NorthStar Cooperative Scholarship Winners Named
March 7, 2006

Winners of the 2006 NorthStar Cooperative, Inc. Scholarship were recently announced. Greta Koebel of Three Oaks, Michigan; Marc Shambeau of Two Rivers, Wisconsin and Bryce Slavik of Ashley, Michigan are all recipients of $500 scholarships for continuing their education in the field of agriculture.

“We are pleased with the quality of applicants we received for the first year of our scholarship program,” noted Gary Smith, NorthStar Cooperative, general manager. “Developing the scholarship program was just one more way the board of directors believed they could offer a benefit to stockowners.”

A freshman at Michigan State University studying Agri-business Management, Koebel won the 2005 Judi Collinsworth Award at World Dairy Expo. She is an active member of the Michigan Junior Holstein Association and the MSU Dairy Club. Koebel’s parents are Terry and Jennie Koebel.

Shambeau is completing his senior year at Manitowoc Lutheran High School where he maintains a 4.0 GPA. Upon graduation, Shambeau plans to attend college to pursue a degree in education or engineering. Shambeau’s parents are Larry and Elise Shambeau.

A sophomore at Michigan State University , Slavik is majoring in Veterinary Medicine. At MSU, Slavik is a member of the MSU Navigators, College of Veterinary Medicine Food Animal Club and the Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge Team. Slavik is the son of Jim and Doreen Slavik.

The NorthStar Cooperative Scholarship program was established in 2005 to encourage post high school study in the field of agriculture for stockowners and their children. Eligible candidates must be a stockowner of the Cooperative or a son or daughter of a stockowner. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of scholastic achievement, current and potential leadership, and interest in pursuing a career in agriculture. In addition to the application, candidates are asked to submit a 400 – 600 word essay on “How cooperatives in the agriculture industry will change in the next 10 years to better serve their owners and patron.”

NorthStar Cooperative will again offer scholarships in 2007. Scholarship applications can be obtained on-line at www.northstarcooperative.com/pdf/Scholarship%20Application.pdf.

NorthStar Cooperative, Inc. is a stock based cooperative, owned by dairy and beef producers in Michigan , Indiana and Wisconsin . Originally formed in 1944 as an artificial insemination cooperative, NorthStar Cooperative, Inc. is now comprised of sales and service for NorthStar-Select Sires, Ag Products and Technologies, DHI Services and Antel BioSystems, an animal disease testing center. Based in Lansing , Michigan , NorthStar provides sales and service to producers, veterinarians and industry members across the United States . For more information, visit www.northstarcooperative.com.