TAYLORVILLE – Mackenzie Harmon received the 2021 John H. Butterfield Agriscience and Nutrition Scholarship awarded by the Taylorville Memorial Foundation.

Harmon was awarded $1,000. She is the daughter of Bill and Wendy Harmon of Morrisonville.

Harmon is a student at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, majoring in agriculture education. She is an honors student and active member of the school’s Ag Club and Collegiate Farm Bureau. She hopes to transfer to the University of Illinois to complete her bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

Harmon has gained on-the-job experience as an LLCC agriculture student worker, where she helps plan events, develop marketing materials and recruit students to the agriculture program.

The scholarship is named after John H. Butterfield, whose lifetime interest in soil science and plant nutrition led him around the world to observe and learn about farming practices in other countries. Raised on a Christian County farm, Butterfield received a degree from the University of Illinois and worked as an appraiser for the Farm Credit Administration before returning to the family farm in 1940.

A strong advocate for soil conservation, Butterfield served many years on the Soil Conservation Advisory Board as well as being actively involved with the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers and Feed Grain Council.

“The Butterfield family established this scholarship to honor their father’s dedication to agriculture. Awarding this scholarship to a young person preparing for a career in agriculture or nutrition exemplifies John’s lifelong interest in education,” said Raedena Ryan, the foundation’s executive director.

The application deadline for the 2022 John H. Butterfield Agriscience and Nutrition Scholarship is April 1. The application is available on the Taylorville Memorial Hospital website at memorial.health/foundation.

The Taylorville Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Organized in 1995, the foundation supports Taylorville Memorial Hospital’s mission.