Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund

Introduction
Since 2000, the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund (MYLSF) has provided annual scholarships to exemplary youth exhibitors at the Michigan State Fair, Michigan Livestock Expo, and Michigan Dairy Expo. The Fund also supports educational awards for youth livestock and dairy participants. Scholarship funding is derived from designated proceeds of the Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-Abration. MYLSF highlights Michigan’s next generation in food and agriculture and celebrates the community built through youth livestock programs.

Eligibility
- Applicants must be Michigan residents and either a graduating high school senior or a high school graduate continuing their education at an accredited institution in the same year they apply.
- For the MYLSF Scholarship: applicants must have exhibited livestock at the Michigan Livestock Expo or the Michigan Dairy Expo for at least three calendar years prior to the application year.
- For the Statewide Scholarship: applicants must have exhibited livestock at a Michigan local, county, or state exhibition (including state fair) for at least three calendar years prior to the application year.
- Exhibitor eligibility at the Michigan Livestock Expo (MLE) will be factored into award decisions:
- If an applicant was suspended from exhibiting due to a rule violation, results from the year the violation occurred will not be counted toward scholarship considerations.
- Exhibitors suspended from MLE involvement are ineligible for the top-5 interview process.

Required Application Materials
All application questions must be answered for the file to be considered complete. Required documents:
- Two letters of reference dated within the current academic year
- Most recent academic transcripts (high school and/or college)
- Completed application form with required essays and signatures
Applications must fit within the provided space and include a signature.

Selection Criteria and Process
Completed applications will be evaluated by the scholarship committee and judged on the following elements:
1. Livestock exhibition participation
2. Extracurricular involvement (volunteer work, community involvement, employment, awards)
3. Industry participation or potential (interest in agriculture or related fields)
4. Academic performance
5. References
6. Overall application completeness, including adherence to guidelines and quality of writing (spelling and presentation)
Preference will be given to applicants pursuing agriculture or related studies.

The scholarship committee reserves the right — and requires majority approval of the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Committee (MYLSFC) — to withhold awards if no applicants meet the stated requirements.

Interviews, Awards, and Limits
- A limited number of applicants may be invited by the MYLSFC to interview prior to the Sale-Abration event; interviewees may be considered for larger awards.
- Scholarships may be awarded multiple times to the same person but are subject to a lifetime cap of $5,000 per recipient.
- Scholarship recipients will be announced at the Michigan Livestock Expo "Grand Drive." Applicants selected for interviews will be introduced at the Michigan Livestock Expo Sale-Abration.

Submission, Deadline, and Payment
- Applications and supporting materials will only be accepted through online submission.
- Completed applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on May 1, 2025.
- Upon receipt of proof of enrollment, scholarship funds will be paid directly to the recipient’s accredited educational institution to cover eligible educational expenses (tuition, room and board).

Additional Notes
- Applications must be signed.
- Do not exceed the space provided on the application form.