Ag Committee, AFA Partner to Create Scholarships
The McPherson Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee has collaborated with the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) since 2001 to support an agricultural scholarship program. AFA is a 501 ( C) 3 corporation dedicated to helping support higher education and leader development of future agriculture producers and rural business leaders. Founded in 1996, AFA works to create partnerships in rural communities where agribusinesses, educational institutions, government agencies, associations and individuals raise funds for agriculture scholarships and promote leader development.
The Chamber Agriculture Committee has provided 17 scholarships totaling $45,785, and 7 Leaders Conference tuitions amounting to $7,000 since 2001. Funds are raised to support the partnership for the McPherson County scholarship, which AFA will match the community funds. The AFA Leader and Academic Scholarship is $4,200, consisting of a $3,200 academic scholarship and the additional $1,000 will sponsor a McPherson County recipient to the AFA Leaders Conference in Kansas City the following November. The McPherson County wide scholarship fund are raised from county-wide donations, proceeds from Farm Forum and When Pigs Fly BBQ Contest & Fly In.
In addition to the AFA scholarship match, the McPherson Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee has an endowment, “Tom Hunter AFA Scholarship Fund”, established with the McPherson County Community Foundation to assist in funding the annual scholarship as well.
Eligibility requirements for the McPherson County AFA Community Scholarship include any senior in McPherson County enrolling in an accredited college of agriculture.
Applications are available at www.agfuture.org and must be submitted by March 10. For more information contact Jennifer Burch, McPherson Chamber of Commerce, at 620-241-3303.