By Joann Pipkin
FCS Financial’s commitment to supporting the future of agriculture in Missouri is firmly rooted in its scholarship program. For more than two decades, the ag finance cooperative has dedicated monies to youth in Missouri agriculture by funding scholarships that encourage and support higher education for deserving high school seniors. Giving back to its members and supporting communities is the foundation of FCS Financial’s scholarship program.
Now in its 22nd year, FCS Financial’s scholarship program has awarded 740 scholarships totaling $948,00 to children and grandchildren of FCS Financial member-owners since the board approved the program in 2003. Applications are available on the FCS Financial website at www.myfcsfinancial.com and are due on March 1, 2026.
Here’s a look at what some of the 2020 recipients are doing now.
Kaleigh Byram – Sheldon, Missouri
After graduating high school, Kaleigh attended Redlands Community College (RCC) in El Reno, Oklahoma, where she received her associate degree. She went on to achieve a bachelor’s degree in animal science, pre-veterinary concentration, from Oklahoma State University (OSU). She’s currently working toward a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She hopes to graduate in 2028.
At Redlands, Kaleigh was on the president’s honor roll for four semesters, served as an agriculture ambassador and took part in Aggie Club.
Kaleigh continued her involvement in extracurricular activities while at OSU. There, she took part in Block & Bridle Club and Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club. At LSU, Kaleigh continues to be active on campus through the Food Animal Medicine Club, Theriogenology Club, Integrative Medicine Club and the Student American Veterinary Medicine Association.
“I’ve had the opportunity to shadow and intern with a multi-
tude of veterinarians in Oklahoma and Missouri who have allowed
me to learn more about veterinary medicine and the different innovative ways they are able to provide for their patients, clients and communities,” Kaleigh says. “Those experiences greatly contributed to my ability to get into veterinary school as well as take what I’ve learned and apply it to clinical reasoning while studying veterinary medicine.”
Alongside her college education, Kaleigh says the opportunities she’s been afforded have allowed her to directly apply the knowledge she’s gained to her family’s agricultural endeavors.
Now in her second year of veterinary school at LSU, Kaleigh resides in Baton Rouge. After graduation, she hopes to return to southwest Missouri and practice rural large animal and/or mixed animal veterinary medicine. She also hopes to contribute to the growth and maintenance of her family’s show feed business, row crop and cattle operations.
Olivia (Brune) Unterbrink — Eolia, Missouri 
Olivia graduated in December 2023 from the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education– communications and leadership, minors in agribusiness management and plant sciences.
A recipient of the Mizzou Excellence Award, Olivia was active in campus activities including Sigma Alpha professional agriculture sorority, Mizzou Collegiate Cattle Women, Mizzou Ag Ed Society and Agribusiness Career Connection Program. She was also a member of the College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Student Council and was CAFNR week co-chair.
As a peer coach for CAFNR Career Services, Olivia reviewed
student resumes to highlight experience, achievement and recog-nitions. She also helped perform mock interviews with students, provided constructive feedback, conducted career exploration meetings and supplied resources to students.
“I interned with Missouri Corn Growers Association between my sophomore and junior years,” Olivia explains. “Through this experience (as a grower engagement
intern), I lobbied for agricultural issues to Congress staff during a trip to Washington, D.C., assisted in planning and conducting seven membership golf tournaments throughout Missouri raising funds and visited with corn growers,
educating them on agricultural political topics.”
A second internship sent Olivia to Evansville, Indiana, to work for ADM as a grain merchandiser/originator. During the experience, she says she purchased thousands of bushels of grain, created contracts and sent signed agreements.
“I also educated producers on daily markets, visited farm operations and discussed marketing strategies,” Olivia says. “In addition to these tasks, I generated a financial analysis for owning regional FOB (free on board) trucking to be sent and used by other regional locations.”
Olivia took part in the Litton Leadership Scholar Program her sophomore year of college. According to her, the yearlong CAFNR program focused on learning about Jerry Litton’s legacy and further developed her leadership skills through mentorship and community engagement.
“A book could be written about all the things I learned in the experience I had in college,” Olivia ex-plains. “I was always told the right career will teach you what you need to know, but it can’t teach you the soft skills that are fundamentals to success. My internships and scholar program participation were true testaments to that.”
Olivia goes on to say skills like public speaking, adaptability,
responsibility, time management and effective communication were all traits she learned through her opportunities.
“I am nowhere near a professional and will always have more growth to achieve, but I can confidently say these experiences have developed me into the person I am today.”
