American Royal announces 2025 class of Royal Scholars

The American Royal has selected its 2025 class of Royal Scholars. These college students will represent the American Royal mission and advocate for the agriculture industry throughout the next year.

The Royal Scholars — who are studying agriculture, food or natural resources — will each receive a $3,000 scholarship. This year’s recipients were selected from 166 candidates from 29 states, representing 40 colleges and universities.

“We are proud to continue the legacy of the American Royal and support the future of agriculture with the Royal Scholars program,” said Pat Macy, managing director of the American Royal. “These young, accomplished individuals have shown great enthusiasm for the industry, and we are excited to have them represent our mission on the national stage.”

The 2025 Royal Scholars are:

• Dalton “Drew” Blanton of Plant City, Fla., majoring in Food and Resource Economics and minoring in Agricultural and Natural Resource Law at the University of Florida
• Samantha Bonifas of Roseland, Neb., majoring in Agricultural Economics and minoring in Pre-Law at Kansas State University
• Bailey Boyd of Turpin, Okla., majoring in Agricultural Education at Oklahoma State University
• Rayleigh Carter of Marianna, Fla., majoring in Agribusiness and minoring in Energy Finance & Ethical Leadership at Oklahoma State University
• Makenna Garrett of Bedford, Va., majoring in Plant and Soil Sciences and minoring in Environmental Economics and Politics and Policy and Agronomy at Oklahoma State University
• Sarah Liepold of Arvada, Colo., majoring in Agricultural Business at the University of Wyoming
• Mackenzie Malson of Parma, Idaho, majoring in Agriculture Economics and Global Food Systems Leadership and minoring in International Agriculture and Communications and Education for Agriculture at Kansas State University
• Kamille Mirkin of Jerome, Idaho, majoring in Agricultural Economics and minoring in Ag Commodity Risk Management and Animal Veterinary Science at the University of Idaho
• Elizabeth Schafer of Owaneco, Ill., majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Agriculture Communications at Kansas State University
• Kylie Temple of Hermiston, Ore., majoring in Agribusiness and Applied Economics and minoring in Global Food System Leadership at Kansas State University

The 2025 Royal Scholars will be representing the American Royal at events such as the American Royal Livestock Show, Youth Rodeo, and Spring Field Trip, as well as attending business and industry visits around the Kansas City area.