Aiken County Farm Bureau Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Aiken County Farm Bureau

Aiken County Farm Bureau Scholarship — Program Overview

Each year Aiken County Farm Bureau awards two scholarships of $2,000 each to students pursuing undergraduate study in agriculture or agricultural-related fields. The goal of the program is to help students from farm families or agricultural backgrounds fund their education and to encourage development of leadership and service in agriculture and the community.

Who is eligible
- Applicants must be entering the upcoming academic year as a college sophomore, junior, or senior (rising sophomore/junior/senior) enrolled in an undergraduate agriculture or agriculturally related program at a two- or four-year college.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required.
- Aiken County Farm Bureau membership is mandatory: $40 for Family membership or $25 for Individual Youth membership. To join, visit scfb.org or contact Bethany Jones at 803-648-5421 or bethanyjones@scfbins.com.

Award details and disbursement
- Two recipients are selected annually; each receives $2,000.
- Funds are paid as $1,000 for the first semester and $1,000 for the second semester. Payments are made payable to both the student and the institution.
- Continued eligibility for the second-semester payment requires verification of enrollment and submission of a semester grade report showing at least a 2.5 GPA at the end of the first semester.

Selection process and required materials
- Recipients are chosen by the Aiken County Farm Bureau Scholarship Committee following guidelines approved by the County Board of Directors. Selection is based on character, leadership, and commitment to agriculture or related fields.
- Applications must include a recent photo and one or more letters of recommendation that address character and suitability for the award. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Judging rubric (current)
- Scholastic achievement: 35 points
- Agricultural involvement (activities, offices, school and community participation): 25 points
- Personal statement describing career goals and commitment to agriculture: 30 points
- Letters of recommendation (character references): 10 points

How to apply
- Deadline: Applications must be received by June 1 prior to the start of the first semester of the upcoming academic year.
- Submit completed applications by mail to: Aiken County Farm Bureau, PO Box 2097, Aiken, SC 29802; by email to bethanyjones@scfbins.com; or by fax to 803-641-1906.
- The application form is available by email upon request. All applications must be typed. If you re-type the application form, preserve the original question sequence and wording in full. Use a minimum 10-point font and at least ½-inch margins on all sides.
- All submitted application materials become the property of Aiken County Farm Bureau.

For more information or to request the application form, contact the county office or Bethany Jones at 803-648-5421 or bethanyjones@scfbins.com.