Lallemand Animal Nutrition awards $14,000 in scholarships

The 2020 Lallemand Forward Scholarship committee is pleased to announce the recipients of five scholarships awarded this school year. This is the sixth year of the scholarship program, which has provided $81,500 to students since its inception in 2015.

“The scholarship committee is more impressed each year with the caliber of students who are involved with, and excited about, agriculture,” says Angel Aguilar, Ph.D., Research and Technical Director, Lallemand Animal Nutrition, North America. “This year, the committee reviewed more than 150 applications from more than 30 universities. There are few scholarship programs that support students at all levels of their education, which is one of the reasons we are proud to continue providing this recognition and financial assistance.”

The five students receiving scholarships are:

• Jessie Zenchak Petersen, who is in her third year of the veterinary medicine program at Michigan State University
• Samantha Werth, a doctoral student in animal biology at the University of California-Davis
• Jenna Chance, a graduate student in applied swine nutrition at Kansas State University
• Lynn Olthof, an undergraduate student in agribusiness management at Michigan State University and a certificate in dairy management through the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology
• Lauren Olson, an undergraduate student in animal science at South Dakota State University

Jessie Zenchak Petersen

Zenchak Petersen is from Brookfield, Ill. She hopes to become a production animal veterinarian in a rural, high-need area and plans to focus on cattle. She is a member of the national Society for Theriogenology and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. In 2019, she interned with Central Star Cooperative, where she became proficient at handling cattle and assisted in several field studies. Zenchak Petersen specifically enjoys production medicine due to its critical role in animal, human and public health.

Samantha Werth

Werth is from Vista, Calif., and plans to pursue a career in science policy after earning her Ph.D. She also completed her undergraduate work at the University of California-Davis where she worked with Frank Mitloehner, Ph.D., professor and air quality extension specialist. As a graduate student, she led a yearlong, trial assessing the effects of a beta-agonist on emissions and performance from beef cattle. Her doctoral work is focused on modelling the economic and environmental impacts of ground beef compared to plant-based meat alternatives.

Jenna Chance

Chance was raised near Lebanon, Ind., on her family’s diversified grain and pig farm. She has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from K-State and participated in an undergraduate research project with the KSU Applied Swine Nutrition group studying the effects of increasing oat groats on nursery pig performance and preference. She has interned with the Reproduction Specialty Group, the National Pork Board/Pork Checkoff and United Animal Health. One part of Chance’s thesis is focused on the effects of yeast-derived probiotics on fecal antimicrobial resistance of E. coli and Salmonella in sows and their subsequent offspring in the nursery. Chance is also a fellow with Iowa Select Farms where she helps analyze research reports.

Lynn Olthof

Olthof is from Ferrysburg, Mich., and plans to pursue a master’s degree in dairy nutrition after graduating with her bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management with a certificate in dairy management. She is currently serving as the president of the MSU Dairy Club and is active on the MSU Dairy Challenge team and the MSU Dairy Judging Team. Olthof participated in a International Dairy Judging Tour and spent two weeks in Scotland and Ireland exploring the European dairy industry. She has interned with the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, Nutrien Ag Solutions and Cargill Animal Nutrition.

Lauren Olson

Olson was raised in Chisago City, Minn., where she was active in 4-H. She served as a Minnesota 4-H State ambassador where she developed and implemented 10, statewide leadership conferences for more than 140,000 youth and 22,000 adult volunteers. Olson also served as president of the Minnesota Youth Quarter Horse Association. At South Dakota State University, she is a member of the equestrian team and intercollegiate 4-H club. After graduation, Olson intends to pursue a career in large animal nutrition. Recently, she completed a 12-month internship at a performance horse facility in Nebraska where she learned more about equine nutrition.