WROF, Inc. 2026 Premier Scholar Lillian Harmon

You are part of something pretty special.

Across Wisconsin, talented young people are growing up in small towns, on farms and in rural communities. They understand what makes these places special — and they also understand the challenges.

WROF Premier Scholar Lillian Harmon of Dallas, Wisconsin understands both.

Dallas is a village of about 360 people in northwestern Wisconsin. Lillian, the daughter of Jared and Angela Harmon, recently graduated from Barron High School and lives just a mile from her grandparents’ beef cattle farm, where she has been actively involved for years.

And it was on that farm that Lillian’s future became more personal.

Last year, her grandfather was involved in a serious farm accident.

For Lillian, the experience reinforced something she had already seen growing up around farmers through her family, 4-H and showing livestock:  rural people work hard, farming can be dangerous, and getting the health care you need isn’t always easy.  “Despite the risks, many put their own health last because medical care is far away, difficult to access, or simply not a priority until something becomes serious,” Lillian says.

She has watched farmers work through injuries, exhaustion and chronic pain because the work still needs to get done.

Lillian wants to do something about that.

This fall, she will attend Viterbo University, beginning her education to become a physician and ultimately serving rural and agricultural communities like the one that raised her.  “I hope to provide quality medical care, promote preventive health, and advocate for better access to healthcare,” she says.

And THAT is what your support of WROF is really about.

You aren’t simply helping a young person pay for college.

You are investing in the future of rural Wisconsin.

You are helping Lillian take what she learned growing up in Dallas — on the farm, through 4-H, from her family and from watching the people around her — and turn it into a career she hopes will bring her talents  back to rural communities.

The  WROF Premier Scholars Program provides $3,000 awards to rural Wisconsin high school graduates pursuing post-secondary education who plan to use their education to help Wisconsin’s farms and rural communities thrive.

Lillian is one of them.

And someday, when a farmer needs care from someone who understands that you can’t simply abandon the chores because your back hurts…  perhaps that someone will be Dr. Lillian Harmon!

You are helping make that possibility possible.

With gratitude,

WROF, Inc. 2026 Premier Scholar Carson Klumb

You’ve met Ella and Storm. Please meet another WROF, Inc. Premier Scholar – Carson Klumb of Marshfield, Wisconsin!

Carson, the son of Josh and Deanna Klumb, grew up on his family’s 500-acre farm, home to about 200 head of cattle. Caring for the animals, preserving the land, and raising healthy crops helped shape Carson’s love of the outdoors and his determination to protect Wisconsin’s natural resources.

This fall, Carson is beginning his first year at  UW-Stevens Point , where he is preparing for a career as a Conservation Officer.

“As a Conservation Officer, I hope to do more than enforce laws,” says Carson. “I want to educate the public, protect wildlife, support local economies through outdoor recreation and tourism, maintain the shared spaces we all rely on, assist those who are lost or in danger, and, when needed, help save lives.”

Someday, Carson also hopes to take over part of his family’s farm, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father and helping ensure the land remains in his family for generations.

Carson will also be busy outside the classroom, too! A competitive swimmer for the past eight years and a two-time state meet qualifier as part of a relay team at Marshfield High School, Carson will compete on the UW-Stevens Point swim team.

Carson is exactly why the WROF, Inc. Premier Scholars Program exists.

The program provides $3,000 scholarships to rural Wisconsin high school graduates pursuing education beyond high school who plan to return to rural Wisconsin and use their education and talents to help our farms and rural communities thrive.

Thanks to you, Carson is taking the next step toward a future serving rural Wisconsin — and WROF, Inc. is investing in another young person who wants to come home and make a difference.

With gratitude,

WROF, Inc. 2026 Premier Scholar Storm Marshall-Buss

You would be so proud of our WROF, Inc. Premier Scholars!

This past Monday, August 3, WROF, Inc. hosted its  5th Annual Celebrating Excellence Luncheon , honoring seven outstanding Premier Scholars whose passion, determination, and commitment to rural Wisconsin inspired everyone in the room.

The event—and scholarships for two of our Premier Scholars—were generously sponsored by  Rural Mutual Insurance Company . Dan Merk, Executive Vice President and CEO, welcomed our scholars, their families, guests, and members of the WROF, Inc. Board of Directors as we celebrated these remarkable young people.

Our sincere thanks to Rural Mutual Insurance Company for its investment in these future leaders. Founded in 1934, both Rural Mutual and WROF, Inc. share deep Wisconsin roots and a commitment to strengthening rural communities. It is a partnership built on shared values – and a shared belief in the future of rural Wisconsin.

At our luncheon, each of our Premier Scholars shared their stories and their dreams for the future. Over the coming weeks, you’ll continue to meet each of these inspiring young people here in our newsletter and on Facebook and LinkedIn. Today, we’re introducing Storm Marshall-Buss  of Mineral Point, one of the scholars whose award was made possible through Rural Mutual Insurance Company’s sponsorship.

This summer has kept Storm busy working alongside her dad on the family’s organic cash crop farm while also showing sheep and horses across Wisconsin. Starting this fall, she looks forward to learning innovative growing techniques and sustainable practices at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC) , where she will earn a degree in Agribusiness.

Throughout high school, Storm received a head start on her post-secondary education through dual-credit classes offered at SWTC, while working full-time on the farm. Attending SWTC will also allow her to continue contributing to the family farm while earning her degree.

Storm hopes to help local farmers improve crop management, soil health, and overall efficiency by applying modern agricultural practices. By working with small farms, her goal is to ensure that family farms will continue to thrive in an evolving industry.

“I am most excited for the next generation of agriculturists to enter the industry for rural Wisconsin, because I believe that we can combine new technologies with tradition to create the most benefits for the land and animals our agricultural industry depends on,” says Storm.

