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Bonnie Johnson
February 02, 2026
Media ArticleThe Wisconsin Pork Association (WPA) recognized outstanding students during its annual meeting held on January 29, 2026. The meeting was held alongside the Corn Soy Expo at Wisconsin Dells. Eight high school seniors and college students from across Wisconsin were awarded a total of $7,750 in scholarship funds.
One of the featured awards was the Whitmore Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was established in honor of Rex Whitmore, the first executive director of the Wisconsin Pork Association, and a respected leader in agricultural communication. The scholarship supported students attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Wisconsin–Platteville, or University of Wisconsin–River Falls, with preference given to animal science or related majors.
Josie Bailey received the $1,500 Whitmore Memorial Scholarship. She was a student at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, majoring in Agricultural Education. Bailey was raised on a fifth-generation dairy farm in Tomah, Wisconsin. She gained experience raising and showing swine and was actively involved in FFA and dairy youth organizations. She planned to pursue a career in agricultural education with a focus on leadership development and public understanding of agriculture.
The Gunderson Memorial Scholarship was also awarded during the meeting. This program honored Buell Gunderson and his wife Bernice for more than 20 years of service to the Wisconsin Pork Association. Sydney Watson and Mallory Cepress were each awarded $1,000, while Oscar Stowell received $500. Watson, from Edgerton, Wisconsin, planned to study Agricultural Business. Cepress, from Arpin, Wisconsin, was attending Iowa State University and majoring in Animal Science. Stowell, from Waupun, Wisconsin, raised show pigs and was active in 4-H and FFA programs.
The Southwest Wisconsin Pork Producers Scholarship was awarded to Sophia Daugherty of Cuba City. She was majoring in Agricultural Education at UW–Platteville and planned a career in public education and agriculture advocacy.
The Wisconsin Pork Association congratulated all scholarship recipients and recognized them as future leaders of the agriculture and pork industry.
Photo by: wppa.org
