2026 Don Halcomb Memorial Scholarship Recipients Announced
The Kentucky Small Grain Growers and Walnut Grove Farms are proud to announce the recipients of the Don Halcomb Memorial Scholarships for Community Leadership Through Agriculture. Two scholarships were offered for $2,000 each, one for a high school senior entering college, and one for a current college student in an undergraduate or graduate program. Applicants were required to be Kentucky residents and pursuing an agriculture or related field at any accredited college, university or trade school.
Read about the recipients below and why they were chosen. We wish both of these students all the best and are honored to assist in their educational endeavors.
Emma Perry, of Christian County, was awarded the collegiate $2,000 Don Halcomb Memorial Scholarship. Emma is pursuing her law degree at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law in Lexington. Upon graduation from law school, Emma hopes to return to her rural roots in Hopkinsville to apply her law degree to agricultural estate planning, business entity documents, and real estate transactions.
The committee noted her determination & grit, her appreciation of family & community, and her intent to return home, fulfilling a vital role in western Kentucky practicing agricultural law.
Emma is also the recipient of the Kentucky Corn Growers Jim Barton Memorial Scholarship.
Braydon Thompson, of Hart County, was awarded the high school $2,000 Don Halcomb Memorial Scholarship. Braydon is a senior at Hart County High School and plans to major in biology with an emphasis on genetics, both plant and animal. After graduation, Braydon has aspirations to work in a laboratory setting and conduct genetic research to improve our food supply and preserve our natural environment.
The committee appreciated his background in 4-H and FFA, his ambitious goals in the fields of plant and animal genetics, as well as his appreciation of history and his desire to travel and understand the global food supply chain.