Missouri's Cattlemen Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Missouri's Cattlemen Foundation

Intro
Since 1997, Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation has distributed more than 815 scholarships totaling $801,500. The program welcomes applications from graduating high school seniors and currently enrolled college students. Scholarship awards are presented during the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention & Trade Show each January.

2025 Scholarship Guidelines — Deadline: Monday, October 13, 2025

Eligibility
- Must be a resident of Missouri.
- Applicant must either be a current, paid member of the Missouri Junior Cattlemen’s Association, or have a parent/legal guardian who is a current, paid member of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.
- Applicant must be a high school senior or a full-time college student with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicant must have been enrolled full-time (in high school or college) the prior academic year.
- Applicant must not have reached his or her 23rd birthday by January 1, 2023.
- Applicants who have previously received a full Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation scholarship ($1,000 or greater) are not eligible.

Preferred fields of study
Preference will be given to candidates pursuing degrees in: Agribusiness Management, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Journalism, Agricultural Systems Management, Animal Science, General Agriculture, Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, or Plant Science.

Required application materials
- Three letters of recommendation are required; one of these must come from a current Missouri Cattlemen’s Association member. All recommendation letters must be uploaded through the online application portal.
- Attach the most recent available transcript (high school or college) to verify GPA and enrollment status.
- Applicants should provide information demonstrating leadership through extracurricular involvement and/or employment.

Selection process and timeline
- The Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation Scholarship Committee will evaluate applications. Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision by mail on or before November 30, 2025.
- The top five applicants, as determined by application review, will be invited for an interview held during the Missouri Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show.
- Scholarship recipients will be recognized at the Missouri Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show, January 21–23, 2026, in Osage Beach, Missouri.
- During interviews at the convention, the judging panel will name one overall recipient to receive an additional $2,000 and one reserve recipient to receive an additional $1,000.

Award amounts and disbursement
- Unless otherwise specified, individual Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation scholarships are $1,000.
- Scholarships will be paid during calendar year 2026. To receive funds, awardees must submit proof of college enrollment to Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation.
- Scholarship payments will be sent directly to the recipient’s educational institution. Any portion of the award not used by the student must be returned to Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation.

Additional provisions
- Preference may be given to students attending Missouri colleges and universities and to applicants demonstrating financial need.
- All donor scholarship agreements submitted to the Foundation must align with MCF’s mission and policies. The MCF board reserves the right to grant exceptions to these guidelines.

Essay prompt
Why should you receive the Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation Scholarship? (Submit with your application.)