Youth Resources

There are several options for aspiring farmers to gain the practical, hands-on knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in farming, including farm internships, certificate programs and farm-based university programs. On this page you will find a list of local and regional internship opportunities and training programs as well as scholarships and other financial options.

If you are looking for speakers for a high school or community college classroom, send us an email. 

High School Programs

• Placer High School Future Farmers of America, Placer County
• Colfax School District Future Farmers of America, Placer County
• Bear River High School Agriculture Department, Nevada County
• Del Oro High School Agriculture Department, Placer County
• Nevada Union Agriculture Department, Nevada County
• Loyalton High School Agriculture Department, Sierra County
• Ponderosa High School Future Farmers of America, El Dorado County

* If you are looking for speakers for a high school or community college classroom, send us an email.

Scholarships

Annie's Sustainable Agriculture Scholarships
Annie's is a proud sponsor of the next generation of farmers, and will award $75,000 in 2011 with individual awards up to $10,000.

Auburn Garden Club Scholarship
$1,000 scholarship for Placer County high school seniors or college students with career plans related to agriculture or plant sciences.

California 4-H
The California 4-H Scholarships for Higher Education program awards participants in the 4-H Youth Development Program financial assistance for continuing their education. The annual deadline is April, though the available scholarships vary each year.

California Farm Bureau Federation
The CFBF provides 30 scholarships between $1,500 and $3,000 to undergraduate students entering or attending a four-year accredited college or university in California and pursuing a career in the agricultural industry. CFBF also awards a few special scholarships, including the Rustici Livestock and Rangeland Scholarship, which may be applied to either a two or four year California college.

Future Farmers of America
Each year the National FFA Organization awards more than 1,000 scholarships and approximately $2 million in awards designed to fit a wide variety of applicants.

Garden Club of America
The Garden Club of America offers numerous scholarships and fellowships to support students pursuing studies in sustainable agriculture and horticulture.

Mountain Mandarin Growers' Association
MMGA offers up to $1,000 for the Joanne K. Neft Scholarship to seniors at Del Oro, Lincoln, and Placer high schools. Applicants must be seniors who are active members of FFA and who have been accepted to a post-secondary institution. For more information and to apply, see the Joanne K. Neft Scholarship Packet.

Placer County Wine and Grape Association
PCWGA works with the enology programs at UC Davis and CSU Fresno to identify students who meet their requirements for scholarship assistance.

Placer Farm Bureau
PCFB offers $500 scholarships for children of current Placer County Farm Bureau members studying agriculture (and related subjects) at Sierra College.

Sierra Wine & Grape Growers Association
SWGGA offers a scholarship to one of a number of applicants from high school districts in Nevada County. The purpose of the award is to encourage students who have a desire to receive a degree in an agricultural field. The goal of a viticultural degree is ideal, but not necessary. The award averages $1,200, but is dependent on fundraising. Contact info@sierrawinegrape.org for more information.

Sullivan Supply
Sullivan Supply offers a total of $20,000 in scholarships to twenty to twenty-five individuals displaying a great passion for the livestock industry and/or livestock production.