Roundup: Texas Farm Bureau Scholarships
Gearing up for college is an exciting milestone in any young Texan’s life. But, even with a college fund, it’s likely that your young scholar will need a little extra help. In 2022-2023, it cost Texas students around $8,200, on average, for tuition and required fees at public four-year institutions in the state, according to the National Center for Education Statistics — and that’s not counting room, board, books, or other living expenses.
Being a Texas Farm Bureau member has its perks. But did you know those perks could extend to a college campus near you? As a member, your child could be eligible for scholarships in Texas. Each year, Texas Farm Bureau awards more than $532,000 in scholarships to deserving students across the state.
Here’s a closer look at some of Texas Farm Bureau’s scholarship offerings — and the requirements to apply.
Scholarship Opportunities for Texas High School Seniors
High school students can take advantage of these three Texas Farm Bureau scholarships.
Dick Mitchell Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
This is awarded to one high school senior who completes the Thrive event offered through Texas Farm Bureau’s Student Success Series. Through Thrive, students learn about the free enterprise system, leadership, and agricultural marketing, among other related topics.
Young Farmer & Rancher Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
This scholarship is awarded to one high school senior — in each of Texas Farm Bureau’s 13 districts — who intends to pursue a degree in agriculture.
Memorial/Honorary and District Scholarships
Amount: $1,500 or $1,000
In each of the 13 Texas Farm Bureau districts, one student will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship. Three students from each district also will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Scholarship Opportunities for Texas College Students
College students can take advantage of one of these four Texas Farm Bureau scholarships.
Mia Balko Student Teaching Scholarship
Amount: $1,500 awarded to four students
Each semester, four agricultural education students will receive a $1,500 scholarship to help cover their expenses during their semester-long off-campus student teaching assignment. The scholarship’s namesake, the late Mia Balko, was an agricultural science teacher before becoming Texas Farm Bureau’s director of youth outreach and scholarship coordinator.
Johanna Leduc, a Tarleton State University agricultural education student from Tarrant County, was a Fall 2024 recipient of the scholarship. “I try to help get others involved and make them feel welcomed in the agricultural community,” she says. “My goal is to make my future classroom an inclusive environment for all types of students to get involved in agriculture and feel supported in doing so.”
Rural Veterinary Scholarship
Amount: $10,000 awarded to four students
This award was established to help more veterinarians pursue animal medicine in rural communities. To apply, students should be:
- A veterinarian student at Texas A&M University or Texas Tech University
- Be in their second or third year in their program
- Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Plan to go into rural and/or food animal practice in Texas after graduating
S.M. True Jr. Agricultural Scholar Award
Amount: $20,000
This is the organization’s most prestigious award, named after a former Texas Farm Bureau president. To be eligible, students must be:
- Part of a Texas Farm Bureau member family for at least three years at the time of application
- An agriculture major
- Enrolled in an undergraduate degree program with at least 60 hours of college credit
Also, as part of their application, students should submit two letters of recommendation — one from the county Farm Bureau president and the other from the dean/agricultural department head of their college or university. Students should apply for this competitive scholarship toward the end of their sophomore year.
Texas State Technical College (TSTC) Scholarships
Amount: $50,000 total
This annual award offers $1,000 scholarships to 40 students on a first-come, first-serve basis through the Texan Success Scholarship. Then, there’s another $10,000 available through the Helping Hands scholarship, which helps students with unexpected costs not typically covered by traditional scholarships.
Learn more about Texas Farm Bureau’s scholarships in Texas. If you have questions about Texas Farm Bureau scholarships in Texas, contact youthactivities@txfb.org or call 254.751.2258.
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