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PRESS RELEASE

Information Contact:
Marketing@ALCIVIA.com

For Immediate Release: June 5, 2026

ALCIVIA awards 24 scholarships to future agricultural and community leaders

COTTAGE GROVE, WI – ALCIVIA is proud to announce the 24 recipients of its annual scholarship program, each receiving a $1,000 award to support their continued education. This year’s recipients include high school seniors and current college students pursuing various post-secondary paths throughout the Midwest.

“Supporting students who are shaping the future is one of the greatest privileges of our cooperative,” said Rodney Balvitsch, CEO and President. “These scholarships go beyond financial assistance. They reflect our commitment to recognizing the dedication, character, and leadership these young individuals bring to our communities every day.”
The ALCIVIA scholarship program encourages academic, professional, and leadership development. ALCIVIA is excited to announce the 2026-27 winners:

High School Recipients
Toby Shafer – Spring Valley High School, Iowa State University
Hannah Fesenmaier – Elmwood High School, UW-River Falls
Kaianna Borsheim – Mondovi High School, UW-River Falls
Christian (CJ) Bauer – Durand-Arkansaw High School, UW-River Falls
Grant Hoekstra – Central Wisconsin Christian School, Dordt University
Madilynn Holland – Pardeeville High School, UW-River Falls
Alexander Lewke – Columbus Senior High School, Saint Cloud University
Landon Smits – Central Wisconsin Christian School, Dordt University
Brianna Boelter – Markesan High School, Fox Valley Technical College
Karli Krumwiede – Brodhead High School, University of Northern Iowa
Cally Travis – Cambridge High School, Undecided
Lindsey Strauch – Augusta High School, Chippewa Valley Technical College
Gabrielle Hostettler – Winneconne High School, UW-Stout
Gracie Meinholz – Waunakee Community High School, Madison Area Technical College
Grady Reed – Milton High School, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Ashley Schaal – Burlington High School, Iowa State University

College Recipients
Sloan Averbeck – UW-Platteville
Paige Billing – UW-Platteville
Logan Bullock – SW Minnesota State
Cora Capatske – Iowa State
Brooke Luedtke – UW-Platteville
Charlotte Odden – South Dakota State
Landon Rehberg – Iowa State
Emallie Sorensen – UW-Madison

Since the program began in 1989, ALCIVIA has awarded nearly 1,000 scholarships totaling more than $500,000 – part of its broader commitment to strengthening agriculture and the communities it serves through the Giving Back program.

“Each year, our scholarship recipients leave a strong impression with their dedication and work ethic,” added Jim Lange, board chairman. “Supporting their goals and investing in their future is something we take great pride in as a cooperative.”

Scholarships were awarded based on academic achievement, leadership qualities, extracurricular involvement, personal motivation, and clearly defined educational and career goals. Eligible applicants included high school seniors planning to attend post-secondary institutions, as well as students enrolled in four-year universities, two-year technical colleges, or short-course programs. Applicants must be members, employees, or children of members or employees of the cooperative.

ALCIVIA is a leading, member-owned agricultural and energy cooperative driven by a passion for excellence and a future without boundaries. Located in Wisconsin and serving farm, business, and retail customers across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, ALCIVIA’s engaged employees provide innovative, responsible solutions designed to meet both immediate and long-term needs. From financing and inputs to energy, feed, and grain solutions, ALCIVIA remains focused on delivering an experience rooted in trust, partnership, and a commitment you can feel.

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Dear Patrons,

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the role you haveHeadshot of Rodney Balvitch Chief Operations Officer for ALCIVIA Coop played in ALCIVIA, whether you are doing business with us today or have been part of our cooperative in the past. Over the last year, we have weathered a great deal of change, and on behalf of our Board of Directors and the entire ALCIVIA team, I sincerely appreciate the patience, trust, and support our members, customers, and communities have continued to place in us.

Over the last several months, we have spent a lot of time listening. We have gathered feedback from employees, board members, members, customers, and the communities across our trade territory to better understand where we need to improve and how we can better serve our members moving forward.

That process helped us refocus on something simple but important: returning to the basics of what it means to be your local co-op.

For us, that means being easier to reach, more responsive, more consistent, and more present in the communities we serve. It means improving the experience people have every time they interact with us, whether that is at the scale, on the phone, in one of our locations, or out on the farm.

We believe you will begin to feel the difference in the way we show up and work alongside you.

One example of that came during last fall’s harvest. While many elevators across the region ran out of space and closed their doors, our teams continued finding ways to keep grain moving and stay open as long as we could. We did not do that because it was easy. We did it because our members needed a place to go, and we believed it was the right thing to do.

That mindset is what we are continuing to build on every day across our cooperative.

This summer, you will see more of us in local communities, at customer events, and at dairy breakfasts throughout the area. If you see us out and about, I hope you will stop and say hello. We value the opportunity to listen, learn, and continue earning your trust.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for the role you have played in your local co-op. If you have any questions or comments you wish to share, please reach out at any time.

Sincerely,

Rodney Balvitsch
CEO and President