Tri Counties Bank has pledged $30,000 to the Tulare County Foundation for Ag Education and Youth in support of the “Sow the Seeds” Scholarship Program. This initiative aims to assist economically disadvantaged high school students in Tulare County who wish to participate in the Future Farmers of America (FFA). The scholarship program offers initial funding for the student’s inaugural small market livestock or agricultural mechanics project.
Participation in FFA programs provides students with invaluable leadership skills, agricultural education, and public speaking opportunities through local and state competitions. Brett Lew, Senior Vice President and Commercial Lending Regional Manager for Tri Counties Bank, emphasized the importance of investing in students to bolster and guide future community leaders. He stated, “Youth involved in FFA learn key life skills that will lead them to succeed later in life.”
To be eligible for the “Sow the Seeds” Scholarship Program, students must be enrolled in a Tulare County high school and be a member of the FFA Chapter. Additionally, they must submit a recommendation letter from an FFA Advisor as part of their scholarship application. Eligible projects include designing an agricultural mechanics project or presenting a small market livestock project for the first time, with projects slated for either the 2024 Porterville Fair or 2024 Tulare County Fair.
David Rocha, Board Treasurer for the Tulare County Foundation for Ag Education and Youth, highlighted the program’s objective: “Our goal with the ‘Sow the Seeds’ Scholarship Program is to remove financial barriers that may discourage students from pursuing their first FFA project, thus providing more students with a comprehensive understanding of agriculture.”
Applications for participants in the 2024 Porterville Fair and 2024 Tulare County Fair are currently being accepted. Interested students are encouraged to apply promptly for the “Sow the Seeds” Scholarship Program.
