Mississippi Farm Bureau recognizes newest scholarship recipients during Summer Leadership Conference
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation recognized 17 outstanding students during its annual Scholarship Luncheon, which took place during the 2026 Summer Leadership Conference. celebrating young leaders who are preparing to shape the future of Mississippi agriculture.
Nearly $60,000 in scholarships were presented during the luncheon. Combined with scholarships awarded through county Farm Bureaus and affiliated programs across the state, Mississippi Farm Bureau organizations will invest nearly $225,000 in scholarships this year—continuing a longstanding commitment to developing the next generation of agricultural leaders.
The recipients represent a wide range of agricultural interests and career paths, including agricultural communications, engineering, education, veterinary medicine, agribusiness, animal science and more. While their goals differ, each shares a common desire to strengthen Mississippi agriculture and serve the communities that depend on it.
“To be able to show our members what their hard work did and also celebrate the accomplishments of the young people—but their parents too, because there’s been a lot of sacrifice made—I think it’s great to be able to promote Farm Bureau to those people and hopefully keep them involved for a long time,” said Mississippi Farm Bureau President Mike McCormick.
For many recipients, the scholarship represented far more than financial assistance. It was an affirmation that Mississippi Farm Bureau believes in their future—and in the role they will play in strengthening Mississippi agriculture.
For Morgan White of Oktibbeha County, the Don Waller Honorarium Scholarship marked a full-circle moment. Raised in a Farm Bureau family, she grew up watching her parents compete in Young Farmers & Ranchers contests and attending annual conventions where scholarship recipients were recognized each year.
“Farm Bureau has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” White said. “I’ve watched students receive scholarships at this convention for years, so to now be standing here as one of the recipients is really exciting. It feels like I’ve come full circle.”
Not every student’s path into agriculture began the same way. Sophia Owens of Itawamba County discovered agriculture after joining FFA despite having no agricultural background. Today, the Mississippi State agricultural communications major hopes to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers through education.
“My goal is to help consumers better understand farmers and where their food comes from,” Owens said. “I want to bridge that gap and help people see the heart behind agriculture.”
Owens said her passion for agriculture has even sparked new interest within her own family. Her mother, a teacher with no agricultural background, has begun incorporating agriculture into her classroom and attended the scholarship luncheon to learn more about the industry alongside her daughter.
For Brianna Moore of Jasper County, the scholarship represents an investment not only in her education, but in her entire family’s future. As a first-generation college student studying agricultural education at Mississippi State University, Moore hopes to become an Extension agent, helping young people discover opportunities in agriculture while strengthening communities across the state.
“My family couldn’t have afforded college without opportunities like this,” Moore said. “Knowing there are people willing to invest in me because they see potential—and because they believe in the future of agriculture—motivates me to work even harder. This isn’t just for me; it’s for my family, too.”
Jackson County’s Lainey Cochran said agriculture transformed not only her career goals, but also her perspective. After her family began farming during high school, she discovered a community eager to mentor newcomers and quickly developed a passion for large animal veterinary medicine.
“One of the things I love most about agriculture is the people,” Cochran said. “When I didn’t know something, no one laughed. They simply said, ‘Here, let me teach you.’ That willingness to help others showed me the true heart of agriculture and inspired me to dedicate my career to serving farmers.”
That message resonated across this year’s scholarship class. Annabelle Wesley of Jones County said Farm Bureau has shown her—and countless other students—that agriculture offers far more opportunities than many people realize.
“Farm Bureau has helped young people see that agriculture is so much more than farming,” Wesley said. “Whether it’s veterinary medicine, agribusiness, agricultural communications, research or technology, there are limitless opportunities to make a difference.”
Several recipients noted that the scholarships carry significance beyond their monetary value. They represent encouragement from an industry that is counting on them to lead, innovate and continue agriculture’s legacy in Mississippi. Whether they are pursuing careers in communications, education, engineering, veterinary medicine, or policy, each recipient expressed a commitment to giving back to the industry that has invested in them.
The 2026-2027 Mississippi Farm Bureau scholarship recipients are:
- Bryce Bratcher, Oktibbeha County — Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship
- Josh Brown, Chickasaw County — Mississippi Farm Bureau Leaders in Agriculture Scholarship
- Lainey Cochran, Jackson County — Region 8 Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship
- Braden Davis, Bolivar County — Hugh Arant Memorial Scholarship
- Lane Huerkamp, Noxubee County — David Waide Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship
- Brianna Moore, Jasper County — Berta Lee White Scholarship
- Madison Naramore, Stone County — Berta Lee White Scholarship
- Sophia Owens, Itawamba County — Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship
- Lidia Portera, Clay County — Berta Lee White Scholarship
- Robin Sessums, Leake County — David Waide Veterinary Scholarship
- Kathryn Smith, Franklin County — Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship
- Anna Michael Smith, Lincoln County — David Waide Veterinary Scholarship
- Sam Stevens, Lawrence County — Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship
- Layton Varner, Rankin County — Berta Lee White Scholarship and Betty Jo Mills Ag Ambassador Runner-Up Scholarship
- Annabelle Wesley, Jones County — Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship and Betty Jo Mills Ag Ambassador Scholarship
- Morgan White, Oktibbeha County — Don Waller Honorarium Scholarship
- Jackson Patrick “JP” Woods, Marshall County — Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship
For decades, scholarships supported through Mississippi Farm Bureau, the Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship Foundation, the Berta Lee White Scholarship Program, and the David Waide Veterinary Scholarship have helped students pursue higher education while strengthening the future of Mississippi agriculture. As this year’s recipients prepare for another academic year, they do so with the support of Farm Bureau members across the state—and with the shared goal of ensuring Mississippi agriculture remains strong for generations to come.
