West Platte High School graduate Catherine “Cat” Merritt has received the Cottage Gardeners of Weston’s annual $1,500 scholarship as she prepares to turn a lifelong connection to agriculture into a career teaching others.

Merritt will attend Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville this fall to study agricultural education. She said her own experience in West Platte’s agriculture program helped shape that decision.

“My FFA teacher and ag teacher had a really big impact on me in my life, so I just hope to do that for others in the future as well,” Merritt said.

Carmen Buller, Merritt’s agriculture teacher at West Platte, has watched Merritt grow from a student finding her place in the program into its leader.

“When she first entered the agriculture program, she was still discovering her confidence and figuring out where she fit within the program,” Buller said. “Over time, she became more willing to speak up, take initiative, accept responsibility, and put herself in situations that challenged her.”

Merritt was involved in FFA throughout high school, serving as chapter reporter during the 2023-24 school year, vice president in 2024-25 and president in 2025-26.

Buller said Merritt’s leadership increasingly focused on helping other students and finding new ways for the FFA chapter to serve the community. As president, Merritt helped create service opportunities involving Thanksgiving meals and helped develop an agricultural literacy project to teach elementary students about agriculture.

“One of the things that stands out about Cat is that she does not wait to be asked to help,” Buller said.

Those qualities also make Buller believe Merritt is well-suited for the classroom.

“She genuinely cares about other students and wants to see them succeed,” Buller said. “She is patient, approachable, and willing to take the time to explain something or help someone who may be struggling.”

Merritt grew up on her family’s farm outside Weston and said she has been around agriculture throughout her life. At West Platte, she particularly enjoyed working in the school greenhouse.

“I helped in the greenhouse a lot,” Merritt said. “I loved all the things that we do there.”

Putting out plants in the spring was one of her favorite parts of the school year. She also participated in the FFA harvest dinner, an event she said brings the community together.

Merritt’s involvement extended beyond agriculture. She served as Interact Club secretary in 2024-25 and president in 2025-26, was a member of Student Council and participated in the Blue Diamonds dance team.

Corrine Allee, West Platte High School counselor, said those experiences have already given Merritt opportunities to work with younger students.

“Cat’s decision to pursue agricultural education is the perfect fit for her,” Allee said. “Through her work with FFA and as a member of the Blue Diamonds, Cat taught countless younger students at West Platte.”

Allee said Merritt has an ability to connect with children.

“The kids adored her and learned a lot about agriculture and dance moves,” Allee said. “Cat will be able to take her passion for agriculture and her innate ability to teach and work with children and turn it into a fulfilling career.”

The Cottage Gardeners scholarship is available to West Platte graduating seniors or graduates pursuing postsecondary studies in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, botany, biology, agronomy, landscaping and related fields, including education in those subjects.

Allee said locally funded scholarships provide both financial assistance and a tangible sign of community support.

“This local scholarship helps make college an affordable option for West Platte graduates,” Allee said. “Local scholarships also help show support for our students and demonstrate an investment in their futures.”

For Buller, Merritt’s progression through the agriculture program may be the clearest indication of what comes next.

“She has grown from a student who participated in the program to someone who led it,” Buller said.