Henry County FB Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Henry County Farm Bureau
Introduction
The Henry County Farm Bureau Foundation administers several scholarships for students connected to farming and the local community. Below are the individual awards, eligibility details, selection criteria, and application requirements. Preserve all deadlines and submission instructions when applying.
Who may apply
- Eligible candidates are graduating high school seniors or undergraduate students currently enrolled at an accredited college or technical school (unless otherwise noted).
- Unless specified, applicants may major in any field; some scholarships require or prefer agricultural study or farm-family status—see each award for specifics.
- Many scholarships award extra consideration (bonus points) to Henry County Farm Bureau (Illinois) VOTING members or dependents of voting members; exceptions and special bonus criteria are noted for each scholarship.
Scholarship awards
1) HCFB Foundation Agricultural Scholarships
- Number/amount: Up to 8 awards, $1,500 minimum each.
- Eligibility: High school seniors or undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited college/technical school and pursuing an agriculture curriculum.
- Bonus: Extra points for Henry County Farm Bureau (Illinois) VOTING members or their dependents.
- Selection factors: Accomplishments in agricultural activities; leadership in school, community, and work settings; and academic achievement.
2) HCFB Foundation General Scholarship
- Number/amount: Up to 2 awards, $1,500 minimum each.
- Eligibility: High school seniors or undergraduate students enrolled at an accredited college/technical school. Majors may be in any non-agricultural field.
- Bonus: Extra points for Henry County Farm Bureau (Illinois) VOTING members or their dependents.
3) Wilbert & Carol Keppy Foundation Scholarships
- Number/amount: Four scholarships, $5,000 each.
- Eligibility: High school seniors or undergraduates at an accredited college/technical school; major may be in any field. Applicants must come from a farm family actively engaged in production agriculture.
- Bonus: Extra points for Henry County Farm Bureau (Illinois) VOTING members or their dependents.
- Financial need: Financial need is heavily weighed. Information will be treated confidentially; selected candidates may be asked to submit tax documentation for verification.
- Selection factors: Financial need; involvement in agricultural activities; leadership in school, community, and work; and scholastic performance.
4) Kevin & Karen Urick Farm Bureau Legacy Scholarship
- Number/amount: One award, $2,000.
- Eligibility: High school seniors or undergraduates at an accredited college/technical school; major may be in any field. Applicants must be dependents from farm families currently engaged in production agriculture.
- Bonus: Additional points for applicants who are multigenerational Henry County Farm Bureau® (Illinois) VOTING members or dependents of voting members.
5) Glenn & Betty DeSmith Memorial Scholarships
- Number/amount: Three scholarships, $5,000 each.
- Eligibility: High school seniors or undergraduates at an accredited college/technical school; majors may be in any field.
- Bonus: Extra points for Henry County Farm Bureau (Illinois) VOTING members or their dependents.
- Preference: Given to students who raise or exhibit livestock.
- Selection factors: Involvement in the livestock industry and family farming; achievements in agricultural activities; leadership experiences; work/community involvement; and academic achievement.
6) James Ufkin Memorial Scholarship
- Number/amount: One award, $1,000.
- Eligibility: High school seniors or undergraduates at an accredited college/technical school. Students must be enrolled in an agriculture curriculum.
- Bonus: Extra points for Henry County Farm Bureau (Illinois) VOTING members or their dependents.
7) Robert J. and Donna Jean Dobbels Memorial Scholarships
- Number/amount: Two awards, $1,000 each.
- Eligibility: High school seniors or undergraduates at an accredited college/technical school, enrolled in an agriculture curriculum.
- Bonus: Extra points for Henry County Farm Bureau (Illinois) VOTING members or their dependents.
General application requirements (applies to all scholarships)
- Submit high school and current college transcripts (if applicable) plus one CURRENT letter of recommendation (dated within one year). These documents must accompany the application or be received by the deadline.
- Applications must be typed.
- Scholarship disbursement: Awards will be split—one half credited the first semester and the remainder credited the second semester.
- Applying/award limits: You may apply for any scholarships for which you qualify, but you may be awarded only one scholarship per year (the Urick Farm Bureau Legacy Scholarship is exempt from this single-award limit). Additionally, a student may receive a maximum of two scholarships from the following group: FB Foundation, Keppy Foundation, DeSmith Memorial, Ufkin Memorial, and Dobbels Memorial.
- Interviews: Finalists may be asked to participate in a personal interview as part of the final selection process.
- Unused funds: Any portion of a scholarship not used for its intended purpose must be returned to the Foundation.
Submission deadline and where to apply
- Applications must be received or postmarked by March 6, 2026. Mail to:
Henry County Farm Bureau
128 N. Prospect Street
Cambridge, IL 61238
- Applications are available online at www.henrycofarmbureau.org or by emailing manager@henrycofarmbureau.org to request the scholarship application form.
If you need any additional clarification about eligibility or documentation, email manager@henrycofarmbureau.org.