Currently, Olivia works as a program analyst for the Monroe County Farm Service Agency. Her duties include educating and assisting farmers on government programs. She resides in Paris, Missouri, near her husband’s family farm. Her plans include continuing to serve agricultural producers and to be active in the community.
Makayla Burns — Perryville, Missouri
Having earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis in 2023, Makayla is currently pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree at the same institution with plans to graduate in May 2026.
While at UHSP, Makayla participated in a variety of academic and professional development activities include Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA), Kappa Epsilon fraternity, American Pharmacist Association (APhA) and Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA).
Through clinical rotations as part of the Pharm.D. curriculum, Makayla says she gained valuable hands-on experiences in diverse pharmacy settings.
“These opportunities have strengthened my clinical knowl-
edge, patient counseling skills and passion for community health,” Makayla says.
Currently, Makayla is completing advanced pharmacy practice rotations as part of her doctoral training before graduation. She resides in Perryville, Missouri, and plans to begin her professional career in a community pharmacy in southeast Missouri after graduation. One of her long-term goals is to educate patients about their medications and promote safe, effective medication use within the community.
Brendon Engeman — Montrose, Missouri
Brendon graduated from Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU) in December 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business, minor in agricultural finance.
At NWMSU, Brendon was active in Collegiate Farm Bureau, Delta Tau Alpha agriculture honor society, the interfraternity council and Order of Omega honor society. He also took part in Alpha Gamma Rho social-professional fraternity where he served as chapter treasurer and president and on the Homecoming and Greek Week committees.
Brendon’s internship experiences took him to FCS Financial as
a marketplace intern, the NWMSU Student Success Center as a supplemental instruct tutor and SI mentor and Community First Bank as a credit analyst.
Today, Brendon is enrolled in Conception Seminary College and studying for the priesthood for the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri. He’ll spend the next four years at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri, studying philosophy. After graduation, he plans to attend a major seminary to study theology for an additional four years. In the future, he hopes to serve the Dioceses of Kansas City-St. Joseph under the direction of the bishop.
Max Loy — Columbia, Missouri
A December 2023 graduate of MU, Max earned a degree in personal
financial planning. While at MU, he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsi-lon and was part of the leadership board, serving as treasurer and Greek Week Philanthropy.
An internship experience led Max to Northwestern Mutual as a financial advisor. He also worked as a staff accountant with a local accountant and was employed at Midway USA as a customer service representative. He says a vast array of opportunities in different industries helped him determine his ultimate career path.
Currently an account executive with First State Insurance agency, Max helps maintain and service books of business in addition to growing his own book. While his focus is on commercial insurance, Max also writes personal, benefits and agricultural insurance. Max resides in Columbia and recently became engaged.
Sianna Meadows — Mound City, Missouri
Sianna attended MU after high school. She graduated in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Health Science, emphasis in rehabilitation sciences, minors in psychology and wellness.
“While at Mizzou, I was involved in the Christian Campus House Ministry (CCH), participating in Bible studies and leading a worship team at our weekly gathering,” Sianna explains. “I also had the opportunity to travel to Israel with CCH through an organization called Passages in the summer of 2023. This trip was an incredible way to bring the Bible to life!”
As part of MU’s physical thera-py program, Sianna has participat-ed in the campus pro-bono clinic PhysZOU, building clinical skills through four-week rotations in
pediatrics, neurology and orthopedics.
“I have also been able to volunteer in a program called Steps at a local assisted living facility,” she says. “At Steps, I coordinate with my team to design and lead a resident through exercise sessions aimed at enhancing leg strength and balance.”
According to Sianna, her collegiate experiences helped reinforce the value of serving others. Throughout the patient therapy sessions she worked in, she built both strength and relationships.
“I might have been the one leading, but I learned so much from these opportunities,” she says.
Sianna currently lives in Columbia and expects to graduate in 2027 with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.She concludes, “I look forward to helping my future patients along their journey toward improved function and mobility.”
Olivia Owen — Maysville, Missouri
Olivia completed undergraduate studies at MU in December 2023 with a degree in biological engineering. She received a Master of Science degree in civil engineering in May 2025 from MU as well.
While at MU, Olivia participat-ed in Mizzou Engineering Student Council (MESC), which provided social and professional opportunities within the college and surrounding community. She served on the K-12 and service committees during her time at the university.
“The K-12 committee hosts High School Day, an event wherestudents gain firsthand interaction with the College of Engineering,” Olivia explains. “Various STEM stations are set up for students to increase their exposure. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with students about the transition to college and explore their specific interests related to engineering.”
