Three University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment students were Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars this year.   

Farm Credit Mid-America, a financial services company for farmers, awards rising college sophomores and juniors with $5,000 in financial support over a two-year period, as well as week-long learning and travel experiences focusing on leadership development and financial education.  

Gabryele Carter, a junior studying agricultural economics, completed the program this spring; Zaynah Shahid, a junior studying food biosciences and business management, and Jakayla Allen, a junior studying agricultural economics, have both completed the first year of the program.   

First-year scholars spend a week learning about Farm Credit Mid-America, listening to keynote speakers and participating in workshops geared toward goal setting, financial literacy, self-branding and more.   

Allen said she can already feel the impact of the program: She is more comfortable and confident not only meeting people but also maintaining those relationships. For example, she met a Farm Credit Mid-America employee with whom she shared many similarities, including their college major and common interests. Now Allen stays in touch with her through LinkedIn.   

“You just never know who we can talk to,” Allen said. “It’s not just about meeting them. It’s about what happens after the fact—that's also really important.”   

Scholars also participate in a service project each year. Last year, during Carter’s first year, the scholars volunteered at a food bank to help feed local families. In 2024, first-year scholars helped farmers with fencing to keep animals out of crops.  

“This was a noteworthy experience because our group divided and conquered the task efficiently,” Shahid said.   

Shahid said her biggest takeaway was the importance of building and maintaining relationships.   

“The one thing that all the scholars had in common was that we did not know what to expect, so everyone came in with preconceived notions about other people and the program itself,” she said. “By the end of the program, you would have thought that we all went to school together because of how comfortable, expressive, and interactive we were with each other.”  

The two-year program culminates with a trip to Washington, D.C., that includes meeting with Farm Credit Mid-America lobbyists, touring Capitol Hill, visiting national monuments and more.   

Carter said the first year brought her professional growth, and the second brought personal growth. For her, “just the difference a year can make is very important,” she said. She felt more comfortable putting herself out there to make connections with new people, from fellow scholars to members of Congress.   

“I tend to be a list person and making sure I check off all the boxes, and it’s helped me slow down and enjoy the moment more,” Carter said. “I want to make connections. I want to meet new people. I want to hear their stories rather than just telling my own.” 

Marcus Tyler, a 2018 graduate of Martin-Gatton CAFE and a former Farm Credit Mid-America Scholar, now works at Farm Credit Mid-America as an emerging ag business development manager.   

“One way that we live out our purpose is by making strategic investments to bring diverse talent into the field,” Tyler said. “By connecting with young, ambitious students at the University of Kentucky, and intentionally supporting student-led organizations, such as MANRRS, Farm Credit Mid-America is committed to developing the next generation of agricultural leaders—by meeting these students where they are." 

All three of UK’s participants this year had encountered Farm Credit Mid-America through its connection to Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources & Related Sciences (MANRRS). MANRRS seeks to nurture personal and professional development, offering members opportunities to network effectively and access opportunities to enrich their education.  

“I am proud of our students for seizing these opportunities,” said Marelle Adams, Inclusion and Diversity Program Coordinator in the Martin-Gatton CAFE Office of Diversity and a MANRRS advisor. “Their exploration will help them build a strong community and establish working relationships with our partner organizations. Additionally, it will give them the chance to determine their career paths. Ultimately, they will continue the great work and inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders."  

Allen said the support from the organizations and individuals involved was the most rewarding part of the program.   

“There’s a whole community of companies and cultures that are wanting to back us up and wanting to help us in the ag field,” Allen said. “A lot of the kids who are in this program don’t really have an ag background, so it’s very nice and heartfelt to see they’re supporting us, and they want us to do extremely well.”   

To learn more about the Farm Credit Mid-America Scholars program, contact Marcus Tyler at marcus.tyler@fcma.com. To learn more about MANRRS, contact Kendriana Price at kendriana.price@uky.edu.   

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Writer: Bailey Vandiver, bailey.vandiver@uky.edu 

The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.