$1 million scholarship fund distributed to 146 FFA members pursuing trade and agriculture-related studies
Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, announced today the 146 recipients of the inaugural FFA Future Leaders Scholarship by Tractor Supply. In partnership with the National FFA Organization, The Tractor Supply Foundation established the scholarship in 2022 with a $5 million commitment over the next five years, making it the largest agriculture scholarship fund of its kind.
“Our first class of FFA Future Leaders is a remarkably impressive and diverse group of young men and women who are passionate about achieving their goals. It is a privilege to work with FFA to support them,” said Marti Skold-Jordan, manager of the Tractor Supply Company Foundation and National FFA Foundation Sponsors’ board member. “We established the FFA Future Leaders Scholarship as a way to secure the future of Life Out Here. If this group is any indication, I can confidently say that future is very bright.”
The 146 FFA Future Leaders scholars represent 38 states and a wide range of backgrounds and academic interests. Ninety-two $5,000 scholarships were awarded to students attending trade schools or two-year colleges, including Walker Nightingale of Canton, Kansas. Walker will study diesel mechanics at Hutchinson Community College. Fifty-four $10,000 scholarships were awarded to members pursuing agriculture-related four-year majors, like Gabriel Mojica-Palafox of Corning, California, who will study animal science at University of California-Davis. Additional scholarship recipients include:
Salvador Velasquez from Daingerfield, Texas. He will attend Texas Tech University to study veterinary sciences. “I really want to become a veterinarian so that I can help farmers when it comes to livestock health,” he explained. “This country runs on agriculture, and FFA does a great job teaching kids, and the world, why we should appreciate our hardworking farmers.”
Payton Walk from Greeley County, Kansas. She is studying farm and ranch management at Colby Community College. “I will be the first in my family to graduate college and it is extremely helpful to have this scholarship to help me finish the last stretch,” she said. “I plan to come back to my home county in rural western Kansas and use my degree and skills obtained through FFA to help farmers and ranchers in my community.”
Ariana Neal from Houston, Mississippi. She will attend Mississippi State University to study agriculture education. “This scholarship means a great deal to me because it allows me to further my education,” she explained. “I can focus on my studies, not on financial worries.”
Scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to interview for career opportunities at Tractor Supply stores or distribution centers while pursuing their education. Additionally, Tractor Supply has earmarked internships at its Store Support Center in Brentwood, Tennessee for scholarship recipients.
FFA Future Leaders Scholarships are facilitated by customer donations made at checkout, either in Tractor Supply stores or online at TractorSupply.com. The fundraiser for the next class of FFA Future Leaders will run from November 1-12, 2023.
Applications for the 2024 FFA Future Leaders Scholarship by Tractor Supply will open on November 1, 2023. Eligibility is limited to FFA members. For more information or to apply for the scholarship, visit https://www.ffa.org/participate/grants-and-scholarships/scholarships/.
$10,000 Scholarship Winners (Four-Year Majors)
State
City
First Name
Last Name
University Attending
Primary Major
AR
Clarksville
Fernando
Flores
University of Arkansas
Agricultural Business Management
AR
Conway
Ryleigh
Homan
Arkansas State University-Beebe
Agricultural Education
AZ
Casa Grande
Abigail
Rivera
University of Arizona
Agricultural Education
CA
Avila Beach
Emily
Pan
University of California-Los Angeles
Biological Sciences
CA
Flournoy
Gabriel
Mojica-Palafox
University of California-Davis
Animal Science
CA
Holtville
Melanie
Orozco
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Agricultural Engineering
CA
Lindsay
Emily
Padilla
University of California-Davis
Veterinary Sciences
CA
Livingston
Reena
Grewal
University of California-Davis
Animal Science
CA
Santa Maria
Carlos
Nunez Jacuinde
Texas A & M University-College Station
Agricultural Engineering
CA
Turlock
Yadira
Padilla
University of California-Davis
Agricultural Business Management
CO
Collbran
Genevieve
Hill
University of Colorado Boulder
Engineering
CO
Genoa
Mia
Mosso
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Sociology & Social Work
CT
Middletown
Brian
Barrios
Cornell University
Animal Science
FL
Sebring
Lauren
Heeren
University of Florida
Agricultural Education
GA
Athens
Raymond
Pan
Cornell University
Sustainable Agriculture
ID
Declo
Maria
Gularte
Utah State University
Environmental Engineering
IL
Belleville
Julia
Biehl
Iowa State University
Agricultural Communications
IL
Chicago
Karime
Beltran
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Animal Science
IN
Greencastle
Catherine
Hodge
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Electrical Engineering
IN
Vevay
Levi
Curlin
University of Kentucky
Physical Therapy
KS
Tonganoxie
Isabelle
Barker
Kansas State University
Animal Science
LA
Many
Grace
Manuel
Louisiana Tech University
Agricultural Business Management
MI
Burr Oak
Jacie
King
University of Arizona
Psychology
MO
Bethany
Isabella
Arias
Northwest Missouri State University
Agricultural Education
MO
Maryville
Miquela
Giesken
Northwest Missouri State University
Pre-Vet/Vet Medicine or Sciences
MS
Houston
Ariana
Neal
Mississippi State University
Education
NC
Newton Grove
Morgan
Simpson
University of Mount Olive
Agricultural Education
NJ
Bordentown
Anna
Holman
Delaware Valley University
Animal Science
NJ
Roselle
Annabella
LaMantia
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Biochemistry
NY
Hillsdale
Corinn
Haskin
Columbia-Greene Community College
Biological Sciences
OK
Claremore
Stormi
Hopkins
Rogers State University
RN (Registered Nurse)
OK
Elk City
Kye
Keyes
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Landscape Architecture
OK
Fairview
Lexie
Zuniga
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Animal Science
OK
Guthrie
KayLea
Taylor
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Animal Science
OK
Holdenville
Jonathan
Wiseman
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Aviation & Air Transportation
OK
Omega
Rylee
Glazier
Northern Oklahoma College
Agricultural Education
OK
Perry
Macy
Koch
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Biochemistry
OK
Ringwood
Jose
Rojas
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Electrical Engineering
TN
Piperton
Gavin
Berry
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Agronomy & Crop Science
TX
