[HASTINGS, NE April 17, 2026] — Cooperative Producers, Inc. (CPI) proudly announces the recipients of its 2026 CPI Scholarships. This year, five dependents of CPI patrons and three dependents of CPI employees have been selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship for the upcoming 2026–2027 academic year.
“The future of our communities depends on the next generation stepping forward with curiosity, leadership, and a strong work ethic,” said Gary Brandt, CEO of CPI. “These students represent exactly that, and we’re proud to invest in their goals and support the path they’re building for themselves and for rural America.”
The CPI Scholarship Program is open annually to graduating high school seniors planning to pursue post-secondary education, as well as to students currently in their first year of post-secondary education, who are dependents of CPI members or employees.
The 2026 CPI Scholarship recipients and their respective high schools are:
Patron Dependents:
· Josa Dunse – Alma High School
· Turner Happold – Doniphan-Trumbull High School
· Blake Kimle – Kenesaw High School
· MaKenna Karr – Silver Lake High School
· Trevor Kral – Silver Lake High School
Employee Dependents:
· Kayden DeLong – Red Cloud High School
· Wyatt Giger – Red Cloud High School
· Kayli Nickerson – Doniphan-Trumbull High School
Scholarship recipients were selected based on their academic achievements, leadership qualities, honors, and participation in extracurricular activities. As part of the application process, students also submitted an essay reflecting on the importance of strong partnerships and delivering value to both customers and employees.
About Cooperative Producers, Inc. — Cooperative Producers, Inc. is a farmer-owned cooperative headquartered in Hastings, Nebraska. CPI currently operates in local communities throughout Central Nebraska and Northern Kansas. CPI offers a wide range of products and services in its agronomy, energy, feed and grain divisions.
