Troy Rawlings awarded $1,500 America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders scholarship

[June 23, 2015]  NEW HOLLAND  – Troy Rawlings, of New Holland, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship from America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders, a new program sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. Rawlings studies agricultural business management at Lincoln Land Community College and plans to return to the family farm after he graduates.

“I am interested in ag because I am able to teach others how important it is,” said Rawlings. “I was raised on a family farm so I am no stranger to the countless hours in the field. I love working on the farm, especially watching crops emerge, and hope I can use my degree to gain more knowledge to bring back to the farm.”

The future of agriculture relies on talented young people like Rawlings to fill thousands of jobs in a variety of fields, such as plant science, engineering, communications, finance and more. Grow Ag Leaders encourages rural youth to remain in agriculture and provides scholarships to support their education.

Grow Ag Leaders scholarships, administered by the National FFA Organization, are available to high school seniors and college students pursuing degrees in ag-related fields. To be considered, each applicant is required to receive endorsements from at least three local farmers. Thanks to farmers and a successful six-state pilot launch in 2014, the program was expanded across the country. With support from the Monsanto Fund, more than $500,000 in scholarships has been awarded to students this year. For more information, visit GrowAgLeaders.com

America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders is part of the America’s Farmers initiative. Since 2010, the America’s Farmers campaign and programs have advocated on behalf of farmers and their efforts to meet society’s needs through agriculture. Today, consumers are more interested than ever in agriculture and how food is grown. Farmers and others in the industry are joining in on the conversation to help raise awareness about agriculture and share their stories with their communities. Learn more at cfiengage.org.

[Emily Hereford, Osborn Barr]

About America’s Farmers - The America’s Farmers initiative celebrates U.S. farmers and highlights the importance of agriculture through communications and community outreach programs. To learn more, visit America’s Farmers at www.americasfarmers .com.

About the Monsanto Fund - The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the farm communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.