Agriculture Scholarships for Students Attending College
Undergraduate and graduate students majoring in agriculture can find a wide array of agriculture scholarships depending on their field of specialization and academic level. Government agencies, colleges and universities as well as national professional associations provide scholarships based on academic merit or financial need. Prospective students are advised to review the submission guidelines and deadlines for agriculture scholarships ahead of time. Agriculture-related scholarships include food science and natural resource science.
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Government Scholarships
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Government agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the California Farm Bureau offer scholarships to qualified students majoring in agriculture, food science, natural resource sciences and agriculture law. The California Farm Bureau welcomes applications from students with an interest in pursuing farming careers or agriculture law. In addition to demonstrating their academic excellence, applicants to the California Farm Bureau must also possess leadership skills and participate in extracurricular activities. The USDA provides a variety of agriculture scholarships and internship opportunities for both high school and college students. USDA also offers international scholarships to qualified students enrolled in postgraduate programs in agriculture or biological sciences.
College-Based Scholarships
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Undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in accredited agriculture programs should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA form, which is used to determine need-based institutional awards. Most agriculture programs also provide institutional scholarships that are based on academic merit. In addition, students will find a listing of external scholarship sources, which is administered by their academic program. Students can submit one scholarship application for all available programs and will receive a written notice of their award from their academic department.
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Private Scholarships
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Leading private companies like Monsanto offer a wide array of agriculture scholarships. Qualified candidates receive between $1,500 and $2,500. The scholarships are available to both high school and college students who are pursuing agriculture-related fields. Prospective applicants must also demonstrate strong leadership skills and a history of their community involvement. The scholarships are ideal for candidates with a long-term interest in agriculture. Monsanto has awarded approximately $1.5 million in scholarship awards since 1999, as of December 2010. Other private scholarship sources for agriculture majors include Horizon Organic and Annie's Sustainable Agriculture scholarships.
Professional Associations
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Professional associations like the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the American Jersey Cattle Association provide scholarships to qualified students who are pursuing their degrees in agriculture or related fields. FFA offers over 1,000 scholarships and works in partnership with companies like Ford, Cargill and Monsanto. The scholarships are available to FAA members and nonmembers. Students are eligible to receive a maximum of two scholarships, one as a senior high school student and one as a college student. Prospective students should submit one electronic application for all of the scholarship programs.
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References
- California Farm Bureau Federation: Farm Bureau Scholarships Benefit Agricultural Students
- United States Department of Agriculture: Internships and Scholarships
- Montana State University: College of Agriculture
- Monsanto Agriculture Scholarships
- American Jersey Cattle Association: Jersey Youth Scholarships
Resources
- Photo Credit Agriculture image by Pascal Bourgier from Fotolia.com
