September 27
September 27
Scholarship
Reagan Witherspoon - 2024 Scholarship Winner
The Anderson County Corn Festival, Inc. is a 501c4 non-profit organization, whose specific objectives and purposes are:
- To establish, maintain and operate an annual festival to promote the improvement and patronage of cultural events, live theater, visual, and musical arts in Anderson County, Kansas;
- To Establish, maintain and operate festival facilities for the general artistic use by the general public in Anderson County;
- To educate, train and mentor individuals in the operation, management and leadership of a festival and/or special events for fund-raising purposes for community, civic, church and non-for-profit organizations.
Reagan has been a valuable Cornstock volunteer ever since she was 7 years old. She’s done everything from help setup to teardown of the event and during the festival she’s there from 8 a.m. to midnight, helping wherever needed, including selling merchandise, helping with parking vehicles, and whatever she is asked to do.
As a community volunteer, Reagan volunteers to help the Anderson County/Garnett Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary with their chili suppers and breakfast fundraisers. She’s involved in the Cherry Mound 4-H Club, helping the Frontier District Office get ready and set up for fair week. She also helped take goodie bags to nursing homes for Christmas. She was active in Carmelite Stars church group, who helps other organizations with tasks, such as setting up fence for BPW Square Fair, valentine fundraiser for the church, help as a server at The Chamber Players Community Theatre, and as a Carmelite Star she helped the group pick up trash after Cornstock.
Her accolades during high school include being inducted into the National Honor Society (as a Junior), qualifying for State Golf Championship being her sophomore through senior year, accepted into District Choir her sophomore through senior year, and as a senior she was an alternate State Choir member.
When asked why volunteering is important, her response is, “Volunteering is an important part of our community. It is a way to express your gratitude towards your town. I have volunteered for many different events throughout my childhood to present. I enjoy helping give back to our community. Giving back to a small town like Garnett is very important. Without everyone in our town that does volunteer, many of the events that do happen each year wouldn’t be possible. Some of these events include Square Fair, Biking Across Kansas, fire department events, Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival, Cornstock, etc. Each event that takes place is important to many of the people in our community. Some may depend on that certain event to sell their items. Therefore, without volunteers many important events wouldn’t happen.”
Reagan is pursuing a nursing career by attending Neosho County Community College.
Congratulations Reagan Witherspoonas the 2024 Anderson County Corn Festival Scholarship recipient.
Reagan Witherspoon (center) accepts Scholarship from Board President Gina Witherspoon and Board Treasurer Beth Mersman.
2024 Scholarship Recipient :
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION: The Anderson County Corn Festival, Inc. is a 501 (c) (4) non-profit organization that encourages community involvement, specifically by area youth. A minimum of one (1) annual scholarship in the amount of $250 or more has been established by ACCF to be awarded to one recipient who is currently enrolled in high school or higher education and they must be or have been an active Anderson County Corn Festival volunteer. Annual Deadline: Application must be received BY March 20, 2025.