Kansas Corn Celebrates Graduation of Eighth Collegiate Academy Class

Kansas Corn Celebrates Graduation of Eighth Collegiate Academy Class

Feb. 4, 2026 ─ At the 2026 Kansas Corn Symposium, Kansas Corn recognized students graduating from the eighth class of the Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy. This program, offered by the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Corn Commission, provides opportunities for college students of all majors to learn more about the corn industry, explore issues facing agriculture and embrace the ways they can impact the industry through their future career paths.

Members of the eighth Collegiate Academy class were recognized for completing the program. Participants expanded their knowledge about ethanol, livestock, trade, policy, education, agronomy, conservation and consumer engagement.

During the first session of the Collegiate Academy, students visited the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka and met with state representatives. They learned about how lobbying is done at the state level and met with Kansas ag association staff. The second session took the group to Wichita, Lyons and Canton to learn about exports, how grain moves through the railway system and the ethanol industry. The third session was a drive to southwest Kansas where the students learned about irrigation, dairy production and specialty markets for corn. In July, the students traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in NCGA's Corn Congress, and to learn how policy affects family farms, agribusinesses and international grain markets. While in the area, the students visited farms in the Chesapeake Bay area to learn about crab production, hydroponics, and farming under the area's strict environmental regulations. The students completed the program by submitting a capstone project summarizing their experiences. Upon completion of the program, each student received a scholarship from Kansas Corn.

"The Kansas Corn Collegiate Academy is about investing in the next generation of leaders and helping them discover the vast opportunities within the corn industry," says Nicki Fisher, Kansas Corn Programs Manager and coordinator of the program. "Our goal is for students to walk away with a deeper understanding of policy, trade, and advocacy. Giving them the skills and add to their professional networks, things they need to move the industry forward, whether they are returning to the farm or entering an ag industry career."

Kansas college students enrolled in 2-year or 4-year post-secondary schools are eligible to apply for Collegiate Academy. The ninth class is currently underway and applications for Class 10 will open in fall 2026. For more information on this and other collegiate programs visit kscorn.com/corn-on-campus/.

Collegiate Academy Class 8 Graduates:

• Amelia Behrends, Wellsville, KS
• Samantha Bonifas, Roseland, NE
• Preston Dunn, St. John, KS
• Cappi Hoeting, Stockton, KS
• Katherine Ludolph, Westphalia, KS
• Ella Pachta, Belleville, KS
• Henry Simms, Stilwell, KS