The Missouri Forage and Grassland Council / Grazing Lands Conservation Initative is proud to be a sponsor of the Grassland Evaluation Contest for Missouri's high school Vo-Ag students. We are grateful for the time and effort Missouri's Vo-Ag teachers and advisors devote to preparing their students for the competition each year.

The membership of MFGC/GLCI has a keen interest in advancing the role of profitable and sustainable forage and grassland production in Missouri. The Grassland Evaluation Contest is just one of many activities through which we strive to fulfill our mission.

To incentivize student interest in the Grassland Evaluation Contest, and to help some worthy student achieve his/her academic and career goals, the Board of Directors of MFGC/GLCI has acted to offer a freshman scholarship in the amount of $1,000.00 annually as our budget permits. Following are the criteria for eligibility.

SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBLIITY
The student must:

1. Compete in the District Grassland Evaluation Contest and there qualify for advancement to compete at the State level.
2. Be committed to the pursuit of an agricultural or natural resources-related major for his/her Bachelors' degree.
3. Be committed to attend any college or university (including community college for first two years) in the United States or its Territories offering "2" above.

Note:
A student receiving this award and electing to avail himself/herself to Missouri A+ funds at a community college may defer receipt of his/her award for up to two years and thus have the scholarship money sent to the college or university he/she will attend after completing the first two years at the community college. In all cases, no funds will be paid directly to the student, but rather will be sent to the institution where he/she intend to earn his/her degree; half at the beginning of the first semester and the remaining half at the beginning of the second semester.

A high school freshman, sophomore or junior member of a team may qualify to compete in the State Grassland Evaluation Contest and thereby qualify to apply for the MFGC/GLCI scholarship. Such a student has two options as to how he/she may avail himself/herself to the opportunity:

1. Apply and compete for the scholarship the same year of his/her qualification. Should an 'underclassman' be awarded the scholarship, the funds will be waiting for him/her upon graduation from high school. A student may apply for the scholarship each year he/she qualifies to compete in the State Grassland Evaluation Contest.
2. Secure documentation of his/her participation in the State Grassland Evaluation Contest as an 'underclassman' with his/her school principal or Vo-Ag teacher and then submit that documentation together with the scholarship application in the fall of his/her senior year.

In choosing from the above options, students should consider the inescapable fact that more evidence of their academic abilities, community involvement, and character development, as well as their choice of college and major will be available to them to list on their scholarship application if they choose option "2" above.

SPECIAL NOTE: DEADLINE -- TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
Each year's scholarship award presentation will be made at the MFGC/GLCI annual conference and business meeting held in early November. The last District Grassland Evaluation Contest held can be as late as the third week of October. Therefore it is imperative students do not miss the deadline on submitting their application. Scanning and e-mailing are recommended. They may wish to have their application completed in advance of the District Contest and ready to be submitted if they qualify to move on to State competition. E-mail contact info is: mfgc@mchsi.com.

Questions may be directed to Joetta Roberts, MFGC/GLCI Secretary at (573) 499-0886 weekdays 9:00 a.m. to noon or by e-mail mfgc@mchsi.com.