Local Students Awarded Prestigious Agriculture Scholarships
McPherson Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Selection Committee member Madalynn Rhea presents Karson and Elizabeth with their scholarship certificates.
The McPherson Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee is proud to announce that Karson Schierling, a graduate of Inman High School, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Scholarship for McPherson County. This scholarship is made possible through the Ag Committee’s partnership with AFA, an organization dedicated to cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Since 2000, the McPherson Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee has actively raised funds to support local students in their pursuit of higher education in agriculture-related fields. To date, they have awarded 37 full scholarships, helping young leaders build a strong foundation for their careers. The scholarship is open to high school graduates and college undergraduates pursuing a four-year degree in agriculture and related programs.
Karson has demonstrated exceptional dedication to agriculture and leadership, balancing his academic and extracurricular activities with work on the family farm. He assists his family in the operation of a wholesale and retail beef business, has served as an officer in FFA, and has been involved in the trap shooting team, Inman film crew, scholars bowl team, as well as playing football, baseball, and golf. Additionally, he is a founding member of the IHS BBQ Club. This fall, Karson will begin his journey at Kansas State University, where he will major in Agribusiness.
As part of his scholarship, Karson will receive $3,200 toward tuition, fees, and books, along with fully funded participation in the AFA Leaders Conference, scheduled for November 6-9, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri—an additional value of $1,250.
Elizabeth Banuelos, a McPherson High School graduate, has been awarded a Leaders Conference Scholarship and will be attending the AFA Leadership Conference. Elizabeth plans to attend Kansas State University to pursue studies in Agronomy, Horticulture, and Business Administration.
The AFA Leaders Conference is a premier leadership development experience designed to bridge the gap between college and career for undergraduate students studying agriculture and food systems. Through this transformative program, students will build essential skills in relationship development, systems thinking, collaboration, cultural and interpersonal intelligence, and career management.
Karson and Elizabeth exemplify the hard work, dedication, and innovation that the McPherson Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee strives to support through its ongoing partnership with AFA. Their passion for agriculture and commitment to leadership reflect the values at the heart of this scholarship program.
For more information about AFA, visit www.agfuture.org.