Fejervary Trust

The Fejervary Trust was established in 1896 by Nicholas Fejervary, a successful landowner in Scott County and a humanitarian. With the establishment of the trust he constructed a retirement home for indigent farmers who had lived at least twenty years in Scott County. The viability of this retirement home with the onset of Social Security and other retirement systems diminished and the home was demolished in the 1960’s.

A private nursing facility was built on the land owned by the trust in the 1960’s. At that time the trust established two 50 year back to back leases with the owners of the retirement facility. The home was then purchased by an outside medical provider organization, and the land was sold to the organization.

As the assets of the trust accumulated in conservative investments over the years it became evident that there were no “indigent farmers” who met the requirements of the original trust. Therefore, the trustees felt that it was important to request a “change in direction” of the trust to use some of the funds available to do good in the Scott County area. When the court was petitioned it agreed and the new direction of the trust essentially gave the trustees the ability to award scholarships to worthy students who lived in Scott County and had expressed an interest in studying agricultural related professions.