Scholarship Applications

Application period now closed for Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarships

The Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County will award more than $50,000 in scholarships this year to deserving students studying agriculture or an agricultural-related field at a four year college, junior college or vocational school. The Farm Bureau Foundation’s mission is to encourage – and financially assist – young people for rewarding careers in agriculture or a closely related field.

Last year there were more than 40 applicants from Sonoma and Marin counties for the scholarships administered by the Farm Bureau Foundation. Scholarships were awarded to 33 students. All of the scholarship winners were top students, excelling in academic, leadership and community service achievements.

In 2012, Joseph Stefenoni, an outstanding member of the FFA and 4-H programs who graduated from Analy High School and SRJC, received $4,000 in scholarships from the Farm Bureau Foundation for his education at Oklahoma State University. Stefenoni is studying agriculture economics. His career goal is to become an agricultural lobbyist.

"Farm Bureau scholarships provide a level of support to my education that I am ever thankful for. The scholarships I've been awarded have given me the opportunity to go to my "dream school", Oklahoma State University,” said Stefenoni. “Between the cost of out-of-state tuition and living expenses, I wouldn't be able to continue my education without the support of Farm Bureau Scholarships."

This semester Stefenoni is taking Farm and Agribusiness Management, Ag Finance, American Ag Policy and Rural Economic Development. He is a member of the Dairy Science Club and Aggie-X Club, an organization for agriculture economics majors at Oklahoma State University.

Farm Bureau Foundation thanks the individuals, organizations and businesses funding this year’s scholarships. The financial assistance will help prepare a new generation for the challenges facing agriculture in a rapidly changing world.

View the 2012 Scholarship Recipients. [More...]

The Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County is proud to offer Scholarships for 2013 that include the following:

Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County - $10,000 in scholarships will be awarded to Sonoma County students majoring in agriculture.
Jess Stonestreet Jackson Memorial Scholarship - $4,000 in scholarships will be awarded to
Sonoma County students majoring in agriculture
Tamara Lewis Benson Memorial Scholarship - $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma County student majoring in agriculture.
John Jordan Foundation Scholarship - $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma County student majoring in agriculture.
Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards Scholarship - $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma County student majoring in agriculture, preferably viticulture science or enology.
Lex & Peggy McCorvey Scholarship - $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma County student majoring in agriculture.
End-of-the Road Gang Scholarship - $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma County student majoring in agriculture.
American AgCredit Scholarship – $2,000 in scholarships to Sonoma or Marin County residents for the study of agriculture, preferably agribusiness.
Herbert Burbank Jr. Memorial Scholarship - $2,000 scholarship to a Sonoma or Marin county student for the study of agriculture, preferably agriculture mechanics.
Sonoma County Vineyard Technical Group – $1,500 in scholarships to Sonoma County students for the study of viticulture or a related field.
Dick Weber Sunrise Farms Scholarships -$1,500 scholarship will be awarded to Sonoma or Marin County student majoring in agriculture, poultry science or a closely related vocational field.
Art Lafranchi Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma or Marin County student for the study of agriculture, preferably dairy science.
Al Nissen Sunrise Farm Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to Sonoma or Marn County student majoring in agriculture, poultry science or a closely related vocational field.
Roy King Dairymens Feed Scholarship – $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma or Marin County student for the study of agriculture, preferably dairy science or management.
Supervisor Efren Carrillo Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma County student for the study of agriculture.
Chris Maloney Crop Insurance Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma or Marin county student for the study of agriculture.
Friedman’s Home Improvement Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma County student for the study of agriculture.
Holtz Family Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Sonoma County student for the study of agriculture.
Jerry and Don’s Yaeger Pump & Well Scholarship: $1,000 scholarship to a Sonoma or Marin County student for the study of agriculture.
Clover-Stornetta Farms Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship to a Sonoma or Marin county student for the study of agriculture, preferably dairy science.
Mark Furusho Memorial Scholarship – $1,000 scholarship to a Sonoma County student majoring in agriculture, preferably plant science.
Isolena Maestretti and Bernice Beretta Memorial Scholarship – One $1,000 scholarship to a Sonoma or Marin county student mstudying agriculture, preferably dairy science.
Patricia Ryan Memorial Scholarship – $1,000 scholarship to a Sonoma County student for the study of agriculture, preferably animal science.
Keith Michael Phillips Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship to a Sonoma County student for the study of agriculture.
Art Weyers Memorial Scholarship – $1,000 scholarship to a Sonoma County student majoring in agriculture.
Petaluma Creamery Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship to a Sonoma
County student majoring in agriculture.
North Coast/California Association of Pest Control Advisors - One $500 scholarship to a Sonoma County student majoring in agriculture, preferably plant science.
Marin County Farm Bureau Scholarship - $500 scholarship to a Marin County student majoring in agriculture.

All of the above scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors, Santa Rosa Junior College students or continuing four-year college students who have or will have a major in Agriculture or an Agriculture-related field. The Sonoma County Vineyard Technical Scholarships are limited to students studying viticulture or a related field in the wine industry. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 is required for all scholarship applicants.

The Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County also administers several other scholarships that have slightly different criteria. These include the:

Bob & Leslie Kunde Memorial Scholarship
$10,000 Scholarship with $2,500 awarded annually over four years to a student studying agriculture or agriculture- related field. The award is sponsored by Jeff and Keith Kunde and Marcia Kunde Mickelson, the children of Bob and Leslie Kunde.The award is based on involvement and enthusiasm for agriculture, work ethic, leadership, sportsman-like conduct and overall achievement.
Applicants must be a Sonoma County high school senior or enrolled at a junior college or four year university. Applicants must have been an active member of the 4-H or FFA and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. The student must take at least 12 units per semester and maintain a 2.5 GPA to receive the scholarship funding each year.
In addition to the regular scholarship application and essay, applicants for the Kunde Scholarship must write an additional essay of 400 to 500 words. The essay topic is:
What do you feel is the biggest issue facing production agriculture today?
Please note that finalists for the Kunde Scholarship will be interviewed by the Kunde family at a time and date to be announced. The interview with the Kunde family is in addition to the interview before the Farm Bureau Foundation scholarship selection committee.
Royal Petroleum “Flying A” Scholarship
A $2,000 scholarship that pays $500 a year for up to four years of college study. This multi-year scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors or continuing college students from Sonoma or Marin counties. Students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.50.
Sonoma-Marin Cattlewomen & Cattlemen Mona Chisholm Memorial Scholarship
One $1,000 scholarship. Applicants must meet the following criteria: Must have graduated from high school in Sonoma or Marin County and participated in the FFA or 4-H programs. Students must have a minimum grade point average 2.50.