Over a dozen different organizations are offering agriculture scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year. With application periods opening on Jan. 1 for the majority of scholarships and some applications open now, here’s a list of opportunities aspiring Illinois agriculturalists can apply to:

Grain. The Illinois Grain and Feed Association of Illinois is providing $3,500 scholarships to students interested in grain merchandising, feed milling and more​. The deadline to apply through gfai.org is March 1.

Students will work four days at an association facility and provide two blog posts detailing their experiences. Students can suggest their preferred host. There’s also a three-day Summer Kickoff Tour Aug. 11-13, complete with site visits around the state, educational programs and social events. Applications are open to high school seniors and currently enrolled college students.

Compeer Financial. The high school senior scholarship program by Compeer Financial awards $1,500 agricultural scholarships to students based on the combination of an essay, academic achievement and involvement in the community. Apply through Compeer Financial’s website before the application period closes March 15. Entries are limited to the farm credit organization’s 144-county region, which includes northern and western Illinois.

Farm Credit. Farm Credit is offering 30 scholarships of $2,000 to high school seniors heading into their first year of college. Applicants must be interested in a career in agriculture and must be from one of the 66 counties in Farm Credit’s central and southern Illinois region. The deadline to apply through Farm Credit’s website is March 12.

IAA. As the giving arm of Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Agricultural Association Foundation is offering 78 scholarship awards across the state. One application puts you in the pool for one of several awards, ranging from $1,000 to $7,500. All applicants must be high school students graduating in 2021. Apply before the deadline of Feb. 15 at the IAA Foundation website.

FFA. Illinois FFA members can apply for the Charles (Chief) Ferguson Scholarship, available to graduating seniors planning to major in agriculture or enrolled in a program leading to a degree in agriculture at a two- or four-year college. Scholarships range from $500 to $1,000. Mail the completed application from Illinois FFA before May 1.

Women in ag. Women Changing the Face of Agriculture is offering two scholarships in Illinois. Agriculture education majors can access a $1,500 award. Another award for agriculture majors who attend the organization’s annual conference is worth $1,000. The conference scholarship is awarded twice, one for an incoming freshman in college and another for a graduate student. For more information or to apply before the March 31 deadline, go to the WCFA website.

Conservation. The Illinois Conservation Foundation is awarding up to four $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors. The deadline to apply through the Illinois Conservation Foundation’s website is March 1. Applicants must be able to provide specific examples of voluntary contributions to Illinois’ natural resources.

Pork. The Illinois Pork Producers Association will award nine scholarships for the 2021-22 term: three $2,000 scholarships, three $1,500 scholarships and three $1,000 scholarships. There are also sponsored awards, with four $2,000 awards through the Ryan and Friends scholarship, a $1,000 award through the Adam Fesser scholarship and 10 $2,500 scholarships through the Lois Britt Memorial scholarship fund. The latter is due by Jan. 4, while all other applications will open Jan. 1 and due in March.

Applicants must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate for 2021 to be eligible. Scholarships are open until March to students pursuing any undergraduate degree at any two-year or four-year college, but they must have also been a member of 4-H or FFA. Previous winners may apply again. Find more details at IPPA’s website.

4-H. Illinois 4-H Foundation is accepting applications for the livestock and Legacy of Leadership scholarships until March 1. Winners are chosen by the Illinois 4-H office and a selection committee. They require current enrollment in 4-H, with a minimum of five years of 4-H participation for the Legacy of Leadership scholarship and a three-year requirement for the livestock scholarship.

Applications can be high school students or those in an approved post-high school program: junior college, a four-year university or trade school. Applicants need two recommendations: One must be from a 4-H volunteer or a University of Illinois Extension staff member. The second must be from a high school or college staff member or an individual from the community. Apply online at the Illinois 4-H Foundation website.

America’s Farmers. High school seniors or college students can win a $1,500 scholarship supporting ag-related studies by earning two endorsements from local farmers. The deadline to apply for the America’s Farmers scholarship is Jan. 14, and farmers have until Jan. 21 to endorse students who have given them their verification code at FFA.org/scholarships. To be one of the 352 winners in 2021, students do not have to be FFA members. They need to be high school seniors or enrolled as full-time students in college.

Nascar and FFA. Nascar driver Clint Bowyer raised $10,138 racing his No. 14 Dekalb FFA Ford Mustang for a scholarship. Applications are open until Jan. 15 for the Dekalb, Asgrow and DeltaPine “Winning has Roots” award. Eligible students can visit FFA.org/scholarships to apply. Eligibility is limited to FFA members. Applications are open to high school seniors entering their freshman year in fall 2021 or full-time college students.

AgDay. The National Ag Day organization is offering two $1,000 scholarships for students in grades 9-12. Contestants must compose an original written essay or a video essay around the theme of “Food Brings Everyone to the Table. How is agriculture essential to bringing food to the table?” Entries are due at Ag Day’s website by Jan. 31.  The national video essay winner will receive a $1,000 award, while the written essay winner will receive $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. The contest is organized by the Agriculture Council of America, and scholarships are sponsored by Farm Progress, CHS Inc., Meredith Agrimedia and the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.

AFA. Agriculture Future of America is offering over 150 scholarship opportunities with one application and one application deadline: March 10. Awards vary but are at least $1,600 and include sponsorship to the 2021 AFA Leaders Conference in Kansas City, Mo., — worth $1,250. Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of career vision, community involvement and financial need. Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors and current undergraduate students enrolled in agriculture and food-related degree programs across the U.S. Apply online at agfuture.org.

Farmers Union. The National Farmers Union is offering several $1,000 to $2,000 scholarships to the children of its members in 2021. The deadline to apply is April 1 for the Stanley Moore national scholarships, the Hubert and JoAnn Seymour scholarship, and the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences committee scholarship. Each requires two letters of recommendation and essays. To apply online, go to nfu.org.

For a list of national scholarships, check out the FFA scholarship portal.