Hailey Pedrick, a Pekin High School student from Ollie, has been named a recipient of the Beverly Rubey Scholarship through the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, a $1,000 award designated for Jefferson County students pursuing degrees in agriculture.
Pedrick plans to attend Iowa State University’s four-year pre-veterinary program before continuing on to the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine to earn her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
The Beverly Rubey Scholarship is one of several locally sponsored awards offered through the Iowa Farm Bureau’s broader scholarship program, which distributed 98 scholarships statewide to Iowa high school seniors and college students in 2026, including 27 first-time recipients and 71 renewals.
Scholarships through the program are renewable for up to four years, with a maximum total award of $10,000, for students enrolled in two- or four-year programs at accredited institutions including community colleges and technical schools. Recipients are selected based on Farm Bureau membership, academic achievement, financial need, community and extracurricular involvement, letters of recommendation, and a demonstrated commitment to rural Iowa.
Iowa Farm Bureau Community Resources Manager Ronnette Vondrak said the scholarships reflect the organization’s investment in the next generation of agricultural leaders. “Young people are the future of Iowa and our rural communities, and we’re honored to stand with them as they pursue careers that will keep agriculture strong,” Vondrak said. “Through these scholarships, Iowa Farm Bureau is investing in students’ potential and in the next generation of leaders, innovators and advocates who will help family farms succeed and rural communities prosper for years to come.”
