Illinois Midwest Dairy Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Midwest Dairy Association
Introduction
Midwest Dairy supports the development of dairy advocates and cultivates future leaders in the dairy sector by providing scholarships to students who come from dairy farm backgrounds or are pursuing dairy-related fields of study. Awards and eligibility rules differ by state and region. Separately, Dairy Management Inc. administers checkoff-funded scholarship opportunities at the national level.
Eligibility
- Enrollment: Applicants must be accepted to, or currently considered, a full-time student at an accredited college.
- Checkoff contribution: As of January 1 of the current calendar year, the applicant must be connected to the Illinois Milk Promotion Board through one of the following:
- The applicant, or the applicant’s parent(s), guardian(s), grandparent(s), or sibling, owns a dairy farm in Illinois; or
- The applicant is employed on a dairy farm in Illinois and has a recommendation from the producer/employer.
- Prior recipients: Individuals who have previously received this scholarship are eligible to apply again in later years if they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be judged on demonstrated involvement and contributions to the dairy industry, leadership qualities, clarity of career objectives, and academic achievement.
Application Timeline and Requirements
1. Submit the online application by March 1, 2026.
2. Applicants selected as recipients will be informed by May 15, 2026. Those recipients must provide the following items by June 1, 2026:
- High-resolution photograph
- Newspaper information form
- Publicity consent form
- Completed W-9 form
3. Scholarship payments will be issued directly to the student by October 1, 2026.