Bay College establishes David Bahrman Memorial Scholarship

Bay College has a new scholarship available to assist students who are studying agriculture, thanks to the friends and family of David Bahrman who wish to honor his memory as a lifelong farmer. The David Bahrman Memorial Scholarship has been established to provide financial support to Upper Peninsula students who are pursuing agricultural programs at Michigan State University through Bay College.

According to an article on Bay College’s website, Vicki DeGrand, who serves as the Executive Director of Foundation and Alumni Relations, was quoted as saying of Bahrman, “David’s life reflected resilience, dedication, and a deep love for agriculture. This scholarship ensures his legacy lives on by supporting students who are committed to pursuing careers in agriculture.”

Bahrman was born with a heart condition that caused him health issues throughout his life. Despite undergoing multiple heart surgeries, he remained committed to farming and displayed his dedication to it every day. He served as a regional director for Michigan Farm Bureau beginning in 2001, and in 2024, he was inducted into the Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame.

The David Bahrman Memorial Scholarship has been established specifically to support students from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, as Bahrman himself was particularly enamored with the region and its agriculture. He expressed that he felt “at home” when he crossed the Mackinac Bridge back into the Upper Peninsula.

Bay College offers an Agricultural Operations program, which it offers via partnership with Michigan State University, at the college’s Escanaba campus. The program allows students to be dual-enrolled at both Bay College and Michigan State University, providing program graduates with an associate degree in Agricultural Operations and a certificate from the Michigan State University Institute of Agricultural Technology. 

For more information about Bay College, visit the school’s website.