2025 Elroy Webster Cooperative Studies Scholarships Awarded

The 2025 Elroy Webster Cooperative Studies Scholarship recipients have been awarded. The recipients were announced at the 22nd Annual Tom Lyon Family Leadership Symposium which was held during the Cooperative Network Annual Meeting & Summit, held on December 2, 2025 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

The following two scholarships are funded by the CHS Foundation:

Laken Mize

Natural Resource Management

Texas Tech University

Master's program

Laken Mize, from Montgomery, Texas, is a master's student at Texas Tech University pursuing a degree in Natural Resource Management. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry with an emphasis in Wildlife Management. Laken's thesis research focuses on eastern wild turkey genetics and the impacts of superstocking on wild turkey populations within the post oak savannah ecoregion of Texas. Collaborating with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, her work bridges the gap between wildlife management and agricultural land use by examining how restoration efforts can succeed on working landscapes. Her research aims to inform science-based management strategies that benefit both game species conservation and the ranchers and landowners who steward these habitats.

Laken is passionate about connecting wildlife science with agricultural communities and believes that successful conservation requires strong partnerships between biologists, producers, and rural stakeholders. Throughout her career, she has gained extensive field experience working alongside landowners and agency personnel on projects involving white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, sandhill cranes, waterfowl, and upland game birds.

After completing her master's degree, Laken plans to pursue a PhD and build a career in academia, where she can combine her love of teaching and mentorship with research that addresses real-world challenges at the intersection of wildlife management and agriculture. Her ultimate goal is to train the next generation of natural resource professionals while conducting applied research that empowers landowners and agricultural producers to be effective partners in wildlife conservation.

Haven Trunzo

Agricultural Economics

Oklahoma State University

Master's program

Haven Trunzo, originally from Tennessee, is a master’s student in Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University, studying under Dr. Phil Kenkel. Her graduate research focuses on identifying challenges and opportunities within the agronomy departments of farm supply cooperatives, contributing to a broader understanding of how co-ops can strengthen input delivery and producer services.

Haven has built a strong foundation in cooperative agribusiness through research and extensive field experience. She has completed two cooperative-focused internships: with CHS in 2024 and with the Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council and a local farm supply cooperative in 2025. Across these roles, she gained hands-on experience in agronomy sales, grain elevator operations, energy services, fertilizer and chemical pricing, and cooperative management. She also maintains her FAA Part 107 certification and has assisted with custom application work using agricultural drones.

As a Graduate Research Assistant, Haven contributes to applied economic research examining commodity markets, input cost structures, and producer decision-making. She is actively involved in departmental leadership as an officer in the Graduate Student Association for Agricultural Economics and recently served as a panelist at the 2025 Rural Economic Outlook Conference, where she spoke on emerging AI and technology adoption in rural and cooperative settings. Haven plans to continue her career in the agricultural industry, with aspirations to work within the cooperative system.

Congratulations to all the recipients!