The Minnesota FFA Foundation announced the names of the 18 Minnesota high school seniors who will receive the James W. Tracy scholarship.

Two area students are among those 18, including Dakota Johnson of LeRoy and Ethan Arett of Blooming Prairie.

The scholarship is available to Minnesota high school seniors enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited post-secondary school and pursuing a degree in agriculture. The scholarship is scored on leadership, involvement, agriculture interest and financial need.

The scholarship is possible due to the generosity of James W. Tracy, a farmer from Dennison, Minnesota, who lost his battle with illness in 2014. Jim had a deep love for the land, farming and the desire to support youth which lead him to donate his farm to the Minnesota FFA Foundation. Generations of high school seniors interested in studying agriculture will benefit from this donation through the James W. Tracy Scholarship.

Scholarship recipients and the high school they attend are listed below

•Ethan Arett, Blooming Prairie

•Jessica Christoffer, Round Lake

•Dakota Johnson, LeRoy

•Shelby Kuechle, Eden Valley

•Isabelle Lindahl, Lindstrom

•James Mathiowetz, New Prague

•Anna McCosh, Granite Falls

•Emelia Melson, Trimont

•Hannah Neil, Northfield

•Kaiya Novacek, Greenbush

•Bailey Ruen, Lanesboro

•Camren Saxton, Granada

•Grace Schlueter, Janesville

•Haley Schwecke, Gibbon

•Dakota Scott, Windom

•Kylee Sherod, Howard Lake

•Laura Shoutz, Litchfield

•Jo-hanna Welter, Stewartville