Beginning Farmer Scholarship - Application

Rural Action awards scholarships of up to $350 for beginning farmers in Appalachian Ohio to gain professional development through attending conferences, registering for online courses, or going to trainings to learn knowledge and skills related to farming. Funding for these scholarships comes from the Farmers Market Promotion Program of the USDA and must be used by June 2026.

Applicants can include beginning farmers owners (USDA Definition of Beginning Farmer: farmer who has not operated a farm or ranch, or who has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 consecutive years), farm workers, and apprentices.

Examples of conferences include:

  • Cornell Small Farms Program
  • Ag Progress Days - PA
  • OEFFA Conference

Scholarships are for registration costs only. Rural Action will not reimburse for meals, lodging, transportation, or membership fees.  

What are the steps involved?

  1. Apply for a scholarship requesting up to $350 for reimbursement of registration fees.

  2. Hear back from Rural Action within 2 weeks of applying. 

  3. Register for the educational event & send your receipt to Rural Action staff.

  4. Attend the educational event.

  5. Complete Scholarship Reporting Form. 

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Email *
First Name *
Last Name  *
Phone Number *
Mailing Address (this is where checks will be sent) *
City *
State *
Zip Code *
Farm Name *
Market Website or Social Media *
Applicant's relationship to farm (i.e. "manager" or "staff" or "owner") *
Describe your farm in a few sentences. *
Types of local food sold *
Where is your farm located? *
Which Appalachian counties of Ohio does your farm serve?  *
Required
What is the conference / course / event you'd like to attend? *
What are the dates of the conference / course / event? *
Have you received a scholarship from Rural Action in the past 12 months? *
Amount requested (up to $350 towards registration fee)
Please provide details on the amount requested above. 
(Will you register for the full conference or only specific day/s? Will you register at the member or non-member rate? Will you register for any extra pre-conference workshops? Remember, you will also need to provide proof of registration and payment.)
List the relevant sessions that you plan to attend at the conference or training event.
How did you find out about Rural Action's beginning farmer scholarship?
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