Droge Scholarship Fund

Mission

The scholarship honors Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Droge who lived and farmed most of their married life in Nemaha County.  Leslie and Lola purchased and moved to the Droge family farm after Leslie returned from serving his country in World War II. 

The couple was progressive and looked for new and modern ways of farming.  They became leaders in terracing and other land conservation methods.  Managing a cow and calf herd along with grasslands, wheat, and row crops, they provided a living for their family while producing plants and animals to help feed the world. 

Not only did they work hard in agriculture, but they also served in other areas as well.  Lola was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was actively involved in her political party.  Leslie served in the State Senate and was chairperson of the Senate Agricultural committee.  Leslie and Lola, as well as their five children, all attended Kansas State University.

The Leslie Albert and Lola Fern Droge Scholarship for Agricultural Studies is awarded to a Nemaha County high school graduate who is a junior or above and enrolled in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University. 

Profile

 

Hailey Wurtz Awarded 2026 Droge Agricultural Scholarship

Hailey Wurtz, a Nemaha County native who is dual enrolled in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agriculture, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Leslie Albert and Lola Fern Droge Scholarship for Agricultural Studies. The $750 scholarship, administered by the Nemaha County STEP Foundation, supports local students pursuing agricultural degrees at K-State.

A 2022 graduate of Nemaha Central High School, Wurtz is the daughter of Jerin and Stephanie Wurtz. In her application she reflected on her lifelong connection to agriculture, sharing, “Growing up, I was the little girl with a pair of work jeans and messy hair whose favorite weekend activity was working calves with my dad. To this day, this hasn’t changed.”

Wurtz plans to return to rural Kansas after completing her education, serving underserved communities as a mixed-animal veterinarian. She views giving back to her community as both a responsibility and a calling.

The scholarship, established in 2008 by Lola Droge and her family, honors the legacy of Leslie and Lola Droge, long-time Nemaha County farmers and agricultural leaders. The couple was known for their progressive farming methods and community involvement, including Leslie’s service in the Kansas Senate and Lola’s active civic and political engagement.