New scholarship program available from Monsanto Fund

By Carrie Muehling

BLOOMINGTON – The Monsanto Fund is offering a new scholarship program.

America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders is launching in 40 states, with more than $500,000 in scholarships available. The program provides $1,500 college scholarships to students pursuing a degree related to agriculture.

It’s an addition to other programs the Monsanto Fund supports, including the America’s Farmers Grow Communities and America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education programs.

“It’s similar in that it does involve growers, but it’s more of a traditional application process for the students themselves. One difference is that we have asked that students are seeking three farmer endorsements from farmers in their community. And that’s an easy process for both the students and the growers, but we just want to make sure that we’re creating that connectivity and they can maybe have a conversation about the future of agriculture. That is a required component of the scholarship program that maybe is a little bit unique from other things,” said Elizabeth Vancil, community outreach lead with Monsanto.

Applications are open now through Feb. 1 for high school seniors and college students. More information is available at www.growagleaders.com.

Carrie Muehling can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…