression. Schira’s mother is fighting breast cancer. Her parents’ health challenges are one of the primary reasons Schira is interested in pursuing the medical field.

The community support shown to Schira and her family includes providing dinner for the family every night. Schira, while busy with school and preparing for her future, returns home about once a month to help on the farm. For her, it’s helping out her family most when they need it.

Schira is no stranger to the theme of overcoming challenges; in kindergarten, she was diagnosed with dyslexia. She credits the Mosinee School District with helping her succeed. By middle school, she was keeping up with the other students. While she needed extra time to do it all, she continued.

“I believe I have overcome my disability by working hard,” said Schira. In addition to her dyslexia, she also has an autoimmune disease and physical limitations, but those have never stopped her from pursuing her life goals. Schira shared that she always knew she’d go to college and nothing would stop her.

“If you really set your mind to something, you’ll find a way to do it,” she said.

Schira was the valedictorian at Mosinee High School, class of 2013. She is also a 2013 recipient of the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship.

If you were to meet him, there would be no doubt in your mind that Timothy Prestby is a successful young man with a bright future ahead. And when talking about his accomplishments he credits his family and his hometown community of Pulaski for his success.

Prestby’s list of passions is almost as long as his list of extracurricular activities: sustainability, agriculture, healthy living, environmental vitality, healthy cooking, global culture and the Spanish language. And these passions were fostered by Prestby’s brother during a challenging and emotional time.

“My brother was fighting cancer,” recalls Prestby, “and was struggling to live a healthy life. Chemo ruined his taste and his energy. I wanted to do anything I could do to prolong the life of everyone in my family.”

And this is where the lifestyle turnaround began.

The commitment wasn’t easy. Prestby and his father were both overweight and this change was significant for the entire family. Through time and a lot of effort, the entire family started eating better and exercising more.

“I wanted to make a change in my life—live healthier and feel better about myself. I have my brother to thank for teaching me to make the most of life,” shared Prestby. “Life can change in an instant and our time on earth is precious.”

Prestby’s brother passed away two years ago, but the lessons learned will live on forever.

Today, Prestby hopes to turn those lessons into action. He is interested in taking the idea of sustainable food and matching healthy living practices with people.

This idea started when Prestby was taking AP Environmental Science last year as a senior at Pulaski High School. As he discovered the disconnect between the food industry and the consumer; sustainable agriculture became not only an interest, but a passion.

“Consumers should know where their food comes from, and we should be supporting local farms in this process,” shared Prestby. “Preparing your food, and not eating processed food, is also part of my interest. It all fits together.”

“I want to better the community and increase others’ well-being,” shared Prestby. From informing his fellow classmates to educating the community; reducing food waste and bringing hungry people healthy food—Prestby is looking to change the way people and food interact.

Now that he’s at UW-Madison, Prestby is involved with the Food Recovery Network where he and other students partner with dining halls to bring extra food to low-income housing families. For him, it’s a win-win. “It’s fighting hunger and fighting food waste at the same time,” he said.

This summer, Prestby hopes to study abroad in Nicaragua where he’ll spend time on both food and coffee farms learning how these small communities’ food systems and economies benefit their society. He’ll be able to tie in his Spanish speaking skills while visiting Nicaragua as well.

“These small communities promote sustainability and well-being for the community and I really want to explore that more.”

Everything Prestby has experienced and earned, he continues to credit others for their help in getting him here.

“I feel very gracious to everyone who has helped me along the way—support from my family, friends and the Pulaski community,” said Prestby. He praises the support he received from the Pulaski School System, countless local organizations and charities.

In particularly, he credits the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship.  “I’m here because of their scholarship support,” shared Prestby. As a 2016 recipient of a scholarship that supports students interested in agriculture and community, Prestby receives $10,000 over four years for his education.

“Because of this, I have shaped my passion to enrich my community. I am so blessed to be part of this community. They turned a chaotic life into one that was manageable and enjoyable—not one daunted by cancer,” shared Prestby.

As for the future, Prestby sees himself partnering with other like-minded individuals to use their talents and passions to benefit small local communities.

—

Tim Prestby is a freshman at UW-Madison majoring in Horticulture. He is involved in the Horticulture Club, Food Recovery Network, Micentro (tutoring and mentoring of Hispanic high school students) and is a resident at UW-Madison’s residence for environmental sustainability where he helps share information and promote sustainability among students.

Bambi (Quam) Gorman, 1991 Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms scholarship recipient, grew up in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Her family, from a rural community in the 1970s, was focused on putting food on the table, not on encouraging advanced education.

And for Gorman’s family, education wasn’t part of the family’s history. Her father’s elementary education took place in a one-room schoolhouse, and he never finished high school. Gorman’s mother didn’t pursue education either, she was focused on building a family. For Gorman, this wasn’t abnormal—no one in her immediate or extended family graduated from college. It just wasn’t the focus.

“As I think about my successes now, it’s quite amazing I was able to put them together with parents who really had a main focus of feeding us every day,” shared Gorman. “They could in no way provide the kind of insight required to push me on to college.”

But her individual drive did.

An unfortunate experience led Gorman to not only pursue higher education, but ensure her future would be successful.

Gorman’s father was diagnosed with leukemia at age 38, when she was just a freshman in high school. This arduous life experience caused her to grow up quickly. The family spent years fighting for coverage of medical expenses and experimental therapies. While trying to figure out how to afford health care costs, the family worked hard on raising awareness for bone marrow donors to help put Gorman’s father into remission—an effort that most high school students can’t image. But for Gorman, she recalls this trying experience helped her become the person she is today.

“This experience shaped me and made me anxious to be successful quickly and incredibly driven,” shared Gorman.

While the family continued to care for Gorman’s father, she also knew she needed to focus on attending college to continue her studies. However, the family was struggling with the increasing healthcare costs, and contributing to higher education tuition wasn’t an option.

“I knew I wanted to go to Marquette and I knew I could find a way financially to make it happen,” shared Gorman. She paid for all four years of college herself, and credits the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship for helping make it possible, offering her $8,500 in scholarship dollars over four years.

Goman reflected, “The scholarship made a huge impact—it was the way I was able to make it at Marquette. Truly, thank you does not say enough.”

While Gorman’s professional career didn’t take her into the agriculture field, she credits the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship with her college and career success.

After graduating from Marquette University, Gorman was hired by Kimberly-Clark and held numerous roles within the company over the years. After some time spent in consulting, Gorman now works for New Jersey-based Soundview Paper as the Vice President of Commercial Operations. Gorman received an MBA from 2001 from Georgia State University.

Today, Gorman is married with two daughters, Caitlin and Addison. Her focus on community and health awareness has never been stronger.

“I try to give back by continuing to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by participating in their endurance fundraising program called Team in Training.” Gorman has raised more than $50,000 and is participating in two upcoming half marathons as part of her volunteerism and community engagement.

And today, Gorman remembers the scholarship and support she received fondly, “Thank you Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship. Thank you for taking a chance on me. The opportunities you provide lead to a lifetime of difference for the recipients.”