(SEDALIA, Mo.) – The deadline for high school seniors to apply for a Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture scholarship is Feb. 1.

A total of 36 $1,000 scholarships and one $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to qualified applicants pursuing higher education degrees in the field of agriculture. The application form is available online at www.mostatefair.com/youth-in-agriculture.

“Scholarships will be awarded to youth who have participated at the annual Missouri State Fair,” said Wayne Yokley, Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Committee chairman.

To be eligible, scholarship applicants must plan to enroll in an accredited Missouri college or university with the ambition to acquire a degree in agriculture. Applicants must be high school seniors and active members of 4-H or FFA. Applicants must have participated at least once as a 4-H or FFA exhibitor at the Missouri State Fair, but applicants cannot have sold livestock in any past Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions Auction.

The Missouri State Fair scholarships are funded through the Missouri State Fair Foundation and Youth in Agriculture sponsors and buyers of livestock sold during the annual Sale of Champions Auction. The names of the sponsors and buyers from the 2012 Auction, whose contributions make this program possible, are available on the Missouri State Fair’s website.

For more information, call the Missouri State Fair at 1-800-422-FAIR (3247) or e-mail questions to mostatefair@mda.mo.gov.