Lake Area College Student Daniel “Cass” Finn of Phillip, SD was recently awarded a scholarship in memory of John Knebel of Eden. Knebel’s father LeRon and niece Kayla Kirchmeier were on hand at the scholarship banquet to recognize Finn.
Knebel Remembered Through Scholarships
On Jan. 30, LeRon Knebel and granddaughter Kayla Kirchmeier attended the Lake Area College scholarship banquet in Watertown.
They presented two scholarships in memory of the late John Knebel of Eden. The first scholarship is needs-based and was awarded to Daniel “Cass” Finn of Phillip, SD. He is a Diesel Tech student who hopes to take his knowledge back to the family ranch to help his family continue their tradition after his dad was injured in an accident. The John Knebel Memorial Agriculture Scholarship is awarded to a student who is pursuing an agriculture degree. This year’s recipient was Alex Roney of Oakes, ND. (not pictured). Alex hopes to return home and continue with his family operation as well.
John Knebel was an Eden-Area farmer/rancher who gained a great knowledge of agriculture during his time at Lake Area in the early 1990s. He dedicated his life to bettering the community and environment around him. He served on many boards including the Marshall County Conservation Board. John always encouraged and assisted young farmers. He was tragically killed in a farm-related accident in August of 2018. His memory lives on in many ways, including the Lake Area College scholarships.