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Hailey Wurtz, a Nemaha County native who is dual enrolled in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agriculture, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Leslie Albert and Lola Fern Droge Scholarship for Agricultural Studies. The $750 scholarship, administered by the Nemaha County STEP Foundation, supports local students pursuing agricultural degrees at K State.
A 2022 graduate of Nemaha Central High School, Wurtz is the daughter of Jerin and Stephanie Wurtz. In her application she reflected on her lifelong connection to agriculture, sharing, “Growing up, I was the little girl with a pair of work jeans and messy hair whose favorite weekend activity was working calves with my dad. To this day, this hasn’t changed.”
Wurtz plans to return to rural Kansas after completing her education, serving underserved communities as a mixed animal veterinarian. She views giving back to her community as both a responsibility and a calling.
The scholarship, established in 2008 by Lola Droge and her family, honors the legacy of Leslie and Lola Droge, long-time Nemaha County farmers and agricultural leaders. The couple was known for their progressive farming methods and community involvement, including Leslie’s service in the Kansas Senate and Lola’s active civic and political engagement.
