Education Initiatives
Scholarships
OAC annually offers scholarships to assist students in pursuing a career in an agricultural-related field. Scholarships are available to high school seniors preparing to enter college or any undergraduate student currently enrolled in college. Applicants or their parent or legal guardian must be a resident of Ohio.
Scholarships are selected based on academic record, leadership qualities, community involvement and responses to application essay questions. Scholarship recipients are also provided a one-year complimentary student membership in OAC.
Scholarship applications for the 2021-22 school year will be available in fall 2020. Completed applications must be returned to the Ohio Agricultural Council by February 15, 2021.
Click here to download the 2021-22 scholarship application. To successfully complete and submit the application, download the Scholarship Instructions here. Scholarship FAQs are available to download here.
Youth Education
OAC is a proud sponsor of the Ohio Livestock Coalition's youth education program called For Your InFARMation. Designed to help third-grade students better understand where their food comes from, FYI focuses on how Ohio livestock farmers help feed our communities, our state and our world. All FYI materials can be downloaded free of charge at www.ForYourInFARMation.com.
OAC is also a supporter of many of Ohio's youth initiatives including the Ohio FFA.
2020-21 OAC Scholarship Recipients
Rachel Barrett
Rachel Barrett of
Rockford, Ohio is a recent graduate of Parkway High School and an
incoming freshman at The Ohio State University. With a passion for
passion for agriculture, food and science, and a particular concern
for food waste, Rachel chose Food Science and Technology as her
major. In her future career, Rachel hopes to help solve issues in
the food industry today, including food waste, insecurity, safety
and more.
Cora Dorman
Cora Dorman is the daughter of Brad and
Dr. Leah Dorman of Croton, Ohio, where she grew up on
a livestock and grain farm. She is attending The Ohio
State University to major in Agribusiness and Applied Economics and
minor in Agricultural Communication and Agronomy. Upon graduating,
she plans on working in agricultural banking or becoming a seed
consultant. She is passionate about the agricultural industry and
supporting those who grow and raise our food.
Faith Hagelberger
Growing up in
rural small-town Minster, Ohio, Faith Hagelberger developed an
appreciation for agriculture at a very young age. Heavy involvement
in 4-H and FFA led Faith to seek a professional career within the
livestock agriculture field. She currently studies Animal Sciences
at the Ohio State University on a pre-veterinary medicine track.
Faith plans to practice food animal medicine and one day teach as a
professor to fuel her passion for spreading knowledge.
Mekenzie Jolliff
Mekenzie Jolliff
of Kenton, Ohio is a recent graduate of Ridgemont High School and
started as a freshman at Wilmington College in fall 2020. Mekenzie
grew up on a small family farm, raising cattle and market hogs and
hopes one day to own her own beef breeding operation. As an
Agriculture Education major, Mekenzie will utilize her passion for
agriculture and spreading knowledge in her desired future career as
an agricultural education teacher.
Ethan Kaper
Ethan Kaper of
Baltimore, Ohio is a recent graduate from Liberty Union High School
and an incoming freshman at The Ohio State University. As an
Agricultural Engineering major, Etan is concerned with the
environmental impact of food production, including sustainable
farming practices, controlling nutrient runoff and preservation of
wildlife. In his future career, Ethan hopes to increase farmers'
knowledge about best management practices to increase the
efficiency and sustainability of food production.
Ryan Patton
Ryan Patton of
Logan, Ohio is a current student at The Ohio State University ATI
studying agriscience education, with the goal to become an
agriscience teacher and FFA program advisor. Throughout his youth
career, Ryan was heavily involved with agricultural organizations
like 4-H, FFA, Grange and Ohio Farm Bureau, which inspired him to
pursue a career in agriculture. Ryan is an active student on
campus, as a member of Collegiate FFA, Ohio State ATI's Homecoming
Court and many other groups.