Homegrown by Heroes scholarship recipients chosen

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas have named Madeline Fortune and Michael Suttle as the recipients of the 2021 Homegrown by Heroes scholarship program. Each was awarded $1,000 for the fall 2021 semester.

Madeline Fortune, from Stuttgart, serves in the Army National Guard and plans to attend the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Fortune’s family has been farming for six generations, and she hopes to one day work with an agricultural marketing agency or agricultural service organization.

Michael Suttle retired after 20 years of service in the United States Army where he received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal. Suttle is from Camden and attends Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, studying agriculture business. In the last year he has started his own small-scale poultry and beef operation, as well as his own apiary/pollination program.   

“It is an honor to award the Homegrown by Heroes scholarships to these talented individuals who have served and continue to serve our country in the military,” said Wes Ward, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture. “We appreciate our partnership with Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas who generously provide the funding for the scholarships, which enables us to continue supporting such worthy students.”

The Homegrown by Heroes academic scholarship program is open to military veterans, currently serving military personnel, their spouses, and children who are pursuing an agricultural or an agricultural-related degree. Funding for the scholarships is generously provided by Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas. Selection of scholarship recipients was based on academic achievement, community involvement, extracurricular activities, financial need, and family circumstances.