GREENSBURG, Ind. – When it came time to select a college to study agriculture, Addie Gauck pretty much knew her entire life where she would be going to launch her chosen course of study.

“I am a true born and raised Boilermaker to the core,” the Greensburg native and North Decatur High School Class of 2024 graduate, told Farm World. “Both of my parents went to Purdue, along with my grandpa, and a lot of my family members.

“Although at the start, I was very unsure where to go, I knew that I would always have a home at Purdue, making it my number one choice in the end,” she said. “I have one sibling who is going to be a junior at Purdue University.”

“My grandpa, aunt, uncle, and the rest of my family own a large grain operation that includes wheat, soybeans, and corn,” she added. “In the past, the family farm had confinement hogs, but we have moved away from that since.”

Gauck recently received the 2024-25 American Soybean Association/BASF Soy Scholarship award. The scholarship, sponsored by the American Soybean Association (ASA) and BASF, is a $7,000 award presented to an exceptional high school senior who excels in both academic and leadership roles, and who plans to pursue a degree in an agriculture-related field at an accredited college or university.

According to officials, the scholarship is open to children and grandchildren of ASA members.

“The American Soybean Association is proud to partner with BASF to offer this opportunity to a promising student pursuing agriculture as a career path,” said Josh Gackle, ASA president. “Investing in future industry leaders like Addie helps pave the future of agriculture with success and growth.”

Gauck said growing up on a farm gave her the appreciation for hard work: “Still to this day, I get up every morning to feed and check animals, something that I have done since I was young. I have learned that there is never a day off, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have always loved being able to feed the world, even if it is just in a small county in Indiana.

“I want to continue feeding the world and want to pursue a career that will allow me to make innovations to make feeding the world easier,” she added.

When asked how her experience in 4-H and FFA shaped her decision to pursue a career in agriculture, she said, “I am currently active in both. Being a part of 4-H since third grade gave me insight on time management, money management, and organization.

“I have learned so many skills from being in 4-H and trying so many different projects to figure out what I have a love for,” she added. “I have found that showing sheep is one of my passions, along with the woodworking project.”

She said 4-H “has made a huge impact in her life and I have my parents to thank for getting me involved at such a young age.” She added 4-H “has encouraged me to pursue a career in agriculture because it showed me that agriculture is not just farming. It is so many different people, activities, and opportunities that allow everyone to connect in a different way.

“FFA taught me just the same thing,” she said. “I met so many different people through FFA, especially in my own chapter. I was able to lead younger members to join and explore even if they had never thought about agriculture before. Through FFA, I gained multiple opportunities to make connections throughout the agriculture community, and get my name out there.”

She said, “The agriculture community is so tightly bonded that it is a place that I would love to pursue a career in and develop relationships throughout. Seeing my father make so many connections through the agricultural community was one push for my reason to pursue an agriculture degree.”

Although she has decided to study agriculture systems management, she said choosing it wasn’t what she had in mind at first. “I thought I wanted to study agriculture engineering, but after talking with a very impactful person in Purdue’s staff, I realized that ag engineering was not the right fit for me.”

She said agriculture systems management is basically the understanding of farming and agriculture systems with industry, business, and technology aspects incorporated within.

“I like to think of it as a big degree in problem solving,” she said. “I learned about agriculture systems management and quickly became very fond of the idea because I had been doing similar things to it already in my personal business.

“Through my business, I have made improvements on my facilities, equipment, and marketing strategies, similar to things that are done throughout agriculture systems management,” she added. 

She said her career goal is to ultimately help the agriculture community develop further in technology and innovations.

“I do not have a specific area I want to go into at this moment, but I am sure that will change as I learn more about my options,” she said.

When asked what receiving the Soy Scholarship award has meant to her, she said, “This scholarship means so much, knowing that it is nationwide. I never thought that I would ever receive national recognition for my accomplishments, but I am so very thankful for the opportunity.

“I cannot wait to make connections through the American Soybean Association and Indiana Soybean Alliance, along with learning more about the agriculture world through these connections.”

For young people deciding on a career in agriculture, she advised, “The agriculture community is the tightest knit group anyone will ever find that is so large. If you are wanting to have a family away from your family or a home away from home, agriculture is always and will always be here for you.