Graduating high school seniors interested in agricultural careers will soon have the opportunity to apply for one of 105 scholarships worth $2,000 each from Compeer Financial. The program, spanning 144 counties across Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, opens for applications Dec. 15.
To qualify, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA, live within Compeer's service territory, and have an agricultural major, interest, or background. The application requires a current transcript and an essay addressing either agriculture's importance to national well-being or challenges facing rural America.
"We are proud to support the future of agriculture and our rural communities through our high school scholarship program," said Karen Schieler, manager of Compeer Giving. "Equally as important is encouraging urban students to pursue careers in agricultural fields."
The program reserves one scholarship per state specifically for students from metropolitan regions, including Cook County in Illinois, Hennepin and Ramsey counties in Minnesota, and Milwaukee County in Wisconsin.
Applications close Feb. 15, 2026, with winners announced six weeks later. Since 2018, Compeer's Fund for Rural America has provided nearly $1.5 million to almost 1,000 students pursuing agricultural education.
