George H. Martin Schloarship
The farmer-leaders of the Kentucky Soybean Association (KSA) created a scholarship in memory of George H. Martin. Martin, of Nebo, was actively involved with both KSA and the Kentucky Soybean Board. The Kentucky Soybean Association was founded in 1970, and George became involved not long after. He was the first agent of the Association’s first office, collecting membership dues and representing the organization. He and his wife, Linda, kept the books and sent out correspondence from Kentucky’s first soybean office, which happened to be their dining room table.
Martin served in leadership roles in KSA including as secretary and treasurer from 1976 to 1983, vice president from 1984 to 1987, and President from 1988 to 1992. He served as Vice-Chair of the Ken-Ten Council, made up of Kentucky and Tennessee Soybean Farmers, and was Vice-Chairman in 1991.
Martin also served on the checkoff side, including as Chairman of the Board in 2005. He was one of Kentucky’s first representatives to the United Soybean Board and is one of the few farmer directors to complete two nine-year terms on USB.
In February 2003, the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board joined the Southern Soybean Research Program (SSRP) with George serving as our state’s representative. He was elected Chairman of that organization, a position he held until his passing in January of 2020.
Martin served as Kentucky’s representative to the Soy Aquaculture Alliance (SAA) since 2012 and was elected Chairman in December 2013.
In addition to serving in elected and/or appointed official capacities, George (and his wife Linda) were selfless volunteers at numerous events throughout the year. They worked multiple shifts at our Kentucky State Fair and the National Farm Machinery Show, in addition to setting up a soybean checkoff booth at various smaller events. George was a staunch advocate for soy biodiesel and worked for numerous years in our booth, shared with the National Biodiesel Board, during the Mid America Truck Show. George H. Martin was well-known and well-respected for his knowledge of the soybean industry, and the farmer-leaders of KSA wanted to do something to honor that legacy.
Guidelines and Requirements
Children and grandchildren of Kentucky Soybean Association members who are interested in pursuing a degree in agriculture or related field at an accredited college, university or a community and technical college are eligible to compete for the $1,000 scholarship.
Parent, legal guardian or grandparent of child or grandchild must be a member in good standing as of February 1, 2024. Children or grandchildren of the scholarship selection committee members are ineligible.
Applications are due February 1, 2024. To apply, click the button below to fill out the application. Your application is not complete until you submit a 500 word essay stating why you have chosen Agriculture as your field of study, two letters of recommendation, and your most recent high school/college transcript.
2024 WINNER: ANDREW REDING
Andrew Reding is set to graduate from LaRue County High School in May of 2024. He intends to attend the University of Kentucky and major in Ag Ecosystem Sciences, with a focus on crop production. He already has a jump start on crop production, as he works year-round at Homestead Family Farms, his family’s operation.
Reding also has 470 acres of soybeans with his younger brother, Adam, and together they have their own line of credit, make planting and marketing decisions, etc.
Andrew is a proud sixth-generation farmer, and like many farm kids, his first and favorite teacher was his dad, Aaron Reding. “Dad not only inspired my love of agriculture,” his application read, “but remains a huge influence In my continuing to study it today.”
“Along with passing down knowledge about farming and running the farm operation, both of my parents taught me the need to “agvocate” for modern agriculture,” Reding continued. “By furthering my education, I hope to gain the knowledge needed to help organizations – like the Kentucky Soybean Board and the Kentucky Soybean Association – that support the ag industry and the farmers within it. I hope not to be just a farmer, but to be a farm advocate and farmer-leader like my dad and George Martin were.”
2023 Winner: Elizabeth (Libby) Alexander
Libby, a 2023 graduate of Trigg County High School, wrote in her application that she is excited to attend Tarleton University in Stephenville, Texas in the fall. She is an avid rodeo competitor and plans to continue her rodeo career at the collegiate level while pursuing a degree in Agriculture Communication.
One thing that stood out in Libby’s application is the amount of time she spends in BETA Club, National Honors Society, FFA, Next Generation Youth Leadership, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes in addition to her commitments to the Kentucky High School Rodeo Association and the Tri-Star Little Britches Rodeo Youth Board.
Juggling all of these commitments, along with the time it takes to tend to her horses, practice her rodeo skills, and attend the events themselves is impressive enough, but maintaining a 3.8 grade point average – including some dual-credit college courses – is testament to her abilities as a self-directed learner.
Libby is the daughter of Charity and Barry Alexander of Cadiz, and we wish her well in her future endeavors.
2022 Winner: cecilia banks
The 2022 George H. Martin Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Meade County’s Cecilia Banks. Cecilia was an Ag Business major at Murray State University’s Hutson School of Ag, where she served as President of the Agribusiness Club. She competed in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers National Collegiate Discussion Meet, finishing in the top 16, and graduated from the Hutson School of Agriculture in the spring of 2023. Cecilia’s father, Doug Banks, has been a KSA member since 2012.
2021 Winner: parker devine
George H. Martin devoted a great portion of his time and effort over the span of nearly 50 years to the Kentucky Soybean Association, and following his death last year the Association’s farmer-leaders wanted to do something to honor his memory.
The board decided to establish the George H. Martin Memorial Scholarship to help a college or technical school student financially.
The inaugural George H. Martin Memorial Scholarship was presented to Martin’s great-nephew, Parker Devine in December of 2020.
This information is brought to you by the Kentucky Soybean Association.