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STAR Financial Bank is now accepting applications for its Future of Agriculture Scholarship, continuing its commitment to support students who are passionate about shaping the future of Indiana agriculture.
STAR will award five Indiana students $1,000 scholarships to be applied toward post-secondary education. The scholarship is designed for students who have first-hand experience in agriculture and a clear vision for how they plan to address real-world challenges facing the industry.
To be eligible, students must currently be a senior in high school or have at least one year remaining in their college/trade school in the fall of 2026. Eligible high school students would need to be entering a trade or collegiate program within two years of earning the scholarship.
Applicants must submit an essay in response to the prompt, “From Field to Future: Your Lived Problem & Impact Pathway in Agriculture.” The essay should describe a real agricultural challenge the student has personally experienced and explain how their education and career plans will help create solutions that benefit both today’s industry and future generations. Essays must be at least 300 words and should include personal experience, future goals, and consideration of ethical trade-offs within agriculture.
To be eligible, students must meet one of the following criteria:
- Be a high school senior planning to enter a trade or collegiate program within two years of earning the scholarship, or
- Be currently enrolled in a college or trade school with at least one year remaining in their program as of Fall 2026.
Applicants must permanently reside in one of the following Indiana counties: Allen, Blackford, Boone, DeKalb, Delaware, Grant, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Huntington, Howard, Jay, Madison, Marion, Noble, Randolph, Steuben, Tipton, Whitley, or Wells.
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of STAR Agricultural Banking representatives, with scholarship recipients announced later this spring.
“At STAR, we see firsthand how agriculture continues to evolve and how important it is to invest in students who are ready to lead that change,” said Chris Stark, Senior Commercial Banker at STAR Financial Bank. “This scholarship supports students who are grounded in real agricultural experiences and motivated to build a stronger future for the industry and our communities.”
Previous winners are not eligible to receive awards in consecutive years. This policy ensures fair recognition and opportunities for all participants. STAR employees, their immediate family members, and individuals living in the same household are also not eligible. The deadline to submit applications is April 17, 2026.
Click here to fill out the application. Students with questions about the scholarship may contact Chris Stark at chris.stark@starfinancial.com.