The Bureau County Farm Bureau Foundation is pleased to announce that they are offering scholarships to area students majoring in agriculture. Over the last seventeen years, the Foundation has awarded $41,750 to forty two deserving college students. Last year alone the Foundation distributed $6,000 to area students.

Again this year is a general student and graduate student scholarship, which will benefit Bureau County students who wish to further their education in agriculture. Application requirements are the same for both scholarships.

In addition to the scholarship program, the Foundation also helps local teachers with agricultural classroom programs. As well as help fund a Summer Ag Institute for teachers. The Summer Ag Institute teaches teachers about agriculture and how they can incorporate agriculture into their lesson plans for their classroom.

To be eligible for the scholarships, students must be a Bureau County Farm Bureau member or a dependent of a Bureau County Farm Bureau member and must be pursuing a degree in an agricultural related field.

Applications are available by contacting the guidance counselors at school systems in Bureau County, the Ag advisor at the school, advisors at state colleges and universities or by contacting the Bureau County Farm Bureau office. Applications are also available by e-mail if you contact the Farm Bureau office. Applications need to be postmarked by February 24, 2012. If the application will be hand delivered to the office, it must be in the office by 4:00 p.m., February 24, 2012. For more information or to receive an application contact the Bureau County Farm Bureau at (815) 875-6468.