The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation has more than $70,000 in scholarships available to Ohio students from rural, suburban and urban communities who are pursuing degrees connected in some way to agriculture.

Through 10 programs, about 50 scholarships will be awarded. The deadline to apply online is Feb. 28. All of the scholarship applications require letters of recommendation, an essay, school transcripts and photos.

The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation Scholar Award recognizes students for academic effort, community service and career interests that use agriculture to enhance the partnership between producers and consumers in rural, suburban and  urban settings.

The foundation’s Women's Leadership in Agricultutre Scholarship is awarded to applicants who may not be majoring in agriculture directly, but whose chosen career field will benefit a field related to agriculture or community development such as food production, scientific research, education and outreach, marketing, policymaking, advocacy or leadership development. The program was established by an endowment from the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, trustee.

The namesake of the John C. "Jack" Fisher Scholarship, Jack Fisher, believes in this saying from Murray Lincoln, Ohio Farm Bureau first executive vice president: “People have within their own hands the tools to fashion their own destiny.” His vision for this scholarship is to enable individuals to acquire the necessary tools for a more fulfilling life. Funding for this scholarship comes from the contributions made through the Fisher Fund for Lifelong Learning.

Known as “Mr. Farm Bureau” to his family and friends, Kenny Walter devoted 34 years of his life to OFB. The Kenny Walter Scholarship is awarded to students pursuing postsecondary education in agriculture who come from a Farm Bureau family in the 29 northeastern counties Walter covered as a regional supervisor and organization director.

The Darwin Bryan Scholarship Fund was established in 1985 in honor of Darwin R. Bryan, whose enthusiastic leadership during his 37 years of service to Ohio Farm Bureau has been an inspiration to rural youths throughout Ohio. The scholarship fund assists students who have been active in the Farm Bureau youth program and/or whose parents are Farm Bureau members.

The Cindy Hollingshead Scholarship Fundwas established in 2011 to honor Cynthia Anne “Cindy” Hollingshead for her 39 years of service as executive secretary of OFB, as well as a lifetime of volunteer commitment to local government and community service activities. The objective of the scholarship fund is to assist students who plan to pursue careers focusing on agriculture, community service or association leadership.

More opportunities

In addition, the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation is offering four new scholarship opportunities this year.

The Richard and Carole Cocks Scholarship is intended to recognize those students who come from areas that provide a great deal through farming. This scholarship will award four annual scholarships of $2,500 to deserving students from select rural Ohio counties. Each scholarship award is renewable for up to four years and a total of $10,000 per student.

The Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association Scholarship comes from the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, a nonprofit trade association representing 2,500 thoroughbred owners and trainers who race at Ohio’s three commercial thoroughbred racetracks. The objective of the scholarship fund is to assist students who plan to pursue careers focusing on food or agriculture.

The Dr. David A. Benfield Scholarship Fund was established in 2019 by colleagues and friends of David Benfield to honor his 17-year career as associate director of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Library, and associate vice president and director of Ohio State University’s Wooster campus in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. It also honors his passion for agricultural education and research. The scholarship is specifically for students in livestock and crop sciences at OSU’s Agricultural Technical Institute. The purpose of this scholarship fund is to provide $1,000 to students entering their second year at OSU ATI who are enrolled in livestock- and crop-related majors.

The Joseph Kelly Memorial Scholarship was established in 2018 to honor the life of Joseph Kelly and to continue his legacy of generosity and service. The Joseph Kelly Memorial Scholarship is an annual, merit-based competition that focuses on rewarding students pursuing degrees related to agriculture.

Interested individuals may apply online at ofbf.org/scholarships. The deadline is Feb. 28. For more information about the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, contact Luke Houghton, OFBF director of development, at 614-246-8254.

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