Forget computers, cubicles and crowded cities — some people prefer open space, being close to nature and working outside. For many of them, agriculture is a great way to make a career out of their passion for the great outdoors.
However, with the cost of college soaring, it can be difficult to earn a degree in an agriculture-related field without accumulating significant amounts of debt. Rather than rely on student loans, students can look for scholarships specifically related to agriculture.
The Iowa Pork Producers Association awards several scholarships that fit this description. The Iowa Pork Foundation Scholarship, for example, is a $1,000-$1,500 award open to both incoming college freshmen and returning college students. Among the requirements, applicants must be Iowa residents enrolled at a two- or four-year Iowa institution and majoring in an agriculture-related field with an emphasis on swine production. Preference may be given to association members.
[Learn how to reap the benefits of bountiful farming scholarships.]
The Indiana Farm Bureau Scholarship Program is another great way for students interested in agriculture to find money to pay for college. The bureau awards multiple $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors and college students who are enrolled in an approved and accredited institution.
These awards can be used for tuition, room and board, books and other education expenses. In addition to being full-time students pursuing an agricultural or agribusiness degree, applicants must either be a student member of the Indiana Farm Bureau or the child of a bureau member.
Agriculture students can also check out The Community Foundation of the Ozarks, which annually offers the $1,500 Grant A. Finley Memorial Scholarship to two students, with preference given to those majoring in agriculture or who have participated in FFA, formerly the Future Farmers of America.
Applicants must attend an Ozark County, Missouri, high school, have a 3.0 GPA and minimum 21 ACT score and plan to attend a two- or four-year college. Students must submit a short essay with their application and may be asked to interview.
[Discover these scholarships for outdoors lovers.]
The Hereford Youth Foundation of America, one of the largest junior cattle program in the country, awards nearly $30,000 in scholarships to students every year, and interested members can apply.
One of these awards is the Poll-ette Founders Scholarship. Applicants must be 17-22 years of age by Jan. 1 of the current year and a member of the National Junior Hereford Association.
In addition to completing the electronic application, applicants must submit one paragraph describing their involvement with Herefords and its impact on them. Finalists will participate in interviews at the Junior National Hereford Expo.
Another Hereford award is The John Wayne Memorial Scholarship, which is given to two students each year. Applicants must be active National Junior Hereford Association members who are enrolled full time in college and pursuing a career in agriculture, home economics or a Hereford-related industry.
Each applicant’s guardian or parent must also be a paid member of the National Hereford Women or the American Hereford Association. And students must include a 250-word essay with their application on how characteristics that John Wayne exemplified can benefit the beef industry.
Residents of Boone or Winnebago County, Illinois, who are majoring in agriculture, agribusiness or agriculture-related studies may be eligible for the Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarships. Applicants must be a member of the Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau or a spouse or dependent of a member as well as a high school graduate.
They must also be accepted or enrolled in an accredited institution or community college and demonstrate their potential to successfully complete their studies. The scholarships are awarded based on exceptional scholastic ability.
[Read about 10 ways to nab a scholarship to pay for college.]
The IAA Foundation is another organization that offers many scholarships ranging between $1,000 and $7,500 to individuals majoring in in agriculture, agribusiness or ag-related studies. Applicants must also be Illinois residents who are related to an Illinois Farm Bureau member.
One of these awards is the $7,500 Illinois Farm Bureau Legacy of Leadership Scholarship, which is open to students attending a school in Illinois and majoring in an agriculture-related field. Applicants must be starting their junior year, have a GPA of at least 3.4 and submit a 250-word essay on their vision for the future of agriculture and how they plan to contribute.
These are just some examples of scholarships for those who love agriculture. With a little work, agriculture majors can grow a scholarship fund to help them cut the cost of college.
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Harvest College Cash With Agriculture Scholarships originally appeared on usnews.com