On Monday, these young people and their families came together to celebrate, encourage one another, and share their dreams for the future. Thanks to supporters like you, they are gaining the education, confidence, and opportunities to show up for rural Wisconsin – and one day become the leaders our communities will depend on.

With gratitude,

A big day for, top left to right, Claudia Loppnow, Diana Stanciu, Lydia Murphy, Lauren Linscheid, Madilyn Volkmann, and Sam Dahl as they receive both their scholarship award and their White Coats!

Bet you believe this too: rural communities matter.

It was my honor and delight…in fact, this is one of my favorite programs of the year…presenting six scholarships to students in the UW-Madison Physician Assistant Program who have come from rural and underserved communities and are committed to returning to rural and underserved communities. With this White Coat on…these students now treat their patients as practicing physician assistants.

Here’s a bit of my message at the White Coat Ceremony….

Claudia, Diana, Lauren, Lydia, Madilyn, and Samantha—we celebrate you.

You are choosing something remarkable.

You are choosing communities where healthcare isn’t always easy to access.

Communities where people know your name.

Communities where your patient may also be your neighbor, your former teacher, the person sitting next to you at church, or the family waving at you at the grocery store.

You are not simply filling positions.

You are becoming part of the heartbeat of those communities .

WROF has been investing in rural Wisconsin for more than 80 years because we know this:

When you invest in people, they return that investment many times over.

Education becomes access. Access becomes health. Health becomes stronger families, stronger schools, stronger farms, stronger businesses – and stronger communities.

So as you put on your white coat today, I hope you remember this – 

Knowledge matters. Skill matters.

But relationships matter too .   Listen well.  Learn continuously. See the whole person. And never underestimate what it means to simply show up and care .

As we celebrate our country’s 250th Birthday this July 4th, know we celebrate YOU…and thank you, each of you, for simply ‘showing up’ for the WROF, Inc. Your partnerships, your dollars, and your passion ensure a vibrant rural Wisconsin for our families and our neighbors. And THAT’S something to REALLY celebrate!

With gratitude,

Marcy Heim, Executive Director

(608) 772-6777 | marcy@marcyheim.com

WROF, Inc. 2026 Premier Scholar Ella Ranes

Your support has taken us on a journey to recognize rural Wisconsin’s brightest high school seniors. Thanks to you, we can help each of them achieve their academic and career goals through the WROF, Inc. Premier Scholarship Awards Program. 

We can’t wait to introduce you to the WROF, Inc. 2026 Premier Scholars. This week, we’re kicking off the introductions with Ella Ranes of Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Ella is passionate about animals. During her senior year, Ella started a new club at her high school, the Animal-Wildlife-Empowerment-Society (AWES), because she saw a need for an organization dedicated to local animals and wildlife. Under her leadership, the club has supported a variety of animal-focused initiatives while also benefiting Wisconsin’s plant biodiversity.

Her commitment to animals began even earlier. Through her high school’s Youth Apprenticeship Program, Ella spent two years working as a Veterinary Assistant and Kennel Assistant at a local veterinary clinic. That experience, combined with her love of animals, fueled her dream of making a difference in the lives of the animals that help shape our communities.

This fall, Ella will attend UW-River Falls to pursue her goal of becoming a veterinarian. She hopes to serve farm animal populations and assist farmers who lack immediate access to veterinary care.

Ella is eager to bring her leadership skills to UW–River Falls. She will start a HOSA-Future Health Professionals chapter on campus to promote healthcare involvement, leadership, and competition opportunities for students.

“I am very passionate about using what I will have learned as an expert in various species’ biology and medicine to improve the lives of farm animals like cattle, horses, and pigs, the security of Marshfield farmers, and the quality and quantity of food available to the town, providing more resources for the community,” says Ella. 

Thank you for fuelling the dreams of students from rural Wisconsin. Your support empowers the future generation and ensures a thriving tomorrow for rural Wisconsin.

With gratitude,

We’re excited to introduce you to our newest board member, Sara Grunwaldt!

Sara attended UW-Eau Claire with the help of WROF, Inc. scholarships, and now she brings her perspective as a former scholarship recipient to the board.

Sara grew up on a family dairy farm in northern Wisconsin, where early mornings, shared responsibilities, and hard work were a way of life. “That upbringing instilled in me a strong work ethic, resilience, and a deep appreciation for perseverance – values that have guided me throughout my personal and professional journey,” says Sara.

As the first person in her family to attend college, Sara says that she carried those lessons with her to the UW-Eau Claire, where she earned a degree in medical technology. After graduation, Sara moved to Milwaukee, a challenging transition that pushed her beyond her comfort zone. “While the move was not easy, my upbringing and education prepared me well to navigate change and overcome life’s challenges,” says Sara.

Sara spent the first ten years of her career working in medical technology before transitioning into the insurance and financial services industry. “Throughout my career, lifelong learning, problem-solving, and collaboration have been essential skills that enabled me to adapt, grow, and succeed across different fields,” she says.

“During my college years, I was fortunate to receive WROF scholarships, support that played an important role in my educational journey,” Sara shares. “Today, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back as a contributing member of the WROF board. The WROF seeks opportunities to positively impact education for students in rural cities and towns across Wisconsin – students who aspire to make meaningful contributions to their communities and to our great state.”

Sara hopes that every young person who seeks an education is given the opportunity to learn, grow, and build a future shaped by possibility rather than limitation.

We are honored to have Sara as a member of our board. Thank you, Sara, for your time and dedication to WROF, Inc. 

Warm regards,

Marcy Heim, Executive Director

(608) 772-6777 | marcy@marcyheim.com