Sixteen Scholarships Awarded Through CSES Delta Scholarship Golf Classic

Holly Yeatman

Students earning scholarships with funds raised through this year's Delta Scholarship Golf Classic include (from left) Gage Marris of Little Rock, Neal Benson of Manila, Charlie Farr of Proctor and Easton Reaper of Searcy.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 20th Annual Delta Scholarship Golf Classic raised more than $17,000 and has generated almost $440,000 total in scholarship support for University of Arkansas students.

Since 2000, the tournament has resulted in 192 scholarships worth $439,352.35 for Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences students majoring in either crop science or environmental, soil and water sciences.

The tournament was July 19 at The Ridges at Village Creek at Village Creek State Park in Wynne, and all 20 events have been coordinated by friends, alumni and staff from the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences.

Sixteen total students received scholarships for 2019-20.

"The 20th Delta Scholarship Golf Classic was a huge success thanks to all the committee volunteers and (CSES recruiting coordinator) Mrs. Holly Yeatman," said Glenn Kernodle, tournament co-director and North Delta sales rep for Gowan USA in Cabot. "The fundraiser was formed to help agricultural students with scholarships. The support for the tournament from the agriculture industry contributes to the future of Arkansas agriculture by helping agriculture students financially." 

Students helped this year are Delta Classic Scholarship recipients Neal Benson of Manila, Evan Buckner of Pine Bluff, Douglas Burns of West Memphis, Bairek Bush of Fisher, Faith Cordes of Fayetteville, Bodie Cotter of Henderson, Lillie Lawson of Houston, Wyatt Rongey of Booneville, Adam Whitfield of Little Rock and Matthew Woolard of Corning.

Students awarded the James L. Barrentine Endowed Scholarship are Neal Benson of Manila, Hannah Callicott of Springdale, Charlie Farr of Proctor, Patrick "Gage" Maris of Little Rock, Easton Reaper of Searcy and Caleb Swears of Carlisle.

"As always the tournament was a big success," said Robert Bacon, CSES department head. "I am amazed that the tournament reached its 20th year. Several of the alumni and friends group that were there for year one were helping again this year. It is really wonderful to have that kind of support."

Corporate sponsors were Arkansas Farm Bureau, BASF and CORTEVA agriscience.

"BASF is proud to be a corporate sponsor of the 'Delta Classic,' which has been a vital component for the Delta area of Arkansas," said Brad Koen, Delta Area manager for BASF. "The money raised from this tournament has been a life-line for students from Southeast Arkansas, assuring that the ag industry remains strong. BASF has always been honored to sponsor such an event that benefits our industry and honors such a great man as (former department head) Dr. James Barrentine."

Tournament winners were:

• First Flight, Team Darrin Malone (Jas Malone, Simon McBride and Noah Tullos, Paragould; and Cade Riggan, Little Rock)
• Second Flight, Farm Credit Midsouth (Greg Gibson, Marianna; Alex Bennett, Little Rock; Matt Howton, Forrest City; and Matt Jumper, Palestine)
• Third Flight, Team Dr. Jim Barrentine (Kyle Barrentine, Fishers, Indiana; Jim Gentry, Bartlett, Tennessee; Larry Moss, Collierville, Tennessee; and Don White, Fayetteville)

"It's an honor for CORTEVA agriscience to be a part of this legacy event in which Dow and DUPONT have both participated in the past," said Darrin Malone, Midsouth district sales leader for CORTEVA and co-director of the tournament. "It's great to honor students from east Arkansas in crop science and be a part of their career. The best part of the tournament is that we get to see these students come back and be a part of Arkansas agriculture. We look forward to participating in the future and watching this legacy tournament continue to grow."

Hole sponsors were Ag Council of Arkansas, Ag Heritage Farm Credit Services, Bayer CropScience, Jim Barrentine, Farm Credit Midsouth, Gowan USA, Greenway Equipment, Producers Rice Mill, Progeny Ag, Riceland Foods, U of A Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, U of A Weed Science and UPL.

Team sponsors were Cross County Bank, Darrin Malone, GreenPointAg, Greenway Equipment, Mid-South Ag Consultants, Mid-South Ag Equipment, RiceTec, Southern Bancorp and U of A Rice Agronomy.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.