Union City scholar excels in classroom, community

Posted: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 8:03 pm

Rob Holman, son of Robert and Penny Holman of Union City, was the recent recipient of a $1,000 academic scholarship awarded by ag lender Farm Credit Services of Mid-America.
Holman was one of more than 40 recipients of the FCS scholarship, a program created to address the cooperative’s desire to return greater value to rural America by increasing the association’s investment in education and youth activities. He is attending the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Holman was taught from a young age the importance of agriculture. From plowing corn fields to running the combine at harvest, he says, “This is what I have been doing all of my life.” At the age of 10, he embarked on a new agribusiness venture with his sister. Together, they raised, pickled and sold sweet corn to the local farmers markets. Now this high school senior is renting 22 acres from his father in order to expand his opportunities in agribusiness. Along with farming, Holman has been active in FFA serving as treasurer and competing in many team and individual competitions.
“We are proud to welcome these scholars to the Farm Credit family. They represent the best of the best in terms of academic record and leadership qualities as well as community and school involvement,” said Ed Yanos, chair of the board of directors. “Even more gratifying is the passion they exhibit for agriculture. In reading their stories, there’s a common thread. From witnessing the birth of a calf, to being humbled by support of their community after seeing the family farm flattened by a tornado, they want — and have every reason — to make agriculture stronger and better than ever. I’m proud that Farm Credit can be a part of their journey.”
FCS scholarships are offered to students of customer-members of Farm Credit Services of Mid-America. In addition to the students honored through Farm Credit’s scholarship program, the financial lending cooperative also awards over $60,000 in scholarships through land grant universities and the state offices of the 4-H and FFA throughout their four-state territory. In total, FCS contributes over $100,000 annually to educational endeavors at the college level.
Information about the 2012 Scholarship program will also be available on the FCS website (www.e-farmcredit.com) in late November.

Published in The Messenger 9.20.11