Bison Scholarships Awarded to Five University Students

$25,000 in Financial Support Awarded

November 5, 2024 (Westminster, CO) – Five emerging livestock industry leaders received welcomed financial support this month as they were named recipients of 2025 Throlson American Bison Foundation and Zahringer Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship review committee reviewed numerous applications and narrowed it down to five stand-out students. Meredith Halweg, from the University of Wyoming, is this year’s recipient of $5,000 from the Rich Zahringer Memorial Scholarship Fund, which supports those students who focus on agricultural business and accounting in recognition of the fund’s namesake, who was a longtime bison industry accountant and is among the pioneers of the modern bison-business. The scholarship is made possible by Rocky Mountain Natural Meats in Henderson, CO.

The Throlson American Bison Foundation is distributing $20,000 to four recipients leading the way in bison focused academics. The primary mission of the foundation is to annually award scholarships in bison related studies. Some previous winning students have pursued degrees in veterinary medicine (production or pathology research), nutrition (livestock or meat), animal science, and behavior science. One common theme they have all possessed is an interest in the advancement of the bison industry

This year’s scholarship recipients include:

  • Kaylee Kipp – Texas A&M University
  • Summer Lara – Colorado State University
  • Lauren Thompson – Kansas State University
  • Garrett Weldy – South Dakota State University

The Throlson American Bison Foundation is named after its founder, Ken Throlson, DVM, a pioneer of the modern bison business and awards outstanding college students with an interest in the burgeoning bison industry. You can support the Throlson American Bison Scholarship by making a tax-deductible to the Throlson American Bison Foundation by contacting the NBA at (303)292-2833, by emailing info@bisoncentral.com, or by visiting http://bisoncentral.com/about-nba/throlson-american-bison-foundation.  

The NBA also has a Youth membership for individuals ages 21 and younger that are interested in learning more about the bison business. NBA Youth Members can access educational resources on the website, receive discounted conference rates, consign animals to the Gold Trophy Show & Sale held in Denver in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show, and receive an e-subscription to Bison World and the NBA newsletter, the Weekly Update, among other benefits. Learn more at: www.bisoncentral.com .