Freeborn County Corn and Soybean Growers Association will collaborate with Agriculture Future of America to support an agricultural scholarship program. Agriculture Future of America is a 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to helping support higher education and leader development of future agriculture producers and rural business leaders.

A local committee has raised funds to support the Agriculture Future of America Leader and Academic Scholarship for Freeborn County. According to a press release, Agriculture Future of America will leverage community fundraising efforts by soliciting corporations and foundations to provide financial resources to match community dollars. Since 1997, Agriculture Future of America’s partnerships have awarded more than $8 million in academic scholarships, provided leader training to nearly 10,000 students and young professionals.

The Agriculture Future of America Leader and Academic Scholarship is $4,200, consisting of a $3,200 academic scholarship. The additional $1,000 will sponsor Freeborn County recipients to the Agriculture Future of America Leaders Conference in Kansas City the November of the scholarship year.

Eligibility requirements for the two Freeborn County Corn and Soybean Growers Association Community Scholarships include Freeborn County resident seniors enrolling in an accredited college of agriculture. The application is available at www.agfuture.org/scholarships.

Agriculture Future of America, founded in the fall of 1996 by the late R. Crosby Kemper Jr., is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to enhancing the education and leader potential of rural youth in the Midwest region through community-based scholarships, Agriculture Future of America provides leader and career development training and internship assistance to college students across the country.

In addition to two Agriculture Future of America Scholarships there is also an additional $1000 cash scholarship, but all applicants should apply online through www.agfuture.org/scholarships.

The scholarships are made possible through the funds raised at the Freeborn County Ag Open golf event in August. It is organized by members from the Freeborn County Corn and Soybean Growers Association, Freeborn County Cattlemen’s Association, Freeborn County Pork Producers and the Freeborn County American Dairy Association.

Deadline for the Freeborn County scholarships is March 13.