She adds that the service committee organized, planned and
participated in a variety of activities including food drives, meal packing and dog walking.
Inducted into two academic honor societies for engineers while at MU, Olivia was a member of Alpha Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi. She says both were a great honor and recognized her dedication to academic excellence.
Each year, the MU College of Engineering recognizes faculty, staff, alumni and students who display outstanding performance and dedication. Olivia was honored during Engineer’s Week 2023 as one of two Outstanding Students in Biological Engineering.
“Some of my favorite learning experiences and opportunities occurred through the university,” Olivia says.
The Maysville, Missouri, native took part in two internships during college. The summer of 2023 she worked with Ag Processing Inc., and in the summer of 2024 with Kimley-Horn.
Olivia also served as a technical student assistant for the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) from 2022-2024 under Dr. Lori Abendroth and Dr. Kenneth Sud-duth.
“During my time there I worked to create two protocols for the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network (LTAR),” she explains. “The first protocol standardized management of in-field grain yield data systems and the second optimized data analysis of yield maps and point extraction. We accomplished this through the iterative processes of data collection, data cleaning and data assessment. Of course, my favorite part was the collection because everyone likes
to ride in the combine!”
According to Olivia, the experience at USDA-ARS helped her develop an understanding of precision agriculture and crop physiology. Both provided insight that helps improve grain yield data analysis and on farm management decisions.
Additional experiences were encountered when Olivia served as a teaching assistant in the Geo-technical Engineering Laboratory and for the Mechanics of Materials course.
“As a lab TA I was tasked with supplementing lecture information using in-lab experiments through the running of various geotechnical engineering tests,” Olivia says. “As a course TA I was tasked with holding help sessions to work through problems and address questions from students.”
As a graduate student, Olivia worked with Dr Erik Loehr and Dr. Brent Rosenblad to perform analysis of post grouting in drilled shafts of the John James Audubon Bridge based on load tests and boring logs.
“The data was assessed to compare variability of performance
of post-grouted shafts with subsurface variability,” Olivia explains. “This comparison is an attempt to determine whether ground variability or construction variability has a greater impact on shaft performance. We closed out the analysis with writing a 100-page research paper.”
Currently a geotechnical specialist at Hanson Professional Services in Springfield, Illinois, Olivia works on a variety of projects for the State of Illinois, Ameren and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“I have a healthy balance of field and office work,” she says. “In the field I have helped with dam inspections, performed drilled pier construction quality assurance and logged borings. I am looking forward to continuing design work in the office, and I have already had the opportunity on projects with slope stability, seepage and foundation design aspects.”
In the future, Olivia plans to return to Missouri. Professionally, she looks forward to continuing to gain experience as a geotechnical engineer.
“I am extremely appreciative of the knowledge base and positive work environment at Hanson,” she concludes. “Personally, I have some cattle in Missouri and would love to increase my herd size. Growing up on the farm, I am eager to return to my roots.”
Brooke (Wiggins) Rasmussen — Sparta, Missouri 
A Christian County native, Brooke received a degree in accounting
in May 2023 from College of the Ozarks (CofO). She graduated Suma Cum Laude.
“Attending CofO is a unique experience in itself,” Brooke explains. “The work program requires15 hours of on campus work each week during the school year with two 40-hour weeks per year. I worked as the athletic director student assistant for most of my time at CofO.”
Learning opportunities sent Brooke to Springfield, Missouri, where she interned at Commerce Bank’s in Commercial Lending. As a part of CofO’s patriotic education, she attended a trip with the college to Washington, D.C., in April 2023.
“In two days, we visited nearly every monument,” she explains. “The sightseeing in D.C. is an unforgettable experience.”
Brooke also was selected to attend the College Ethics Symposium in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in October of 2022. She says the opportunity was eye-opening and challenged her thoughts as she learned from and listened to others with different world views than hers.
“My time at CofO and the experience I was able to have during that time nurtured the importance of faith, hard work and community in my life,” Brooke says. “In those three years, I was continuously pushed to amplify my character which has served me well post-graduation. Receiving an FCS Financial Scholarship had a significant hand in the opportunities I was able to have during my undergraduate studies.”
Currently a relationship manag-er in commercial lending for Commerce Bank in Springfield, Brooke continues to be involved with her family’s beef cattle operation and spends as much time on the farm as possible. She is actively involved with Rotaract of Springfield, The Network – Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Junior Board for Lost and Found Grief Center.
