WADESVILLE, Ind. - A youth leader in 4-H raised on an Indiana dairy farm has received national honors to help with her college expenses. Reagan Koester, of Wadesville, was named the winner of the 2023-24 Soy Scholarship award.

The award is sponsored by the American Soybean Association (ASA) and BASF Agricultural Solutions.

The ASA/BASF Soy Scholarship is a $7,000 award presented to an exceptional high school senior excelling in both academics and leadership roles with plans to pursue a degree in an agriculture-related field at an accredited college or university.

The scholarship is open to children and grandchildren of ASA members.

Koester is finish her eligibility as a 4-H youth member as a designated Indiana 4-H Ambassador under a program designed to empower teenagers with leadership skills to serve as positive role models for youth, build partnerships with adults and professionals and promote 4-H in their communities.

“Through ASA’s partnership with BASF, we’ve been able to invest in continuing education of outstanding students and young ag advocates for more than a decade,” said ASA President Daryl Cates, who grows soybeans in Illinois.

“We are excited by Reagan’s passion for agriculture and look forward to seeing the leader she will continue to become,” he said.

Koester is a senior at North Posey High School in Posey County near Evansville.

Her family operates a robotic dairy farm.

Koester said she lives by her grandmother’s teachings on the spirit of giving, which motivates her to serve others and identify a career path leading her to continue the legacy of her family farm.

“If you have two apples, give the better one away,” she said.

Her involvement in agriculture includes leadership roles in 4-H, FFA and as a youth representative on the Purdue University Extension Advisory Board. 

FFA Star in Agriscience, 4-H Indiana State Ambassador, and Indiana Business Professionals of America Top Member are among her numerous awards and recognitions.

She’s described by others who’ve seen her in action as a person who “makes the best better,” ASA officials said.

“The minds of young students are the most fertile soil this industry has to grow a future grounded in sustaining life and improving farming as we know it,” said Scott Kay, vice president, U.S. Crop, BASF Agricultural Solutions North America. 

“We are committed to investing in each scholarship winner committed to a life of doing ‘the biggest job on Earth.’”

Koester was a high school junior when chosen as a 4-H ambassador. Ambassadors selected are 4-H members in grades 9-11 who are tasked with representing Indiana 4-H at events and with potential members, parents and the general public. She was part of the eight-member class of 2022-23.

Koester said her favorite 4-H memory was a trip youth members took to Purdue University that made her feel grown up for one of the first times.

“I made countless friends from throughout the state through career-focused classes, icebreakers, games, and a dance. We even got to stay in the Purdue University dorms, which was an amazing experience since I am a huge Purdue fan,” she said.

She also said opportunity is the word that comes to mind when thinking about what 4-H means to her.

Koester said the program opens the door for youth to make a positive difference for themselves and in the lives of others.

“4-H provides the circumstances for youth to become better leaders, workers, and innovators but, most importantly, it develops life skills essential to the creation of better citizens,” she said.

ASA, based outside of St. Louis, represents U.S. soybeans farmers on domestic and international policy issues important to the soybean industry.  

The group has 26 affiliated state associations representing 30 soybean producing states and more than 500,000 soybean farmers.