College students preparing for careers in agriculture have two major opportunities this season to polish their leadership skills and earn academic funding, with more than $40,000 in total awards on the table. The National Pork Producers Council is now accepting applications for the 2027 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship, which will award ten $2,500 prizes to undergraduate students who demonstrate critical-thinking and problem-solving skills for the pork sector. Meanwhile, the Animal Agriculture Alliance is launching its 2026 College Aggies Online (CAO) initiative on Sept. 21—a dynamic, nine-week digital advocacy bootcamp offering $18,000 in individual and club scholarships alongside direct mentorship from top industry influencers and agricultural professionals.
Together, these programs provide ambitious students with practical experience, national industry recognition and the financial backing needed to become effective champions for the future of agriculture.
Applications Open for 2027 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship
Who will be the next generation of pork industry leaders? The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced that applications are now open for the 2027 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship, which will award ten $2,500 scholarships to college students pursuing careers in the pork industry.
“The strength of our industry has always come from people who are willing to step up, get involved and help shape its future,” Rob Brenneman, NPPC president and a pork producer from Iowa, said in a release. “Lois Britt was one of those leaders. This scholarship honors her legacy by giving the next generation the opportunity to pursue their goals, get involved in the pork industry and make their own lasting impact.”
The scholarship is open to undergraduate students enrolled in a two-year swine program or a four-year college of agriculture. Applicants will be asked to write an essay that addresses a current or future issue facing the pork industry, along with potential solutions.
The program is more than a scholarship, organizers say. It’s an opportunity for students to think critically about the industry they are preparing to join and consider how they can contribute to its future. The program is supported by CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation.
Scholarship recipients will be announced in January and recognized at the 2027 National Pork Industry Forum in Arlington, Texas, March 3-5. Applications are due Friday, Dec. 11. Full eligibility requirements and application information are available here.
College Aggies Online offering students $18,000 in scholarships through 2026 program
The Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2026 College Aggies Online (CAO) program kicks off on Sept. 21. Among the list of 2026 student mentors are influencers Emily Schaapman, known online as @DairyGirlFitness, Brandi Buzzard (@BrandiBuzzard), and Jessica Peters (@SeeJessFarm). This year, $18,000 in scholarship awards are available to participants. Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students, collegiate clubs and classes are encouraged to sign up.
What is College Aggies Online?
CAO connects college students who are interested in promoting agriculture and gives them the skills they need to effectively engage with key audiences online and on campus. Individual participants engage with their peers on social media by posting information about current and emerging issues facing farmers and ranchers and telling personal stories. Club participants are challenged to host events on their campus to talk about modern agriculture with their peers. Students shared more than 1,660 social media posts online and reached over 8,000 people in person last year alone.
During the program, participants receive nine interactive and educational weeks of content to help them become confident and effective communicators for agriculture with guidance from industry and farmer mentors.
2026 mentors include:
- Emily Schaapman, Dairy Girl Fitness
- Jessica Peters, Pennsylvania dairy farmer
- Brittni Miller, Amick Farms
- Hannah Keck, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
- Kelly Abrahamson, Kreider Farms
- Katlyn Cain, National Pork Board
- Elena Myhre, U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs
- Rachel Sanborn, MPS Egg Farms
- Erica Sawatzke, Minnesota turkey farmer
- Brandi Buzzard, Kansas cattle rancher
- Lillie Berman, MS, RDN, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
- Yuan-Tai Hung, PhD, Institute for Feed Education and Research
- Alexis Main, PhD, Paradigma Ag
- Nicki Hardy, Animal Agriculture Alliance
“College Aggies Online has been such a great experience for me. It not only helped me grow my knowledge about agriculture, but it also gave me the confidence to share that passion with others,” Maribeth Girard, a 2025 participant, said in a release. “Before this program, I was hesitant to post or speak out about ag advocacy, but through CAO I have gained the skills and encouragement I needed to do so. I’ve learned so much more about the industry, built connections with others who share the same passion, and discovered my voice as an advocate for agriculture.”
Students will compete for points and the opportunity to win $100 scholarship prizes each week. At the end of the nine weeks, the top five students and top three clubs with the most points receive overall scholarship prizes, including a $3,000 prize for the first-place individual and $1,500 for the first-place club. Top individuals and one representative from each of the top clubs will be invited to attend the Alliance’s 2027 Stakeholders Summit, set for May 5-7 in Arlington, Va, for national recognition.
The 2026 CAO program is sponsored by Dairy Management Inc., CHS Foundation, National Pork Board, Cooper Farms. Culver Franchising System, Farm Credit, Institute for Feed Education and Research, Lallemand, National Corn Growers Association, Marty Vanier, Dairy’s Foundation, National Chicken Council and Ohio Poultry Association.
