Summit County Farm Bureau’s 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 their teacher.

Not long after his passing, the SCFB Board of Trustees voted to create an academic scholarship program in honor of Bob’s memory. Below are the individuals selected as our Robert H. Eckert Memorial Academic Scholarship recipients, this year.

Hannah Clark

Hannah is the daughter of Charity McKenzie and Don Clark.  She recently graduated from Tallmadge High School with a 4.17 GPA, where she was active in the Marching, Concert and Jazz bands, the National Honor Society and The Community Agriculture for Local Impact CTE Program.  She has received many academic and non-academic honors and awards throughout her school years. Hannah is active in 4-H and the Summit County Junior Fair Board, as well.

School and 4-H has also allotted her many volunteer experiences.  She has volunteered at the Summit County Farm Bureau Antiques Museum during the county fair, as well as at the Summit County Farm Bureau Farmers’ Share Breakfast.  She has worked as a Student Intern/Extension Program Assistant at The Ohio State University Summit County Extension Office where she focused on the summer camp programs.

While she does not live on a farm, she has gained extensive hands-on farm experience through volunteering at Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary.  Through her experience there, she has witnessed the full spectrum of farm life, from births to euthanasia and everything in between.

Since agriculture is a lifestyle and a responsibility, Hannah has consciously chosen to embrace, her main career goal – to become a specialized large-animal veterinarian attending The Ohio State University.

Alexandra Panzner

Alexandra is the daughter of Matthew and Kathleen Panzner of Copley.  She is a 2026 graduate of Copley High School with a 4.298 GPA, where she was VERY active in; Spanish Club, Chinese Club, German Club, Pickleball Club, Cultures Connect Club, Black Student Union, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Club America, Copley Students United, Student Council, Physics Club, Key Club, National Honor Society, soccer and band.  It’s no wonder that she was the recipient of multiple honors.

Although much of her volunteer experience has been through her church and school clubs, she found time each year to help at Summit County Farm Bureau’s Annual Farmers’ Share Breakfast.  When Alexandra is not busy with her extra curriculum activities, she works part-time babysitting, dog sitting, refereeing for youth soccer, swim team coaching, giving swim lesson and lifeguarding.

Alexandra has been involved in 4-H for ten years and credits her 4-H experience of raising hogs, chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese from babies to slaughter and showing at the fair for the past nine years as the key that sparked her passion for agriculture and veterinary medicine.  She will be attending the University of Findlay this fall, majoring in pre-vet.

Please join us in congratulating these worthy recipients!