Best Grants For Agricultural Education in Iowa

Students pursuing agriculture-related education at accredited colleges or nonprofit technical schools in Illinois, Missouri, or Iowa can apply for the Delford M. & Portia K. Richter Agriculture Scholarship, awarding US $4,000 for tuition and related costs. Eligible applicants must be bona fide residents or high school graduates of Pike or Calhoun County, Illinois, planning agricultural careers.

Iowa youth educators developing innovative sustainable agriculture programming for young people can apply for Youth Educator Grants up to US $6,000. Focused on agricultural education, North Central Region SARE invites projects that test new lessons or methods and share results with other educators to strengthen sustainable farming education across the North Central Region.

Colleges and universities in Iowa and other CHS trade-area states can seek support for agricultural education projects focused on data analytics and precision agriculture. CHS Foundation supports initiatives that enhance agronomy or ag mechanics/engineering programs, curricula, and hands-on learning, helping prepare students to design, operate, and maintain advanced agricultural technology and data systems.

Iowa agricultural education and youth-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Iowa can access funding for events, programs, and fundraisers that highlight agriculture, farm families, youth leadership, and community health. Iowa Farm Bureau Federation sponsorships support initiatives that strengthen rural communities, promote agricultural education, and encourage health and wellness across the state.

Focused on agricultural education and rural services, Farm Credit Services of America invites Iowa nonprofits and community organizations to apply for Working Here Fund grants, with awards up to US $25,000. Eligible projects include ag education, hunger and nutrition initiatives, and rural disaster relief or essential services that benefit communities within the FCSAmerica service area.

Students in agricultural-related majors from Minnesota who are entering their 3rd or 4th year at eligible four-year colleges in Iowa or nearby states can receive $2,000 for their studies. Grants from CommunityGiving help support higher education in agricultural fields, which may benefit those focused on agricultural education in Iowa.

Iowa agricultural education and youth leadership programs can seek support for projects focused on ag education, leadership, or career training from high school through young professionals. Focused on agricultural education, CHS Foundation invites initiatives that build ag leadership and cooperative education, especially regional or national efforts that impact multiple eligible states including Iowa.

Youth agricultural groups and organizations in Iowa can receive US $800 to design and lead farm safety and health education projects, with adults serving as mentors. University of Iowa’s I-CASH Youth Grant supports creative initiatives that raise awareness about rural hazards, injury prevention, and health issues among farmers and other young people in their communities.

Nonprofit and educational programs offering agricultural cooperative education in Iowa can seek support for program-related costs, professional development, and hands-on learning. With a mission to strengthen cooperative education, CHS Foundation provides funding for innovative, tech-enabled projects that reach youth and young producers and have state or national impact within its broader trade area.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with $100,000+ budgets in Iowa communities served by RBC Wealth Management can seek funding for workforce skills, youth development, inclusive prosperity, and environmental sustainability programs. RBC Foundation USA provides support for initiatives like agricultural and vocational education, job readiness, financial well-being, and community or environmental improvements with clear pathways to sustained impact.

Iowa 501(c)(3) nonprofits running community programs in agriculture, education, food access, health, or public safety can apply for the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation’s Corporate Giving Program for requests up to US $1,000. Eligible projects must be endorsed by a Perdue associate and benefit the broader community.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Iowa can request more than US $1,000 to support agriculture, environmental stewardship, education, hunger and poverty relief, health, social services, and public safety programs. Focused on responsible food and agriculture, Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation especially supports communities where its associates live and work, which may include agricultural education initiatives.

High school seniors from specified Marshall County, Indiana school districts planning to major in mathematics can receive scholarship support for higher education, including students with agricultural or 4-H backgrounds. Grants from Marshall County Community Foundation help students pursuing college or university studies, and Iowa agricultural education programs may find this relevant when advising eligible graduates relocating or comparing opportunities.

Students pursuing agricultural studies in Iowa can access scholarship support through the Culver Young Farmers Agricultural Scholarship, which focuses on higher education in agricultural fields. Marshall County Community Foundation offers one or more annual awards, with potential renewals based on the Scholarship Advisory Committee’s recommendation and continued fulfillment of recipient qualifications.

Thurman G. Adams and Hilda McCabe Adams Family Scholarship

Award:

• One-time award of $1,000.

Students pursuing agricultural education who reside in Marshall County, Indiana can receive scholarships supporting full-time freshman undergraduate studies. Marshall County Community Foundation’s Marshall County Farm Bureau Agriculture Scholarship may benefit those interested in agricultural classes or programs; recipients must show successful completion of their first term, and previous recipients may be able to renew the award.

Students planning to study agriculture can apply for the Arlyn J. Walt Memorial Scholarship, which supports agricultural education and farming-related degrees; awards are based on donor-set criteria. Though created for Coopersville-area students, Iowa students interested in agricultural education may review Grand Haven Area Community Foundation opportunities to see if they qualify.

Students pursuing agricultural or poultry-related degrees can receive US $2,000 for higher education costs through the Gainesville Chicken Scholarship, open to Georgia residents only. With a mission to support agricultural education, North Georgia Community Foundation provides this scholarship, which may benefit those interested in agricultural studies similar to programs offered in Iowa.

