Abigail Sandvick

Tama Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is pleased to announce its high school Class of 2020 scholarship selection, Abigail Sandvick of South Tama County High School. She is the daughter of Brian and Shaya Sorensen and AJ and Ashley Sandvick

Abby will be awarded the SWCD’s local $1,000 scholarship.

She will begin her studies in Agribusiness at Des Moines Area Community College this fall.

Throughout high school, Abby prepared for a future profession, including multiple job shadowing experiences in agriculture and conservation fields. She was active in 4-H and FFA all four years and held numerous leadership positions in both organizations.

Even with a lifetime around agriculture and conservation, she says, “4-H has opened my eyes to the agriculture and conservation field, and FFA has allowed me to explore it.” An eager learner, she says, “The beauty of these two fields is that you are always learning something new.”

Abby helps at her grandparents’ apiary, Dolezal Honey Bees, and also manages a hive of her own. She has considerable experience delivering presentations, working exhibits and workshops at the local, county and state level. Abby completed special training and serves as both a Monarchs on the Move Ambassador and as a Native Bee Ambassador. She has served as an advocate for monarchs, honeybees, native bees, farmers markets and conservation practices to people of all ages.

Tama SWCD annually recognizes Tama County Fair projects completed in agriculture and natural resource classes, and Abby’s bee-related fair projects are what first introduced her to Tama SWCD in 2016. She attended the district’s annual banquet that year and says it “really opened my eyes to all of the opportunities in Tama County dealing with conservation.”

Abby’s high school FFA advisor, Taylor Brown, has worked closely with her for the past four years. Ms. Brown shared this in Abby’s scholarship letter of recommendation, “She has that combination of a positive attitude and the belief that she can always improve that’s rare in a high school student but so essential to the learning process. I am confident that she will continue to display the same commitment and diligence in everything she does.

It is with great pleasure Tama Soil & Water Conservation District awards this very deserving graduate, and we wish her success in all her future endeavors!