Monsanto Company recently announced its launch of the America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders scholarship program, to get students in rural America excited about careers in agriculture. America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, presented by Monsanto in connection with the National FFA Scholarship program, offers students the chance to earn a $1,500 scholarship for college.
“With $1,500 to put toward their college education, students will be better prepared to make a meaningful contribution that benefits them, their rural hometowns and the future of the agricultural industry,” said Elizabeth Vancil, Monsanto customer advocacy outreach manager.
Agriculture is more than just farming — it’s thousands of careers in a variety of fields, including plant science, engineering, communications, finance and much more — and the Grow Ag Leaders scholarship is available to students pursuing these and many other agricultural majors. In North Carolina alone, 690,000 people are employed in farming-related jobs according to the North Carolina Animal Agriculture Coalition.
Monsanto recognizes and supports the role farmers play in the future of agriculture, so each Grow Ag Leaders applicant must have three farmers endorse his or her application. Eligible farmers can also help generate student interest in agricultural careers by spreading the word about this scholarship opportunity to eligible students in their communities and families.
North Carolina was chosen to pilot the Grow Ag Leaders program and is one of only six states receiving the opportunity for scholarships this year. Forty-three North Carolina counties are eligible for the program. Unless there are insufficient entries, 12 scholarships, totaling $18,000, will be awarded in North Carolina. Rowan and Iredell county residents are eligible.
A list of all 264 eligible counties within the 36 CRDs, and a full list of student and farmer eligibility requirements can be found at GrowAgLeaders.com.
Eligible students should visit FFA.org/scholarships to complete the application, between Nov. 15 and Feb. 1, 2014, and for complete program information. Eligible farmers should visit FFA.org/scholarships or call 877-267-3332 before Feb. 8, 2014, to endorse a student. Farmers must have the student’s scholarship application ID to complete the endorsement. No purchase is necessary to apply or win.