ST. PAUL, Minn. (May 12, 2011) – The Minnesota Cooperative Education Foundation, a nonprofit arm of Cooperative Network, is pleased to announce that a student interested in pursuing a career in cooperatives has been awarded the 2011 Slettom Cooperative Leadership Scholarship. This year’s scholarship is $750; this is the seventh year that the scholarship has been offered.

Brandi Sperr, currently attending in Marshall, Minn., was chosen based on her scholastic achievement, leadership, and an ability to contribute to cooperatives in the future. Sperr is studying agricultural business.  Her hometown is also Marshall, Minn.

The foundation’s directors created the scholarship to work toward its vision of educating others about the role of cooperatives in their communities. The foundation was established in 1986 as a nonprofit corporation to honor the work of long-time cooperator and former Minnesota Association of Cooperatives leader, Edward Slettom. 

BIO

My name is Brandi Sperr. I grew up on a grain and hog farm near a small west central Minnesota town, Donnelly. I attended Morris Area schools and was active in Stevens County 4-H and Morris Area FFA.

While in my senior year of high school I worked for my first cooperative, New Horizons Ag Service in Morris, MN. I enjoyed working for the farmers. Duties held included answering phones, sending grain contracts, filing, and expanding my knowledge in grain merchandising.

I am currently attending Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN in Agribusiness Management with concentrations in Ag Marketing, Finance, and Farm Management. I will graduate in December 2011. Upon graduation, I plan to start my career with a strong interest in grain merchandising. I am a member of the SMSU Ag Club and just finished my role of being President.

I currently am getting more experience with working in a Cooperative setting by working at the Donnelly Co-op this summer in the Agronomy division. This division is part of Winfield Solutions. I will have the opportunity to expand my knowledge in fertilizer sales, seed sales, and crop scouting.

Receiving this scholarship will help me achieve my goals of working in the agricultural industry.