Students enrolled in college pursuing a degree in agricultural science may be eligible for this scholarship supporting agricultural education, including those from Iowa. Arkansas Community Foundation supports agricultural education by offering the Clay and Margaret Godfrey Memorial Agricultural Scholarship through its statewide scholarship portal and application process.

Scholarship amounts vary depending on the scholarship applied for. Applicants are encouraged to apply for as many awards as they are eligible to increase the likelihood of receiving one or more awards.

Scholarships can be used for cost of attendance, direct education expenses, including tuition, books, and/or other school-related fees.

If you receive an award, be sure to complete your scholarship acceptance form (online portal). Scholarship awards are paid directly to the academic institution by the end of August.

Bob Suddeth 4-H Scholarship Fund

The Bob Suddeth 4-H Scholarship supports DeKalb County graduating seniors who have been active in 4-H for at least six years, including their senior year of high school, and who plan to pursue agriculture-related education. Financial need is an important consideration, and students may attend any accredited trade school, college, or university. 

Iowa agricultural education students active in 4-H may be eligible for scholarship support for higher education. Focused on agricultural and environmental education, the Terence J. Centner 4-H Scholarship from Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation assists graduating seniors pursuing four-year colleges or universities who have completed outstanding agricultural or environmental projects.

Growing Justice Fund Program

The Fund for Equitable Good Food Procurement is a multi-donor pooled fund driven by the wisdom and experience of funders, farmers and other workers in the food value chain with shared values and vision.

Awards Nearly $5M to 38 Community-Led Initiatives Supporting Values-Based Good Food Purchasing.

While community-serving institutions–such as schools, hospitals, and senior centers–spend billions annually on food purchasing, the benefits of these contracts have been largely bypassed by small- and mid-size producers, especially Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and immigrant producers. 

For the 2025 grant cycle, the Growing Justice Fund awarded a mix of Planning Grants and Implementation Grants, with grant amounts ranging from $10,000 to $250,000. These investments support projects that strengthen engagement with community-serving anchor institutions—including schools, hospitals, and elder care facilities—that hold significant purchasing power and can drive meaningful economic and social benefits for historically marginalized communities.

Priority Areas

Infrastructure:

Building and strengthening systems that enable equitable food purchasing, including support for historically disadvantaged producers, food hubs, and institutional partnerships.

Policy and Organizing:

Supporting grassroots organizing, educational policy advocacy, and capacity-building efforts that align institutional food purchasing practices with community-defined priorities.

Traditional Food Pathways:

Advancing food sovereignty within Tribal Nations by supporting traditional foodways, local food economies, and community-led approaches to Native food systems.

Samardzija-Gutesha Family Fund

The Field of Interest Fund reflects the Samardzija-Gutesha family’s values and commitment to giving back. It supports education and hands-on learning in farming, soil health, and water conservation, with a focus on FFA members and associate-level college students.

Scholarships benefit graduating seniors and second-year post-high school students who are originally from DeKalb County high schools with FFA programs.

The Samardzija-Gutesha Family Fund provides scholarships for post-high school students pursuing education in agriculture or conservation, as well as paid internships with local farmers, and conservation professionals. It also supports educational seminars on topics such as sustainable farming and agricultural business, and provides grants to local organizations that align with the donor’s values.

In its first year, the Fund awarded $65,000 in scholarships to eight graduating seniors from DeKalb, Genoa-Kingston, Indian Creek, Somonauk, and Sycamore high schools (pictured above). Each student attending a two-year college received a $5,000 scholarship, while students planning to attend a four-year university received $10,000.

The Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowships program, managed by the USDA's NIFA, aims to enhance the training of new graduate students in food and agricultural sciences. It provides essential funding for master's, DVM, and doctoral students, focusing on developing the next generation of experts to address critical needs in agricultural sciences. This initiative supports U.S. citizens and residents in achieving their educational goals and contributing to the USDA's mission.

Stanislaus Community Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students in order to help them achieve their educational and career goals. We believe that by investing in our students, we are investing in a brighter future for Stanislaus. 

Bob Boggeri Farms Fund

Open to students planning to pursue a degree in Ag or Horticulture. Must be a FFA member and demonstrate financial need. Preference given to students from Hughson.

Award Amount:

• $1,000

Stanislaus Community Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for students in order to help them achieve their educational and career goals. We believe that by investing in our students, we are investing in a brighter future for Stanislaus. 

David W. Moore Memorial Scholarship

Open to graduating seniors from Atwater, Golden Valley and Oakdale pursuing a degree in agriculture, ag-related fields, animal science or teaching or primary healthcare. Students must demonstrate financial need, community involvement and have a 2.5+ GPA.

Award Amount:

• $2,500

Scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors. Applications are accepted from mid-November until mid-March. Scholarship award recipients will be announced at the high school awards ceremony. 

Susquehanna Beekeepers Association College Scholarship

Established by the Susquehanna Beekeepers Association to provide college tuition assistance to students from northeastern Pennsylvania who will major in agriculture or biology.