Farm Credit Illinois offers scholarships, grants
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">High school seniors pursuing a career in agriculture are invited to apply for a $1,500 Farm Credit Illinois agriculture scholarship. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Twenty-four scholarships will be given in 2016 with two recipients designated as Urban Agriculture Scholars.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Scholarship selections are based on a combination of academic achievement, participation and leadership in school and community organizations and the applicant’s commitment to an agricultural career. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Applicants must be high school seniors enrolling in a college or university during the 2016 fall semester to pursue an agriculture-related academic major and career. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Applicants must reside in, or immediate family must farm in, one of 60 central and southern counties in Illinois served by FCI. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Recipients will receive an initial $1,000 credit on their college student account for the fall 2016 semester and an additional $500 will be paid in the fall 2018 semester to students who continue to pursue an agricultural degree.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Farm Credit Illinois is also inviting 4-H clubs and FFA chapters organizing projects to apply for a $250 Farm Credit Illinois Community Improvement Grant.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Up to 60 $250 grants will be awarded to assist youth members in bringing positive change to their local community. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Clubs should choose a project that delivers tangible value where the outcome is visible. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Farm Credit encourages collaboration with other local organizations to develop and complete the improvement project.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">FCI scholarship and grant programs online applications for the scholarship and grant programs are available at farmcreditIL.com and must be submitted by Feb. 29, 2016. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Questions or requests for additional information may be sent to info@farmcreditIL.com.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Farm Credit Illinois is a farmer owned and directed agricultural lending cooperative serving 8,500 farm families, agribusinesses, and rural landowners in the southern 60 counties of Illinois.</span></p>