Brandon Withers – Oregon State University

Brandon is from Oregon and has always been interested in agriculture and how crops grow. He earned an associate degree in Horticulture from Chemeketa Community College and is now studying Crop and Soil Science at Oregon State University, working towards his goal of becoming a Crop Advisor. During the summer he worked in the agricultural services department at a local co-op, where he gain hands-on experience helping growers with spray and lime applications and monitoring moisture probes. His goal is to use his education and experience to support farmers and promote responsible, science-based agriculture, and this scholarship would help me continue working toward that career.

Hannah Johnson – Washington State University

Hannah is currently a PhD student at Washington State University studying potato agronomy. Her research focuses on exploring the relationship between in-season production practices and tuber dormancy. Specifically, Hannah is working with potato seed growers to understand dormancy and emergence differences related to seed generation, seed production inputs, harvest timing, and storage and handling. This research aims to aid seed growers by identifying seed production practices tied to the best and worst performing seed lots. After finishing her degree Hannah would like to work in applied field research, helping growers improve the profitability of their production practices.

Kyia Hunter-Kanoff – Oklahoma State University

Kyia Hunter-Kanoff is a sophomore at Oklahoma State University dual majoring in Agribusiness and Agricultural Communications, and is also pursuing a certificate in Ethical Leadership. She is from Moses Lake, WA, this is where she found her passion for agriculture. She is extremely involved at Oklahoma State and serves in multiple leadership roles. She is currently serving as the 2026 Sea of Orange Parade Director for America's Greatest Homecoming, as well as the Student Government Association Recruitment Director. After college she plans on pursuing a career in agriculture advocacy as an agricultural lobbyist.

Koy Chandler – Washington State University

Raised in an agriculturally rich region of southern Idaho, Koy developed a deep appreciation for the complexities of crop production through hands-on experience in various roles within the industry. This early exposure fostered a passion for plant science, which evolved into a dedicated research career during his undergraduate studies, where he discovered a particular interest in enhancing the productivity and resilience of the potato industry. Koy earned an M.S. in Plant Pathology at Washington State University within the Gleason lab, focusing on the management and impact of potato nematodes. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Horticulture at WSU under the mentorship of the Pavek and Blauer labs. His research integrates physiological and agronomical approaches to improve potato quality, with a specific focus on reducing internal defects and accelerating wound healing in both seed and postharvest potatoes.