Brooke and her husband, Lin-coln, reside in Ozark, only minutes away from the family’s century farm. In the future, the couple plans to move to the farm and
continue to take on more responsibilities there. She also hopes to continue her work at Commerce Bank.
“I really enjoy working with various businesses and industries and foresee this to be my lifelong career,” she says.
Chloe Sims — Mexico, Missouri
With plans to serve rural Missouri after completing college, Chloe
is currently in her second year of veterinary school at MU. She first completed undergraduate studies in animal science at MU, graduating in December 2023.
As an undergrad, Chloe was a member of Sigma Alpha, a professional women’s agricultural sorority. She participated in the pre-veterinary club and Collegiate Cattlewomen as well. Chloe also served as a teaching assistant for introductory courses in animal sciences.
Chloe took part in the F.B. Miller Reproductive Management Internship Program, learning skills in beef and dairy cattle reproductive management practices. She was honored as a Top 10 Senior in Animal Sciences.
Through a study abroad opportunity, Chloe traveled to Italy
where she visited Rome, Florence and Tuscany. There, she explored farms and manufacturing facilities to learn about sustainable food systems.
“We also toured historical sites and landmarks such as the Colos-seum, Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Pantheon,” Chloe says.
Work experiences sent Chloe to The Maschhoffs, a family-owned swine operation in southern Illinois as a research and development intern and Gardiner Angus Ranch in Ashland, Kansas. She also worked with MU Extension as an animal health intern and was employed at MU’s swine teaching farm and a veterinary clinic in her hometown.
“Those experiences taught me interpersonal and hands-on skills that I can use in my future career as a veterinarian,” Chloe explains. “Studying abroad exposed me to a different culture, broadened my world view and allowed me to gain unique experiences in a new country. The internships and work experiences I pursued helped me develop practical skills, responsibility and other qualities that have prepared me for a career in veterinary medicine.”
Chloe resides in Columbia.
Faith Trimmer — Maitland, Missouri
A spring 2024 graduate of Creigh-ton University (CU) in Omaha, Ne-braska, Faith received a bachelor’s degree in business administration after focusing on economics and business intelligence and analytics.
At CU, Faith was involved in the Management and Consulting Club where she spent time advising others on business and basic accounting as well as on how the Smithsonian could reach children in rural communities who might not otherwise be able to travel to their museum network.
“I assisted the national archives with transcribing and tagging documents ranging from NASA communications with their astronauts in orbit to military records of service men’s awards,” Faith says.
Faith volunteered at a Covid clinic during her first year of college. In that role she checked documents, directed traffic and pushed wheelchairs. She was also a leader in the Anna Tyler Waite Leadership program and involved in the or-
ganization formerly known as The Institute for Economic Inquiry.
As an intern for First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO), Faith worked for 14 months on the continuous improvement team building dashboards and analyzing data. She completed the internship as a full-time coach during the second summer of the internship where she enjoyed assisting teams with a variety of initiatives.
After graduation, Faith joined PFM’s Des Moines office, completing their municipal advisory analyst training program in Philadelphia in October 2024. In December 2024, she passed Series 50 to become a municipal advisor.
“FNBO taught me a lot about how to accomplish tasks and work collaboratively with a wide variety of teams,” Faith says. “I also gained a lot of public speaking experience in front of both large and small groups.”
Faith admits she was a very shy college sophomore with no connections when she was hired at FNBO. She says her boss redefined what “success” means and continues to be a source of wisdom and common sense today.
Through her experiences at PFM, Faith learned what she needed to know to be where she is today.
“Their training is well respect-ed in the industry,” she says. “My former project manager, Matthew Stoffel, set an example I try to live up to every day.”
Currently, Faith works as an analyst at Columbia Capital Management LLC, a municipal advisory firm in Merriam, Kansas. She recently helped the State of Missouri analyze the costs and benefits of one of its K-12 school programs. She’s also very involved in work related to economic development.
“I live near Kansas City, love my work and plan to continue in or near the industry,” Faith says. “I hope to have a family and finish writing and publish my book.”
Madelyn Wilford — Chillicothe, Missouri
Madelyn helps shape young minds through her work as a fifth-grade teacher at Chillicothe Elementary School.
A May 2024 graduate of MU, Madelyn received a degree in elementary education. During her time at MU, she took part in Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and was a member of MizzouThon, serving as an officer in both organizations. An avid dancer, she also continued being involved in the activity through college.
Madelyn expects to achieve a Master’s in Learning, Teaching and Curriculum in May 2026. She plans to continue her teaching career in Chillicothe.
