A Van Buren County High School senior and multi-sport athlete has been recognized with a prestigious agriculture-focused scholarship and award following a nomination from a local farmer.
Rylee Phillips of Birmingham was selected as a winner of the Wyffels Hybrids Corn Belt Scholarship, presented in partnership with Bound, receiving a $1,000 scholarship and the signature Corn Belt Award — a WWE-style championship belt — during a presentation at Van Buren County High School on June 29th.
Phillips was nominated by Cale Plowman, owner of Plowman Farms Inc. and a member of the Iowa Beef Council. The Corn Belt Award and scholarship program, a partnership between Bound and Wyffels Hybrids, awards six $1,000 scholarships each season — three to female student-athletes and three to male student-athletes from Iowa high schools. Recipients must be seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and are evaluated on exceptional leadership, character, and active participation in school and community activities. The award goes to the individual, not the school.
The selection process is competitive and structured. Open nominations are accepted from the public throughout the year, with thousands of submissions received each cycle. The pool is then narrowed to a small group of finalists — typically around ten per gender — before names are removed and a blind vote is conducted by a panel of judges. Winners are announced seasonally across winter, fall, and spring/summer cycles.
The award was presented by Brett Cooper, Director of Partnerships with Bound, and Shauna Sieren, District Sales Manager with Wyffels Hybrids, who traveled to Keosauqua for the ceremony.
Phillips has been a standout multi-sport athlete throughout her time at Van Buren County, competing in cross country in the fall and track and field in the spring. In track, Phillips capped her high school career with a trip to the Iowa state championships, where she competed in the girls 4×800 meter relay and the 1500 meter — a testament to the level she reached as a distance runner at Van Buren County.
Cross country coach Lucinda DeHart spoke highly of Phillips in the press release. “Rylee represents the very best of what this award stands for,” DeHart said. “Her ability to balance athletics, academics and agricultural leadership while making a positive impact on others is truly impressive.”
She also joined the wrestling program when it was added to the school’s athletic offerings, an experience she has credited with helping her step outside her comfort zone, develop new skills, and build connections with teammates she otherwise may not have met.
What sets Phillips apart extends well beyond athletics. Through her involvement in FFA and 4-H, she has taken on significant leadership roles including FFA treasurer and secretary and Blazing Trails 4-H Club president. She has earned recognition including Outstanding 4-H Member, Best Senior Record Book, and Best Overall Livestock Feed Records, and represented her community as Van Buren County Fair Queen Runner-Up. Phillips is also an active member of National Honor Society, has earned Honor Roll recognition, and has contributed to her community through the Silver Cord Project and Iowa Girls State.
Phillips has also been recognized through the Beck’s Player with Heart Program, which honors Iowa high school athletes who demonstrate commitment and passion both in competition and in their communities.
Phillips has committed to Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, where she will compete in both track and cross country. The Iowa Western women’s track and field program has established itself as one of the premier junior college programs in the country, winning multiple NJCAA Division I national championships in both indoor and outdoor track and field in recent years, including three consecutive indoor national titles. Iowa Western distance coach Marc Bierbaum said he is looking forward to having Phillips join the program.
“I am excited to have Rylee here,” Bierbaum said. “She is a dedicated runner. I like that she wrestisted as well. I know a couple of runners that wrestled, and they were all tough competitors. I want someone that wants to compete, and Rylee has that edge, I believe.”
After her time with the Reivers, Phillips plans to transfer to the University of Iowa, where she intends to major in finance and minor in either accounting or marketing.
