2026 Scholarship Application

Application Code

For FCI Use Only

Scholarship applicants must either reside - or their family must actively farm - in one of the 60 counties served by Farm Credit Illinois (FCI). To see a map of the service area (gray shaded area), click here: FCI Service Area.

To be eligible for the Farm Credit Illinois Agriculture Scholarship, confirm each of the following statements are true:*

I am currently a high school senior and plan to enroll at a college or trade school in the Fall of 2026.I plan to pursue a career and major in agriculture, food systems, or natural resources.I reside in one of the 60 southern Illinois counties served by Farm Credit Illinois - or my family farms in one of those counties.I do NOT have a parent or grandparent who is either a current member of the FCI Board of Directors or an FCI employee who consistently works 20 hours or more per week.

To save your work-in-progress and continue later, click Save at the bottom of the form and follow the prompts to complete the save process.
PLEASE NOTE: After clicking Submit, you will receive an email at the address listed on the application confirming receipt. Check your junk folder. Contact ask@farmcreditIL.com if you don't receive the confirmation email.
Email ask@farmcreditIL.com or call 217-590-2200 with questions. Applications due Friday, February 27, 2026.

Your Legal Name*

First NameMiddle NameLast NameSuffix

Preferred First/Nick Name (i.e., as on a nametag)*

Email*

Cell or Home Phone*

County of Residence *

Address

Which of the following is one of the counties where your family farms?*

Date of Birth*

Date

What is your racial or ethnic heritage?*

Other Heritage

If your family has a business affiliation with Farm Credit Illinois, please confirm with which office:*

Name of Parent(s) or Guardian(s)*

Please indicate if any of the following statements apply to you by checking the respective box:

I am the first in my family to pursue a major and career in agriculture.At least one of my parents has a career related to agriculture.My family owns or operates a farming enterprise.I have been a member of an FFA chapter.I have been enrolled in a 4-H club.

HIGH SCHOOL and ACADEMIC INFORMATION

High School Name*

High School City*

GPA *

as of end of 1st semester

Scale for an "A" Grade*

Other "A" Grade Scale*

While academic performance is not a component of the application evaluation, please share a statement about a high school subject or course you most enjoyed or found especially fascinating and how it may influence your future plans.*

WORK EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

List up to 3 work experiences you have had (i.e., farm labor, part-time or summer job, internship).

	Job Title	Responsibilities	Employer	Employment Dates
1
2
3

List any special skills or abilities you have acquired or are pursuing related to your career interests (i.e., animal care, small engine repair, training courses completed).

Provide a few facts about your family's farm operation or enterprise and describe any roles you play in contributing to the business.

How did your interest in agriculture, food systems, or natural resources develop?

PARTICIPATION, LEADERSHIP, & RECOGNITION

List up to 8 different activities or organizations you participated in through school, community, or industry involvement. Please provide clarity by spelling out unfamiliar abbreviations. Note any specific leadership roles or responsibilities you held, list any related awards or recognition you received, and which years you participated (i.e., 202-2025 or 2022-Present). The selection committee will be able to review your entire response in each field even though you may only see a partial response in a box.

	Activity or Organization	Leadership Roles	Awards or Recognition	Years Participated
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

FUTURE PLANS & GOALS

College or trade school expected to enroll in Fall 2026 semester. If you are undecided, which options are you considering? *

Other college or trade school:*

Expected academic major or program of study:*

What was the most important factor for choosing this college or school and program of study?

What specific career(s) do you expect to pursue after earning a degree or completing a program?

What other long-term professional or personal goals would you like to share?

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS, SUCCESSES, & POINTS OF PRIDE

List the four achievements or successes you are most proud of accomplishing or experiencing in your life so far.

1)

2)

3)

4)

PASSION FOR AGRICULTURE VIDEO

Create a 30-45 second video on your phone capturing your passion for agriculture. After a quick personal introduction, showcase one specific object (i.e. memento, place, project, person, plant, animal) you treasure and describe its significance and how it helped shape your commitment to agriculture. Upload your video via the Brandfolder link below.

UPLOAD YOUR VIDEO: BRANDFOLDER

Video guidelines:

Begin the video by sharing your name, high school, and anticipated school.
Ask a friend or family member to record you holding the phone horizontally. We want to hear your voice, see your face, and view the showcased object.
Video length should be no longer than 45 seconds. Points will be deducted for videos exceeding this length.
Keep it simple and speak from your heart. No technical editing skills required.

Uploading your video:

Follow the instructions to upload your video file to Brandfolder. Wait until you receive confirmation your video has successfully uploaded before closing the window.

If you encounter errors:

Try an alternative browser - Google Chrome is preferable.
Make sure your internet connection is reliable.
Check the video file type to ensure you are uploading an mp4 or mov file.

Upload your high quality digital JPEG head & shoulder photo

Select File

Confirmation of accuracy*

Please check the box to confirm all information provided in this application is accurate and was completed by the student scholarship applicant. In addition, you approve Farm Credit Illinois' use of the photograph, video, and information provided in this application for potential publication and recognition of the 2026 Farm Credit Illinois Agriculture Scholars.

REMINDER: These two items must be submitted by Feb. 27 for your application to be complete:

1. Scholarship Application- After submitting, a windown will come up confirming receipt of your application

2. Passion for Ag Video- Uploaded to Brandfolder