Steffen, Albert and Alma Scholarship Endowment

This scholarship is established to honor Albert and Alma Steffen, life-long dairy pioneers. In 1900, Albert’s father, Herman Steffen, established one of the first dairy farms in Snohomish County. Over the next 100 years, Steffen Farms earned a reputation as one of the most efficient and productive dairy farms in America. Herman and Albert, and later Albert’s son Donald, built their reputation by utilizing proven breeding practices in their herd of registered Holstein cattle. Many of their cows were honored at local, regional, and national shows for their impressive dairy type and production. Their dairy farm was designated a “Century Farm” in 2000. Albert was a member of the Fair Board of the Evergreen State Fair held in Monroe each fall. Alma was secretary of Washington State Dairy Wives. In 1962 their family was recognized as the Washington State Dairy Family of the Year.

Though they each only had a high school diploma, they Albert and Alma were ardent supporters and proponents of education. Their two children, Dorathy and Donald, each attended college and all nine of their grandchildren have degrees from Washington State University. Seven of their grandchildren married WSU graduates and as of 2011, eight great-grandchildren have graduated from WSU.

Award Requirements

One scholarship shall be awarded annually. Need is not a priority consideration in awarding this scholarship. The scholarship will be distributed according to the following preferences (no specific order presumed) to a student with a GPA of no less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale:  Active member of WSU Dairy Club;  Active member of CUDS (Cooperative University Dairy Students);  A CAHNRS student from Snohomish or Franklin County