ST. LOUIS — The Equipment Dealers Foundation (EDF), the charitable organization of the Equipment Dealers Association (EDA), has selected 18 men and women to receive their annual scholarship for the 2019-20 academic year.  The objective of EDF’s scholarship program is to support the education, training and further development of current and potential employees in the equipment industry.

Scholarship recipients are awarded $1,000 from EDF which is matched by their sponsoring dealership for a total of $2,000.  This year EDA will be awarding a total of $36,000 to these well-deserving students.

“This year we received nearly 30 scholarship applications from dealership employees around the country and we are thrilled to be presenting 18 students with a scholarship,” says Joe Dykes, VP of Industry Relations for EDA.  “This group is seeking diverse degrees from Diesel Technology to Precision Ag and even an MBA student.  We know these students will make a positive impact in their sponsoring dealerships and on the industry as a whole and we are proud to be able to contribute to their success.” 

The EDF Scholarship provides students in the equipment industry with funds needed to continue their educational training and development. Scholarships were awarded for a wide range of educational opportunities including technical training and four year degrees.

 Congratulations to the following students:
Aaron Balcom, 21st Century Equipment LLC (Sidney, NE)
Clay Cantrell, Tennessee Tractor (Alamo, TN)
Nathan Casady, Central Iowa Farm Store (Marshaltown, IA)
Kelsey Davidson, Osceola Implement & Supply, Inc. (Osceola, NE)
Cole Dial, Wm. Nobbe & Company (Flora, IL)
Alexis Gomez, 21st Century Equipment LLC (Imperial, NE)
Gannon Grauerholz, Carrico Implement Company, Inc. (Beloit, KS)
Kent Holmes, Apple Farm Service, Inc. (Covington, OH)
Bryan Manzer, Manzer Equipment, Inc. (Osmond, NE)
Hunter McCurdy, KanEquip (Ottawa, KS)
Caleb Meyer, Town & Country Implement (Rock Valley, IA)
Aaron Schwartz, KanEquip (Marysville, KS)
Xavier Smith, 21st Century Equipment LLC (Yuma, CO)
Tayton Terry, Terry Implement Company, Inc. (Gallatin, MO)
Evan Thomas, Mid-State Equipment (Jackson, WI)
Ryan Walson, 21st Century Equipment LLC (Torrington, WY)
Sheila Weninger, Ballweg Implement (Waupun, WI)
Holden Wilson, Heart Mountain Farm Supply (Powell, WY)
 
The EDF’s increased commitment and focus on workforce development in the equipment industry, including education and training, requires a significant need for additional funds to match the growth in applications submitted by current and future employees of equipment dealers.