TOLEDO – Tama Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is pleased to announce Abe Dieleman of rural Toledo and Ryan Hosek of rural Traer have been selected to each receive a $1,000 local college scholarship through the SWCD’s outreach programming.

Dieleman is a Green Mountain-Garwin graduate at Iowa State University majoring in agronomy. His career goal is to be a full-time farmer, applying what he has learned on his family row crop and beef feedlot farm and using a suite of conservation strategies to preserve land quality. He feels growing up on the family farm had a big impact on his career plans. Also, working for a neighbor in organic beef production one summer really turned his focus to improving carbon sequestration and the benefits of rotational grazing and the role they both play in reducing soil erosion. “These two experiences helped me narrow down my decision to be an agronomy major and learn about the science of agriculture.”

Hosek is a North Tama graduate majoring in ag business and animal science at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. His career goals are to work as a breeding manager for a ranch or large cattle operation and eventually returning home to the family farm. Plans are to continue to grow and improve his cattle herd. Hosek’s most significant motivators for a career in agriculture are his family heritage, ag organizations like 4-H and FFA he has been active in and mentors he has met on his life journey. His family operates the farm in northeastern Tama County settled by his great-grand-grandfather after he immigrated from the Czech Republic. “Through getting a degree, I hope to become the fifth-generation farmer on my family farm and pass it on to my children someday.”

Congratulations, gentlemen! You both are excellent assets to the future of American agriculture!