The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

The lending cooperative will award five $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who plan to pursue a college degree in an agriculture-related field of study, such as agricultural business, animal science or agricultural economics.

To qualify for a scholarship, applicants must reside within the 100-county territory served by Texas Farm Credit, be nominated by a school guidance counselor, teacher or administrator, and submit a one-page essay explaining how agriculture has impacted their lives.

“Over the past 15 years, Texas Farm Credit has awarded $106,500 in scholarships to students studying agriculture,” said Mark Miller, Texas Farm Credit chief executive officer. “It is our way of helping young people obtain an agricultural education while honoring the memory of Marsha Pyle Martin, who was devoted to developing future agricultural leaders,”

A native of Paris, Texas, Martin was chairman and chief executive officer of the federal Farm Credit Administration at the time of her death in January 2000. She was a lifelong advocate for farmers, ranchers and rural America.

Texas Farm Credit finances agricultural operations, agribusiness, recreational property and other rural real estate. It is headquartered in Robstown, Texas, and has lending offices in Athens, Bandera, Beaumont, Bonham, Brenham, Clarksville, Fairfield, Gainesville, Hebbronville, Nacogdoches, Paris, Pleasanton, Raymondville, Robstown, San Antonio, Sulphur Springs, The Woodlands, Tyler, Uvalde and Weslaco. It is part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, a network of rural financing cooperatives established in 1916.

More information about the scholarship program, including application forms and eligibility criteria, is available at www.texasfarmcredit.com.