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Department of Agriculture

Scholarships

The Department of Agriculture offers scholarships to currently enrolled students and students entering the department as freshmen or community college transfers. Over $90,000 in scholarships were awarded in 2024. New scholarship recipients will be announced in March 2025.

Who Can Apply

  • Current Students

    Recipients must be enrolled as a full-time student and have a declared major in Agriculture with an established Illinois State grade point average.

    Applications due February 15th, 2025.

  • New/Incoming Students

    Recipients must be enrolling as a full-time freshmen or community college transfers with a declared major in Agriculture.

    Applications due February 1st, 2025.

Available Scholarships

  • Agriculture Alumni Association Scholarship

    • Preference to incoming freshman and then transfer students
    • Academic excellence
    • Leadership/participation in Department/College/University activities.

  • Agriculture Faculty Scholarship

    • Current or former State FFA officer or Section President
    • Concurrent participation in a departmental club or Agriculture Associates
    • Minimum 2.5 grade point average (4.0 scale)

  • CoBank Scholarship

    • Students majoring in Agribusiness

  • David E. Baker "Ag Leader of Tomorrow" Scholarship

    • Preference to incoming freshman and then transfer students
    • FFA/4H participation/leadership position at High School
    • Preference to students from Clifton-Central High School (IL). If no candidate from Clifton-Central High School, then preference is given to students from either Iroquois or Kankakee Counties.
    • Student must be at a grade level of: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior.
    • Scholarships will be awarded for the following term: one-time award

  • Dr. John Gary Erisman Memorial Scholarship

    • Minimum 2.75 grade point average (4.0 scale)
    • Student must demonstrate financial need
    • Preference given to students who plan to pursue a career in farming.
    • Scholarship may be awarded to students who plan to work in an agriculture related industry.

  • Dr. Kristian "KP" Philpotts Memorial Scholarship

    • Preference given to students majoring in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and/or Animal Science.
    • Minimum 2.80 grade point average (4.0 scale)
    • Preference given to a Junior or Senior student.
    • Student will write a short essay (no more than 300 words) about how having a more diverse environment in the veterinary and/or animal sciences areas would have a positive impact, encouraging people of color to pursue a career in that area.
    • Student must currently be receiving financial aid and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Students may file the FAFSA at https://www.usa.gov/fafasa.

  • Excellence In Agriculture Scholarship

    • Preference may be given to students with a record of high academic achievement as well as those concentrating in Agribusiness and/or serving as student members of the National Agri-Marketing Assocation (NAMA).
    • Preference may be given to students with a genuine and demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in the grain marketing industry.
    • Preference may be given to economically challenged students or those who are a member of an under-represented population in Agriculture.

  • GROWMARK Scholarship

    • Academic excellence
    • Commitment to agriculture
    • Recipient must attend following Growmark Annual Meeting

  • Harvey S. Woods Scholarship

    • Academic excellence
    • Student must demonstrate financial need

  • Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ISPFMRA) Scholarship

    • Sophomore or junior standing
    • Interest in farm management and/or rural appraisals, as exhibited by courses taken
    • Academic excellence
    • Recipient expected to attend ISPFMRA Annual Meeting Banquet

  • Jill (Gutshall) Walker Memorial Scholarship

    • Accepted for enrollment or enrolled in good standing at Illinois State University
    • Incoming freshman student with a declared major in agriculture.  Preference will be given to the following majors in agriculture: (1) animal science; (2) agronomy; (3) agriculture education.
    • Minimum 3.0 grade point average (4.0 scale)
    • Demonstrated financial need will be a special consideration

  • John Leatherbury Scholarship

    • Minimum 3.0 grade point average (4.0 scale)
    • Demonstrated strong academic performance based on high school, college, and/or university academic performance, ACT score, and other indicators.
    • May request that financial need also be considered.
    • Interest in agricultural finance, communications, or marketing is a plus.

  • John W. Green Scholarship

    • Scholarship recipients will be selected on merit.
    • For freshman or incoming students consideration will be given to ACT test scores, class ranks, and participation in school activities.
    • For current students their ISU record will be the major criteria.

  • Kelley Family Scholarship

    • Minimum 3.0 grade point average (4.0 scale)

  • McLean County Farm Bureau

    • Scholarship is awarded to an incoming freshman from McLean County majoring in agriculture.
    • There is no High School GPA requirements for this scholarship.
    • There is no essay required for this scholarship.
    • There is a leadership experience requirement in applying for this scholarship.

  • McLean County Farm Bureau Homegrown Ag Scholarship

    • Must be a resident of McLean County, IL graduating from High School in May 2023 or a graduate of a McLean County High School (permanent address/parent/guardian residence in McLean County).
    • All students who meet the criteria will receive $500/semester ($1,000 per year) for up to 4 semesters (or until completing 60 credit hours).
    • All students who meet the criteria will receive $1,000/semester ($2,000 per year) for up to 4 semesters (for 61 credit hours until degree completion or a 4th semester whichever comes first).
    • Eligible students will need to submit verification to McLean County Farm Bureau each semester, visit mcfb.org/scholarships for details.

  • Paul A. Funk Foundation Outstanding Freshmen Scholarship

    • This scholarship is awarded to the sophomore agriculture major with the best academic record during their freshman year at Illinois State University.
    • To be eligible, a student must have completed at least 30 hours but less than 60 hours with at least 30 graded hours at Illinois State University during their freshman year.
    • Achievements only during freshman year will be considered.

  • Paul A. Funk Foundation Outstanding Sophomore Scholarship

    • This scholarship is awarded to the junior agriculture major with the best academic record during his/her sophomore year at Illinois State University.
    • To be eligible, a student must have completed at least 60 total hours but less than 90 hours and at least 30 graded hours at Illinois State University during his/her sophomore year.
    • Achievements only during sophomore year will be considered.

  • Paul A. Funk Foundation Outstanding Junior Scholarship

    • This scholarship is awarded to the senior agriculture major with the best academic record during their junior year at Illinois State University.
    • To be eligible, a student must have completed at least 90 total hours and at least 30 graded hours during their junior year at Illinois State University.
    • Achievements only during the junior year will be considered

  •  Sommer-Enns Scholarship

    • Preference is given to students in majoring in Agribusiness.
    • Minimum 2.75 grade point average (4.0 scale).
    • Financial needs of students will be considred.
    • Applicants should be involved in school and/or community activities.
    • Applicants should be of good character.
    • Applicants must write an essay explaining why they should recieve the scholarship, their goals, and their past achievements.

  • Stephey Agriculture Scholarship

    • Minimum 3.0 grade point average (4.0 scale).

Additional Scholarship Information