Conley Earns Radenburg Scholarship

Garrett Conley, 2026 Radenburg Memorial Scholarship recipient

A lifetime spent in agriculture and a clear vision for the future has led Garrett Conley of Pleasanton, Kansas, to be selected as a 2026 Radenburg Memorial Scholarship recipient.

Conley, a senior at Pleasanton High School, will graduate May 9 before attending Fort Scott Community College to pursue a degree in agricultural technology. His goal is to build on a lifelong foundation in agriculture and bring those skills back to serve his local community.

Raised in a small, rural town, Conley has deep roots in agriculture, with multiple generations of farming on both sides of his family.

“Our farm may be on the smaller side, but it keeps us busy every day,” Conley said.

Alongside his dad, he helps manage a diversified operation that includes about 200 acres of row crops and hay production to support a herd of roughly 100 commercial Angus and Gelbvieh cattle.

In addition to work on the farm, Conley has gained hands-on experience through his family’s business, Conley Sales LLC. During his senior year, he has spent half of each school day working in the shop, helping service and maintain agricultural equipment, including Vermeer hay machinery and Bush Hog implements. He has also developed welding and fabrication skills, building panels for cattle working facilities.

That experience, combined with a John Deere dealer sponsorship, has positioned Conley to continue expanding his skill set. At Fort Scott Community College, he plans to study agricultural technology with a focus on equipment systems, including electrical, hydraulics and engines.

After completing his degree, Conley plans to return home to Pleasanton and continue building on his family’s business while offering additional agricultural services to the surrounding rural area.

“I want to bring what I learn back home and use it to help our operation and others in the community,” Conley said.

 The David Radenberg Memorial Scholarship awards $1,000 to a Kansas student pursuing a career in agriculture, with preference given to those focused on advancing wheat. The scholarship honors David Radenberg, a longtime wheat farmer from Claflin, Kansas, and former Kansas Wheat Commission chairman who was deeply committed to wheat research and global market development.

During his time on the commission, Radenberg supported research investments and international outreach efforts, believing strongly in the role of innovation to improve wheat production and help feed a growing world.

The scholarship reflects that legacy by supporting students who are committed to strengthening agriculture and the wheat industry through their careers.

For Conley, the opportunity represents both support and responsibility as he takes the next step in his career.