The Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation has multiple scholarships available to Ohio students from rural, suburban and urban communities who are pursuing degrees with a connection to the agricultural industry.
Through 14 scholarship funds, nearly 50 awards will be made to deserving students. The deadline to apply online at ofbf.org/foundation/scholarships is March 31.
The Bruce and Carlene Patterson Agricultural Scholarship was established to provide scholarship support to deserving individuals in perpetuity, opening the door to education by removing the financial barriers that may keep someone from pursuing a career in agriculture or related fields and/or obtaining the training needed to grow their skills within the agricultural workforce. Application closing dates are March 31 and Oct. 31 each year.
The Yvonne Lesicko Memorial Scholarship was established in honor of Yvonne Lesicko, Ohio Farm Bureau’s vice president of public policy, who passed away in 2020. The income from this endowment provides scholarship assistance in perpetuity to students majoring in agricultural and environmental policy or agriculture-related fields, such as food production, scientific research, education/outreach, policymaking, advocacy or leadership development for women.
In honor of the legacy of Dr. C. William Swank, who served as Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president from 1968-96, Ohio Farm Bureau created the Bill and Helen Swank Scholarship. During his 40-year career with Farm Bureau, Swank helped Ohio Farm Bureau grow into the advocacy organization it is today while keeping the economic and social well-being of farm families top of mind.
The Richard & Carole Cocks Scholarship is intended to recognize students for academic effort, community service and career interests that use agriculture to enhance the partnership between producers and consumers in rural, suburban and/or urban settings.
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/or urban settings.
The Darwin Bryan Scholarship Fund was established in 1985 in honor of 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 was established in 2011 to honor Cynthia Anne “Cindy” Hollingshead for her 39 years of service as executive secretary of Ohio Farm Bureau, as well as a lifetime of volunteer commitment to local government and community service activities. The objective of the scholarship is to assist students who plan to pursue careers focusing on agriculture, community service or association leadership.
The Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association is a nonprofit trade association representing 2,500 thoroughbred owners and trainers who race at Ohio’s three commercial thoroughbred race tracks. The objective of The Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association Scholarship 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 Benfield to honor his 17-year career as associate director of OARDC and associate vice president and director of the Wooster campus in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and his passion for agricultural education and research. The scholarship is specifically for students in livestock and crop sciences at ATI.
In addition, many county Farm Bureaus have their own scholarship programs. To view all scholarship opportunities, visit ofbf.org/foundation/scholarships.
For more information about the scholarships that Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation offers, contact Kelly Warner at 614-246-8205.
Submitted by Ty Higgins, media relations, Ohio Farm Bureau.
