Texas students put together the pieces that make up a successful leader through the Student Success Series. Students in 8th through 12th grade can learn more about leadership and networking and grow confidence and personal professionalism.

For questions, email youthactivities@txfb.org or call 254.399.5037.

More Information

Applications are now open for the 2024 New Century Farmer Conference, July 21-25, in Des Moines, Iowa. FFA Alumni ages 18-24 interested in pursuing a career in production agriculture are invited to apply. We’re also looking for conference facilitators. Apply to attend or facilitate by Thursday, Feb. 15.

Applications for all TFB scholarships are open for submission. TFB awards over $240,000 each year to graduating high school seniors and enrolled college students. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2024. Winners will be accounted by May 2024. Information on how to apply for the scholarship is available here.

Ag Champs

Each Texas Farm Credit branch location selects one local student each year who will be awarded a $1,000 academic grant and the title of Ag Champ, with a total of 18 Ag Champs in all. In honor of each Ag Champ, Texas Farm Credit also contributes $1,000 to each awardee’s FFA chapter or 4-H club.

Marsha Martin Scholarship

Texas Farm Credit presents $5,000 postsecondary scholarships to ten future ag leaders. These scholarships are named in honor of the late Marsha Pyle Martin: A native of Paris, Texas, Marsha was a strong advocate for youths and agriculture who passed away in 2000 following a 30-year Texas Farm Credit Career.

Are you a high school senior with an agricultural background? Are you looking to pursue a career within the agricultural industry?

Capital Farm Credit expanded its youth scholarship program statewide in 2022 to incorporate the recognition of high school seniors involved in agriculture throughout the entire schoolyear. CFC's Ag Student of the Week Program reaches across CFC's five regions in Texas.

Ten students from each of the Association’s chartered regions will be chosen as a Capital Farm Credit Ag Student of the Week for a total of 50 recognized students.

Regions are divided into CFC’s service markets, and include:

• Plains
• Austin
• San Antonio
• South Texas
• Houston

Applications are open through March 31, 2024.

Founded in 1975, HSF has awarded over $730 million in scholarships. HSF Scholars have access to valuable Scholar Support Services and, as funding permits, scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Deadline: February 15

Click HERE for more information or to apply.

Give Back to Your Roots grants can be used to fund FFA student chapter affiliation fees, plant science-based educational opportunities, or to purchase necessary supplies and materials for local agricultural education programs. The 2024 grant deadlines are March 1, June 1 and Sept. 1; each grant application can receive up to $5,000.

Spring Semester-Long Living to Serve Grant Open

This grant provides middle/high school FFA chapters with up to $1,200 per semester to implement a service-learning project in their community for one semester. Apply today. Application closes Feb. 1.

Applications are now open for the 2024-25 National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA cohort. The National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA are selected and provided training from the National FFA on various educator resources and experiences the organization offers. Once trained, teacher ambassadors serve in their home state by being a resource for other agriculture educators and answering questions related to educator resources and experiences. Apply today! The application closes Friday, March 1.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime leadership capstone experience for rockstar Juniors at UT Austin from June 9-14, 2024

We want your nominations of rockstar Juniors! Our rule of thumb for nominations is generally the holistic Top 5-10% of your eligible male Juniors, but this is flexible. Finances are not a constraint – merit is. We are working with the University of Texas to accommodate up to 1,200 rising Seniors. This is the only opportunity that your current Juniors will have to attend. The only costs to Statesmen are for T-shirts, souvenirs, and transportation (let me know if that would be prohibitive.)

Why TXBS?

Each summer for over 75 years, the weeklong Texas Boys State program has used the concept of “Learn by Doing” to teach these core principles:

* A better understanding of how to build consensus through civil discourse, campaigning, oratory, debate, and relationship building

* Knowledge of the American and Texan two-party political system and how to put that learning into practice through servant leadership

* New and lasting friendships with a diverse cross-section of high-achieving and dedicated young men from across the state of Texas

We are excited and ready to help you through the application process (found HERE), and generous donors have made scholarships available to ensure as many qualified young men attend as possible. I would love to tell you more about the program and how the nomination process works!

If you have sent student leaders in the past, thank you! Please forward this email and my information to any other leaders in education who may be interested in nominating students.

I look forward to hearing from you and am happy to help in any way that I can.

Thank you for all you do for your students and have a wonderful day.

Cost of the Trailer Fabrication Workshop is $500 (including on-campus housing for the duration of the workshop). In addition to the hands-on, project-based training you will receive, we will also provide you with an extensive array of curriculum materials and resources to take back to your program. Lunch and refreshments are provided each day. Additional details about this event are provided in the attached flyer.

To register or for questions please feel free to reach out to Dr. Bird directly at wbird1@utm.edu at any point in time.

Graduate course credit for this workshop is available through either The University of Tennessee-Martin or Murray State University.

There are only 15 seats available, so register and pay as early as possible. Seat securement is contingent on payment. Dr. Bird will correspond with you directly via e-mail as he receives your registration documents and payments, so be sure to check your e-mail regularly.

Murray State University is hosting a Briggs and Stratton Instructor Field School on July 16-18, 2024. This event will be conducted by industry trainers and will cover a wide range of topics related to small gas engines.

The cost of the Briggs and Stratton Instructor Field School is $700 (including on-campus housing for the duration of the workshop). In addition to the hands-on, project-based training you will receive, we will also provide you with an extensive array of curriculum materials and resources to take back to your program. Lunch and refreshments are provided each day.

There are only 20 seats available, so register and pay as early as possible. Graduate course credit for this workshop is available through Murray State University.

If you have any questions or would like to sign up to attend, please feel free to reach out to me directly at kwells23@murraystate.edu at any point in time.

Thank you for your time. Have a great day.