Agricultural college students can now apply for Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) S.M. True Jr. Agricultural Scholar Award.

The $20,000 scholarship honors the former TFB president and his commitment and dedication to Texas agriculture. The scholarship is a tribute to his leadership, positive attitude and spirit of optimism.

True worked tirelessly through Farm Bureau and believed it was the organization that best represented agriculture because of its grassroots orientation.

Applications for this year’s scholarship must be postmarked by March 1.

“The late S.M. True was an outstanding leader who inspired others to follow,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “He was a beacon of optimism for farmers and ranchers, always saying agriculture’s best days are yet ahead. This scholarship in his memory seeks students who share this attitude and optimism.”

The scholarship is presented annually to one recipient enrolled in a four-year college or university who has at least 60 hours of college credit. To receive the full amount of the scholarship, the recipient must continue to major in agriculture and maintain a satisfactory grade point average.

Applicants must be a member of a TFB family with a continuous membership for at least three years at the time of application. A completed application and two letters of recommendation—one from the county Farm Bureau president and one from the dean or head of the agriculture program department of the applicant’s college or university—are also required.

True served as TFB president from 1982 to 1993.

He began his farming career with his wife, Anna Jean, in Hale County. He grew cotton, wheat, feed grains and beef cattle and continued a keen interest in agricultural issues until his death in 2012.

The award is payable in $5,000 increments for each semester of the scholar’s junior and senior year. The award will be paid directly to the college or university unless there are special circumstances.

Other scholarships are also available.

Three $2,000 scholarships are available statewide to college students who have a minimum of 45 semester hours. The Young Farmer & Rancher Scholarship for Enrolled College Students is awarded based on academic achievement and the applicant’s desire to pursue a career in an agricultural field.

The Dick Mitchell Memorial Scholarship is valued at $1,000. It’s awarded to a junior or senior in high school who has attended TFB’s Youth Leadership Conference in Stephenville.

One student in each of TFB’s 13 districts is also awarded a $1,000 Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) scholarship based on academic achievement and the applicant’s desire to pursue a career in an agricultural field.

In addition to the YF&R scholarship, four applicants from each district will be awarded a scholarship through the Texas Farm Bureau Memorial/Honorary Scholarship and District Scholarship program. Scholarships awarded are based on academic achievement and the completion of a project that promotes agriculture.

Of the top four applications judged per each of the 13 TFB districts, the highest ranked applicant will receive a scholarship valued at $1,200. The remaining three top applications for each district will receive a scholarship valued at $1,000 each.

“Our scholarships help our youth on their path to achieve their goals,” Gipe said. “In that process, we’re helping Texas agriculture by developing educated, driven leaders who will take our industry forward.”

This year’s scholarships must be postmarked by March 1 to Gipe. Faxed and emailed applications will not be accepted.

County Farm Bureaus also provide more than $450,000 in scholarships to their members. Contact the local county Farm Bureau office for details on these scholarships.

For more information on scholarships available through TFB, contact Jamie Gipe at jgipe@txfb.org or visit the Youth Opportunities web page.