By Julie Tomascik
Editor
College students pursuing a degree in Agricultural Education and preparing to student teach off campus can apply for scholarships from Texas Farm Bureau (TFB).
The state’s largest general farm and ranch organization created the Student Teaching Award, which will provide scholarships valued at $1,500 to four senior Agricultural Education students during the fall semester of off-campus student teaching.
“Student teaching full time in the classroom is an invaluable experience,” Mia Balko, TFB director of Youth Outreach, said. “During that semester, future agricultural science teachers are learning how a classroom operates, while working alongside an experienced teacher.”
During the student teaching experience, the college senior often is unable to have a job and is not always placed at a school district in close proximity to their home or university.
“When student teachers are in the classroom all day, it’s tough to have another job,” Balko said. “Many of these student teachers also have to travel long distances, but Texas Farm Bureau’s scholarship aims to help with the financial burden those students who are preparing for careers in agriculture might face.”
There are currently more than 2,000 full-time agricultural science teachers in Texas and over 1,100 active FFA chapters. Additional FFA chapters are chartered each year, leading to more teaching positions opening across the state.
“Teaching agricultural science is an in-demand profession,” Balko said. “Texas Farm Bureau is helping students prepare to fill those roles as agricultural teachers and community leaders.”
The application is available online at my.texasfarmbureau.org.
Applications must be submitted on or before midnight March 5.
The scholarship 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.
Click here for the recommendation form and the scholarship checklist.
More information and eligibility requirements are available online at texasfarmbureau.org/youth/youth-opportunities.
Scholarship winners will be announced in May.
Four scholarships will also be awarded in the fall of 2021 to seniors majoring in Agricultural Education and going into their student teaching semester. Details on those scholarships will be released later this year.
More information on scholarships for enrolled college students is available on the Youth Opportunities page.