(Louisville, KY) – November 4, 2009 – Farm Credit Services of Mid-America – a $15.5 billion ag lending cooperative serving farmers and rural America in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee - re-affirmed its commitment to educational success by making over $100,000 in scholarships available to students studying agriculture during the 2010-2011 academic year.

 

In addition to offering scholarships through the 4-H and FFA and several Ag-related universities across the association’s four-state territory, Farm Credit awards 36 scholarships to FCS members or children of members who are majoring in agriculture at any four-year university. The values of the scholarships are between $1,000 and $1,500 and are awarded based on academic record, leadership qualities, and community involvement.

 

“Farm Credit recently re-evaluated its corporate giving guidelines and significantly increased spending in our local communities. Our corporate giving mission states that we will give priority to youth and young farmers in order to contribute to the long term success of agriculture, demonstrate the value of our cooperative to our members, and support our vision of being the lender of choice. We felt that helping young people with their education was a natural fit with this mission,” said Matt Walther, chair of the FCS board of directors. “Not to mention that as agriculture continues to grow and evolve, we want students to be at the forefront of the industry, and grow with it.”  

 

The scholarships will be awarded to students choosing to pursue careers in agriculture and are part of the cooperative’s stewardship program which involves returning greater value to rural America by increasing the association’s investment in education and youth activities.

 

Available to members, their dependents and spouses of the ag lending cooperative, the deadline to apply is February 26, 2010. Scholarships will be awarded in May. To apply, go online to www.e-farmcredit.com and click on Community Support to download the application (Scholarship Application and Information). You may also call 1-800-444-FARM to talk to the local office about obtaining an application.

 

Farm Credit Services of Mid-America is a $15.5 billion financial services cooperative serving over 85,500 farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. The association provides loans for all farm and rural living purposes including real estate, operating, equipment and housing and related services such as crop insurance and life insurance and vehicle, equipment and building leases. For more information about Farm Credit, call 1-800-444-3276 or visit them on the web at www.e-farmcredit.com.