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Heltzel, Longenecker Awarded Scholarships from Premier

Two local students were recently awarded scholarships from Premier Select Sires. Darcy Heltzel of Martinsburg and Katheryn Longenecker of Williamsburg received scholarships between $750 and $1,250.

Premier Select Sires awarded a total of $25,950 to students through the 2023 Premier Future Ag Leaders Scholarship Program.

Heltzel, who is a senior at Central High School, plans to pursue a degree in food science with a minor in animal science. Daughter of Andrew and Jennifer Heltzel, Darcy is from Piney-Mar Farm. According to Premier’s release, “With her education, she hopes to impact both her family’s heritage of farming and the lives of others by advocating for dairy’s story in food production.”

Among her many accolades, Heltzel is the Blair County Dairy Princess, was named a Commended Student in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program, was crowned homecoming queen in 2022, has placed in multiple dairy and livestock shows, and received the Keystone FFA Degree this year. Heltzel is also involved in the Central band and the Lady Dragons Soccer team.

Longenecker is studying animal science at Penn State University. Longenecker is the daughter of Doug and Yvette Longenecker of Penn England LLC. According to Premier, “As she grew up on the farm and showed animals, [Longenecker] enjoyed the advice of others serving in those positions and hopes to help other producers raise animals that grow and produce to their best ability.”

Longenecker is well-decorated in the dairy community. She has placed in multiple dairy and livestock shows and received her Keystone Degree in 2022 (which led to her parents being recognized for having three children earn this degree). Longenecker was also named the Outstanding Senior Dairy Student at Central Cove’s FFA Award Ceremony in 2022.

The Premier Future Ag Leaders Scholarship Program provides financial support to eligible students pursuing agricultural education, and it also provides additional return to the cooperative’s member-owners by supporting the next generation of young people desiring to study and work in the agriculture industry. The Premier Select Sires board of directors has made a commitment to providing money to support this scholarship program on an ongoing annual basis.

 

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