By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

College students majoring in agricultural education who are preparing to student teach in spring 2026 can apply for Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Mia Balko Student Teaching Scholarship.

Each semester, TFB awards four scholarships valued at $6,000 to help offset the cost of their off-campus student teaching experience.

“Student teaching can be both an exciting and challenging time,” McKenna Bush, TFB Youth Outreach coordinator, said. “Texas Farm Bureau is committed to helping future agricultural science teachers who will inspire and engage students about the importance of agriculture.”

These scholarships aim to ease financial stress during the student teaching semester, when students are typically unpaid and unable to work part-time jobs. Some are placed far from home or campus, adding travel and living expenses to an already demanding semester.

“Agricultural science teachers play a critical role in developing students’ understanding and appreciation for agriculture,” Bush said. “By easing the financial burden on student teachers, TFB is helping them focus on what matters most as they prepare to educate and empower the next generation of agricultural leaders.”

The application is available online through the MyTFB membership portal at my.texasfarmbureau.org.

Pre-service agricultural science teachers who are students teaching in spring 2026 are encouraged to apply.

The application includes a written essay, several short answer questions and a recommendation form from a college or university supervisor.

The student must be part of a TFB member-family to qualify, and that membership must be maintained for the duration of the scholarship.

Applications must be submitted by Oct. 31.

The student teaching scholarship winners will be announced in mid-December.

More information is available at texasfarmbureau.org/scholarships.