Coffin Receives 2025-2026 Joseph Lieber Memorial Cooperative Scholarship

The Arthur Capper Cooperative Center (ACCC) in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University is proud to recognize Kennedy Coffin of McLouth, Kansas, a junior in feed science, as the 2025-2026 Joseph Lieber Memorial Cooperative Scholarship recipient. 

Kennedy Coffin is a member of Alpha of Clovia and has held several leadership positions, most recently serving as secretary and on the judicial board. She is a member of the Feed Science Club, where she served as president, and is also a member of Alpha Mu. Kennedy completed an internship with J-six Enterprises working in the Fairview Mill. Her goal is to work as an animal nutritionist after pursuing a master’s degree, and possibly a Ph.D. as well. Kennedy works as a student assistant in the Bioprocessing & Industrial Value Added Products (BIVAP) Innovation Center and as a farmhand for Rocky Hill Hay Farms. The Coffin family is connected to Leavenworth County Cooperative Association and Freestate Electric Cooperative, where her mom serves on the nominating committee for the Board of Trustees. 

The Joseph Lieber Memorial Cooperative Scholarship, established in tribute to the late Joe Lieber and his enthusiasm for cooperative education, has awarded $103,500 in scholarships since its establishment in 2005. Lieber contributed to cooperative education and development for many years while serving as president of the Kansas Cooperative Council and was a respected leader in the co-op community.

“This scholarship was established by Joseph Lieber’s family and the Kansas Cooperative Council to perpetuate the memory and contribution of Joe Lieber to the development and leadership of cooperative businesses,” states Professor Brian Briggeman, director of the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. “It also provides significant financial assistance to eligible students enrolled in educational programs emphasizing these areas of study.” 

To be eligible for Joseph Lieber Memorial Cooperative Scholarship, a student must be either a junior or senior in K-State’s College of Agriculture at the time the scholarship is received. The recipient must also be affiliated as a member or as a child or dependent of a member of a Kansas agricultural marketing, supply, or service cooperative that is a member of the Kansas Cooperative Council. Continuing K-State students are encouraged to fill out the K-State scholarship application to be included in the university scholarship process.

The Joseph Lieber Memorial Cooperative Scholarship was funded by contributions made to the Center’s endowment fund with the K-State Foundation. Contributions have been made by the Kansas Cooperative Council and the Lieber family and friends in the cooperative community.  “Additional contributions by those who want to honor the memory of Joseph Lieber and support the purposes of the scholarship are welcome,” Dr. Briggeman said. They should be made payable to “KSU Foundation/Lieber” and sent to the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center, Department of Agricultural Economics, 305 Waters Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506.

About the Kansas Cooperative Council

Kansas Cooperative Council is a voluntary trade association representing all forms of cooperatively structured business in Kansas.  The mission of the Kansas Cooperative Council is to promote, support and advance the interests, business success and understanding of agricultural, utility, credit and consumer cooperatives and their members through legislation and regulatory efforts, education, and public relations.

About the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center

The Arthur Capper Cooperative Center is a public-private partnership in the Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics that provides research-based information, education and assistance to people with and interested in cooperative businesses, including cooperative members, directors, managers and employees. The Center also works with students and faculty at educational institutions, the general public and public officials as well as owners, directors, managers and employees of agribusinesses. http://accc.k-state.edu/