The Robert H. Eckart Memorial Academic Scholarship
Our scholarship namesake, Bob Eckart, was a farmer and lifelong resident of Copley, Ohio, who supported the area’s agricultural community by serving as Secretary of the Summit County Farm Bureau Board of Trustees. In that role, which spanned “too many years to count,” he became known for the meticulously detailed handwritten minutes he would record during each meeting. In addition to his role as a farmer and an active member of the SCFB, Bob also drove a school bus for the Copley Public Schools for many years. His involvement with his charges went beyond safely delivering them to their intended destination each school day. He also hired many of these students to work on his farm after school hours and during summer vacations. There, he was a patient educator intent on teaching those who wanted to learn what he knew about farming, working the land, and animal husbandry. Not surprisingly, when Bob passed away, former students lined up outside the funeral home to pay their respects to the man who had been both their friend and teacher.
Not long after his passing, the SCFB Board of Trustees voted to create an academic scholarship program in honor of Bob’s memory. They established an award of $1,000 per academic year, with the option to renew for up to 4 years (provided minimum academic standards were maintained). Below are the individuals selected as our scholarship recipients, this year.
Sophia Troutman
Sophia Troutman, daughter of Deanna and Andrew Troutman, graduated from Wooster High School earlier this month, as a 3.78 grade point average National Honor Society member. Sophia grew up on a farm, taking care of goats, chickens and her pony. She enjoys helping her parents with the vineyards, as well as with the agri-tainment events held at the family’s wineries – holding multiple goat yoga classes and the annual goat derby. Active in 4-H for many years, Sophia has visited area nursing homes with her beloved pygmy goats. She regularly volunteers at the Wayne County Humane Society and various other volunteer opportunities through the National Honor Society. Sophia has helped supervise the SCFB Antique Museum during the county fairs and at the SCFB Farmers’ Share Breakfasts. She plans to attend The Ohio State University, completing a degree in Agriculture Business.
Kamryn Culp
Kamryn Culp, daughter of Kelly and Thomas Culp, just completed her freshman year at the University of Akron. She graduated from Northwest High School in 2020, as a 4.0 grade point average valedictorian and National Honor Society member. Kamryn grew up on a farm and worked all areas of the operation; baling hay and straw, cleaning barns, picking and selling produce and eggs, and caring for the livestock. She has been a member of 4-H where she has learned many life lessons, especially “what all it takes to raise an animal for show and market”. Kamryn has volunteered for many many organizations through 4-H and school and helped the SCFB with the annual 4-H breakfast during the fair. Majoring in Chemical Engineering, Kamryn would like to “help our world improve with new innovative ideas that can improve our environment – working with natural and agricultural resources, such as oil or grain”.
The Gale Betterly Memorial Academic Scholarship
The world of agriculture lost one of its most dedicated supporters last year. Gale Baumgardner Betterly passed away unexpectedly at Wyandot Memorial Hospital.
As many of you know, Summit County Farm Bureau’s mission statement, to promote agriculture through education and involvement …, was Gale Betterly’s mission, as well! Gale devoted her life to promoting agriculture starting out in the Farm Bureau youth program and 4-H. She became a 4-H educator in Columbiana County and later was in charge of the 4-H dairy program in Michigan. After returning to Summit County, she served in many livestock and grain farming organizations, serving on the SCFB board of trustees, SCFB President and as Ohio Farm Bureau’s Northeast District state trustee. Gale was a natural educator and she so enjoyed sharing her love of agriculture to all ages. She was always willing to share her knowledge whether it was one on one, or in a formal educational setting throughout SCFB’s many programs/events, at the SCFB Antiques Museum and with the SCFB Mobile Learning Laboratory. Therefore quite appropriately, SCFB awarded a memorial scholarship in her name this year and the recipient is:
Megan Schanz
Megan Schanz, daughter of Peter and the late Cynthia Schanz, is a student at Lake Erie College, majoring in Early Childhood Education. She graduated in 2020 from Barberton High School, where she was number seven in her class with a 3.87 grade point average and a National Honor Society member. Although Megan has not grown up on a farm, she has helped her grandparents with their cows, cats, and weeding the flowerbeds. She so enjoyed the pony her Grandpa had purchased for her that she continued riding lessons with a local riding instructor for many years after she outgrew her pony. Megan was very busy throughout high school with athletics: soccer, cross country, track and basketball. In fact, she has received a soccer scholarship from Lake Erie College. Megan has volunteered at her church and at many activities with the National Honor Society, as well as at the SCFB’s Farmers’ Share Breakfast and has supervised the SCFB’s Antique Museum during the fair for many years. When she becomes a teacher, Megan plans to implement pieces of farming and agriculture into the classroom to “help students be aware of the importance of agriculture” in our everyday lives.
Congratulations to our SCFB scholarship recipients!