TOPSFIELD FAIR AWARDS $80,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

Topsfield, Mass. (June 16, 2025) — The Essex Agricultural Society, the organization that runs the Topsfield Fair, is proud to announce that it has distributed $80,000 in scholarships to students graduating from 19 area high schools.  Twenty-seven students received $1,000 scholarships while six students received $1,000 scholarships for each of their four years of college.
 
This year’s scholarship recipients include:
 

• Concord: Henri Legault (Concord-Carlisle High School)
• Danvers: Julia Blum (Middlesex School), Paul Danehy, III, (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School), Sophia DiPaolo (Danvers High School), Gavin Ferguson (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School), Camila Ferrer Gomez (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School), Giona Nolan (Danvers High School), Anthony Ragosa (St. John’s Prep), Kenzie Rourke (Danvers High School)
• Gloucester: Ryan Madruga (Gloucester High School), Ella Tucker (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School)
• Groveland: Gabriella Brancato (Pentucket Regional)
• Hopkinton: Evan Fitzpatrick (Hopkinton High School)
• Ipswich: Taryn Desmond (Ipswich High School), Colleen Kielbania (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School)
• Methuen: Jillian Clements (Central Catholic)
• Newburyport: Kate Gilmore (Newburyport High School)
• North Reading: Jayne Weaver (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School)
• Peabody: Tyler Agneta (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School), Ava Buckley (Peabody Veterans Memorial High School), Leah Buckley (Peabody Veterans Memorial High School), Tram Luu Nguyen (Lynn Classical High School)
• Salem: Annyssa Edwards, Payton Schroeder (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School)
• Saugus: Caitlyn Dixon (Saugus High School), Kaycie White (Peabody Veterans Memorial High School)
• Topsfield: Sophia Gustafson (Masconomet Regional High School), Alexa Pinelli (Masconomet Regional High School)
• West Boylston: Mim Kunst (Norfolk County Agricultural High School)
• West Newbury: Kate Conover (Pentucket Regional High School)
• Weston: Quinn Garry (Weston High School)
• Woburn: Matthew Toland (Arlington Catholic High School)
• Stratham, NH: Ben Houghton (Exeter High School)

“This year, we were proud to award $80,000 in scholarships to high school seniors pursuing higher education,” said James O’Brien, General Manager of the Topsfield Fair.  “It’s an honor to help support students as they take their next steps, especially given the rising cost of college. In addition to these scholarships, many of our fair departments – including beekeeping, rabbits and the sportsmen’s building – also provide thousands in financial support to students.”
 
Included in this year’s total aid amount were scholarships from the Essex County Farm Bureau Association, the Essex County Fruit Growers Association, and the Charles E. Larner Family Foundation.
 
“Once again, this year’s scholarship applicants impressed us with their strong community involvement – many have even volunteered at the Topsfield Fair over the years,” said O’Brien.
 
Scholarship applications for students graduating in 2026 are expected to be available on January 1, 2026 at www.Topsfieldfair.org.