Abigail Helbach
High School: Amherst, 2021
College Attending/Field of Study: Oklahoma State University, Animal Science & Agricultural Communications
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say Abigail was born to be an agricultural enthusiast. From the time she was an infant, she would ride the tractor with her father on the family’s cash crop farm. And her fond childhood experiences out in the fields included checking the farm’s irrigation systems.
Those invaluable experiences, including the last six years of working as a farmhand at Helbach Farms, have Abigail aspiring to become a manager with a livestock company. She also would like to start an e-commerce boutique specializing in western fashion. To get started, Abigail will enroll at Oklahoma State University, planning to double major in animal science and agricultural communications.
This self-described “natural leader” has been a staunch advocate for agriculture, mentoring children with their swine and cattle projects in the midst of showing her own livestock. Abigail has been a longtime 4-H youth leader in Portage County, earning the highest honor of 4-H Key Award along with holding officer positions that included being president of the Tomorrow River Voyagers 4-H Club and the Portage County 4-H Teen Leaders Association. She also was FFA president at Amherst High School, where she ranked in the top 10 of her class academically.
Aliza Jacobs
High School: Luxemburg-Casco, 2021
College Attending/Field of Study: University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Agriculture Education
Those who have mentored and collaborated with Aliza in her formative years tout her as “a fantastic role model” in Kewaunee County for youth agriculture. It’s a distinction that reflects Aliza’s strong passion for promoting and educating the community about all aspects of agriculture.
The avid volunteer’s selfless mantra of “Ag-vocating” for the sake of creating a better community will follow her to the next stage in her life. Always eager to learn so she can share her knowledge with others, Aliza moves on to college with a goal of becoming an agriculture educator.
She already has accumulated plenty of know-how through her vast experiences as an adolescent. Aliza ranked in the top 25 of her high school graduating class and was Luxemburg-Casco’s FFA vice president of community development. She also was the longtime president of the 4-H Bells of Luxemburg chapter. What’s more, Aliza worked multiple jobs caring for calves on two local farms and became a young entrepreneur by breeding prize-winning Boer goats, including a state champion.
Cora Kleist
High School: Richland Center, 2021
College Attending/Field of Study: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Animal Science
If what Cora has accomplished at such a young age is an indication, the well-being of livestock in her community will be in good hands in the near future. Her career goal is to better the lives of farmers and their families by caring for the health of their herds as a large-animal veterinarian.
Cora has acquired plenty of useful experience being around a family that produces beef cattle. She’s worked as a farmhand at Triple P Farm in the Richland Center area the last four years. As part of her primary responsibilities of tending to the calves on the farm, she has administered vaccines. She also had the honor of representing Wisconsin as a meat judge at the national level.
Complimented by others for having an “agrarian mindset” with a strong work ethic and perseverance, Cora proved herself in multiple leadership roles during high school. She was president of her 4-H chapter and her school’s FFA as well as Science Club and also was a captain for Richland Center’s track and field team. And she flourished in the classroom with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average to rank in the top 10 of her class.
Maleah Redmann
High School: Athens, 2021
College Attending/Field of Study: University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Equine Science & Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Maleah is the salutatorian of her graduating class at Athens High School and has her sights on becoming a large-animal veterinarian. She attained a grade-point average that was a near-perfect 4.0.
Among her long list of achievements in high school, Maleah served as state president and vice president of SkillsUSA, was vice president of the school’s FFA chapter and captain of the academic decathlon team, played in the school band, and competed in three sports.
Away from school, Maleah further made her mark as a self-motivated and industrious apprentice as she juggled multiple agricultural jobs and interests. She’s worked as a farmhand at Legacy Grass Dairy the last three years with responsibilities that included caring for calves. The last two years, Maleah has been a veterinary assistant at Athens Veterinary Service with opportunities to make farm calls with the vets there to treat large-animal patients. And Maleah trains mustangs, launching her Triple R Equines service for the wild horses as a 17-year-old.
Adam Zee
High School: Marshfield, 2021
College Attending/Field of Study: Iowa State University, Agricultural Engineering
Adam will step onto the Iowa State campus to begin his college studies with the rare double distinction of being a Grand Champion and a business owner. He’s been crowned a Grand Champion three times for steers he’s shown at local county fairs. And he’s been a beef entrepreneur since starting his company June Acres Cattle in 2016, where he’s managed a few dozen cows.
Continuing to raise angus cattle is on Adam’s to-do list, while he pursues a career as an agricultural engineer with a focus on biological systems. He hopes to work for a firm that designs structures for agricultural purposes.
Adam’s many accolades at Marshfield High School included ranking in the top 15 of a graduating class of more than 300 students, playing hockey and baseball all four years, and extensive involvement and leadership with FFA highlighted by being a recipient of the Star Discovery Award. He also participated in 4-H when he was younger.
