Sunrise Announces 2026 RISE FFA Career Program Recipients
Apr 30, 2026
Columbus, Ohio – April 30, 2026 - Sunrise Cooperative, Inc. announced the selection of 12 students as recipients of the 2026 RISE FFA Career Program, a workforce development initiative designed to attract and train the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Upon graduation, each recipient will join Sunrise as a full‑time employee and participate in the RISE FFA Career Program, also known as Sunrise University. Over a four‑year period, participants receive hands‑on experience and comprehensive training across all areas of the cooperative.
The 2026 RISE FFA Career Program recipients are:
- Elam Faust, Lynchburg‑Clay FFA
- Ella Vondenhuevel, West Liberty‑Salem FFA
- Aiden Tener, Greenon FFA
- Kenzi Ramsden, Fairfield FFA
- Aidan Markley, Miami Trace FFA
- Allison Strickler, Firelands FFA
- Nolan Heilman, Old Fort FFA
- Isaac Richard, Lima FFA
- Ella Sanders, South Central FFA
- Wyatt Hall, South Central FFA
- Alex Hamons, South Central FFA
- Troy Ayers, South Central FFA
Among the recipients, Isaac Richard of the Lima FFA Chapter was selected as the program’s top recipient. As a signing bonus, Richard will receive a 2025 Chevy Colorado driven by the 2025–2026 Ohio FFA Association State President, Carter Boyd, during Boyd’s term in office. In addition, Sunrise Cooperative will make a $1,000 donation to the Lima FFA Chapter in Richard’s honor.
The 12 new hires were officially announced on stage during the opening session of the 98th Ohio FFA Convention in Columbus.
Sunrise Cooperative will also present $500 donations to the following FFA chapters in recognition of their students selected for the program: Lynchburg‑Clay, West Liberty‑Salem, Greenon, Fairfield, Miami Trace, Firelands, Old Fort, and South Central.
Candidates for the RISE FFA Career Program must be active FFA members and graduating high school seniors. Applicants complete a formal application process and submit an essay describing how participation in FFA has prepared them for a career with Sunrise. The Ohio FFA Foundation reviews applications, conducts interviews, and selects recipients for full‑time employment with Sunrise upon graduation.
Established in 2019, the RISE FFA Career Program serves two key purposes: creating a pathway for future leaders in agriculture to enter the cooperative system and supporting the Ohio FFA Association State President during their term in office.
Additional information about the Sunrise RISE FFA Career Program is available at www.sunriseco-op.com/RISEFFA and www.ohioffa.org. The application process for the 2027 RISE FFA Career Program will open in January.
Sunrise Cooperative, Inc. is a leading agricultural and energy cooperative headquartered in Fremont, Ohio. Sunrise delivers team‑based solutions across multiple divisions, including agronomy, grain, and energy, supported by a nationally recognized precision agriculture department and its proprietary crop nutrition division, PCT | Sunrise. A 100‑percent farmer‑owned cooperative, Sunrise is committed to providing innovative choices and trusted expertise to its customer‑owners. Through state‑of‑the‑art facilities and highly trained employees, Sunrise works every day to deliver the best solutions and help grow the success of the members it serves.