Peoria County Farm Bureau Foundation 

     Peoria County Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarship -- Five scholarships offered each year to students studying for a career in an ag related field. Recipient recieves $1000 towards tuition and/or books. Students judged on participation in ag events, 4-H, and interest in agriculture.

Foundation Scholarships Awarded 2011 

           Peoria County Farm Bureau Foundation has awarded five $1000 scholarships.  The recipients are Max Bottenberg, Erin Ehnle, Kathryn Kellstadt, Blake Retherford, and Taylor Speckhart.

            Max Bottenberg is the son of Chuck and Ellyn Bottenberg of Princeville.  He will graduate from Princeville High School and plans to attend Illinois Central College to pursue a degree in the Diesel Power Equipment Technology program.  Max has been involved in FFA all four years of high school and currently works part-time at German-Bliss Equipment.  He has worked for Dick Johnson Farm Enterprises (his grandfather) for several years and has a longer term goal of becoming more involved in the business.

            Erin Ehnle is the daughter of Tony and Laura Ehnle of rural Edelstein.  She graduated from Princeville High School in May of 2010 and is currently enrolled at Illinois Central College where she has a double major in Ag Communications and Agribusiness Markets and Management.  Since last fall, Erin has put together monthly Ag Literacy packets for Peoria County 3rd-6th grade teachers.  Each month the topic covered a specific crop or farm animal and Erin put together a DVD (powerpoint) for teachers along with other ag literacy educational material.

            Kathryn Kellstadt is the daughter of Charles and Cynthia Kellstadt of Brimfield.  She will graduate from Brimfield High School where she has been an FFA member for four years.  Kathryn has been involved in 4-H for 10 years were she has held numerous leadership and officer positions.  She plans to pursue a degree in Animal Science/Pre-veterinarian by attending a local junior college this fall.  Kathryn has worked at her grandparents feeding the cattle and has developed a passion for caring for animals as a career.

            Blake Retherford is the son of Randall and Lori Retherford of Brimfield.  Blake will graduate from Brimfield High School and plans to attend Blackhawk East College this fall majoring in Agronomy.  Blake has been an FFA member four years serving as chapter President the last two years.  He has farm experience and after receiving a college degree would like to work for an agri-business.

            Taylor Speckhart is the daughter of Jeffrey and Beth Speckhart of Princeville.  Taylor will graduate from Princeville High School and plans to attend Western Illinois University in Macomb this fall with a long-term goal of working at a rural veterinary practice with both small and large animals.  She has served in 4-H and FFA for several years and most recently worked at the Wyoming Veterinary Service as a Co-op student.

            Since its inception in 1982, the Peoria County Farm Bureau Foundation has awarded over $65,000 to 80 students pursuing an agriculture related degree.  The Foundation is also financially supporting the Farm Bureau's Ag Literacy program.

For further information contact the Peoria County Farm Bureau at 309-686-7070

Click here to download Peoria County Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarship for 2011.

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IAA Foundation Scholarship Program:

     IAA Foundation General Scholarship: For the study of agriculture, agribusiness, or an ag-related major at any recognized university, college, or community college in or outside of Illinois. Five $1000 scholarships and one $1,100 scholarship will be awarded. One of the six may be awarded to a qualified student studying foreign trade.
     William J Kuhfuss Memorial Scholarship: Mr. Kuhfuss' family and friends established this scholarship fund to honor him for his many years of leadership in agriculture. One $1,200 award will be given to a student with an agricultural background or working toward an occupation in or related to agriculture at a post-secondary school in the state of Illinois.
     Dale E Butz Scholarship: The recipient of this scholarship will be a post-secondary student with a background in production agriculture who is majoring in agriculture, agribusiness, or agriculture related field. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of scholastic ability and financial need. One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded.
     Heartland NAMA Steven A Hammerschmidt Memorial Scholarship: Must be a US citizen. For junior or senior level college student majoring in agriculture or agri-business at an Illinois college or university, who is interested in a career in agricultural marketing, agricultural sales or agriultural communications. One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded.

University of Illinois Agriculture Scholarships

     Bennie L Johnson Scholarship: One $1000 scholarship awarded to a College of ACES student from Peoria or Knox Counties, with a preference given to a student active in the 4-H program. Funding in memory of Bennie Johnson, a lifelong farmer in Peoria and Knox County, who was an active 4-H Club leader and University of Illinois Extension member.
     Gordon E. and Doris L. Thompson Scholarship: One or more scholarships of varying amounts to College of ACES students from Knox or Peoria Counties, with preference given to graduates of Knoxville or Elmwood High Schools. Funds provided by Gordon Thompson, a 1941 graduate of the College of Agriculture, and his wife, Lee, a graduate of Millikin University.

1st Farm Credit Scholarships

     At The Heart of a Growing America Scholarship: 1st Farm Credit Services scholarships are designed to assist deserving high school seniors to further their education in an agriculture or agriculture-related field of study, and to help promote agriculture as a growing field of career opportunities. A total of 23, $1000 scholarships are awarded to students who live in the 42-county service territory of the association, which includes Peoria County. The deadline is typically in February of each year. For more information, go to www.1stfarmcredit.com or call 800-444-FARM.

Illinois Central College

     1st Farm Credit Services is pleased to offer our Community College Agricultural Scholarship program at Illinois Central College in East Peoria to assist deserving students to further their education in an agriculture or agriculture-related field of study, and to help promote agriculture as a growing field of career opportunities. A single, $500 agricultural scholarship is offered each year. A student must be accepted into an agriculture or agriculture-related curriculum at Illinois Central College. Selection is made by the community college. For more information, contact Illinois Central College Educational Foundation at 309-694-8420.

Illinois State University

     1st Farm Credit Services is pleased to offer the John Leatherbury Scholarship at Illinois State University. The $3,000 scholarship is given to a student with an agriculture major, with consideration of academic performance. The university selects the recipient. For more information contact the Illinois State University Agriculture Department. www.agriculture.ilstu.edu  

State of Illinois Agriculture Scholarships

     The office of the Illinois State Treasurer offers ten $2,500 Scholarships through the Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program to Illinois High School Seniors. The scholarships are funded through the Bright Start College Savings Program, which is a tax-exempt 529 college savings plan administered by the Treasurer's Office.
     Eligible students must: have a minimum 2.75 grade point average, have already been accepted to an accredited higher education institution in Illinois by May 15, and plan to pursue an agriculture-related major.
     Students must also submit a completed application, which is available at schools, farm bureaus or the offices of local state legislators. You can also find an application on the Treasurer's website  www.treasurer.il.gov  or call 217-557-6436.

National FFA Collegiate Scholarship Program.

     Each year the National FFA Organization awards more than $2 million in scholarships to members. Scholarships are given for a wide variety of experiences, career goals, and higher education plans. Grades are important, but the FFA combination takes into account the whole you. Your community service. Your FFA involvement. Your leadership skills. Your SAE. Talk with your FFA advisor and apply now. Go to the National FFA organization website for more information and an application. Application deadline is February 15.

Balloon Association of Greater Illinois

     The Balloon Association of Greater Illinois (BAGI) has established $500 scholarships as part of the Landowner Relations Program within the club. Members wanted to thank the farming community for allowing balloons to launch from or land on their property and to encourage and support young people who have chosen agriculture as their vocation. The program has been a good partnership between the farming community and balloonists. Past recipients' areas of interest include veterinary medicine, agronomy, agribusiness, and agricultural engineering. To access the eligibility requirements or application go to http://www.bagiballoon.org/ or call the Vermillion County Farm Bureau at (217) 442-8713 or Larry Owens at (217) 304-0827.