Alabama Cattlemen's Association Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Alabama Cattlemen's Association
Overview
The Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation provides scholarships to support students connected to Alabama's cattle industry. Membership in the Alabama Cattlemen's Association enables students to apply for these awards. Funding for the program comes from the sale of the "Cowboy" vanity car tag and from private family donations. The program serves high school seniors, collegians, and post-graduate students through a range of named scholarships.
Description: A foundation program that awards scholarships to students pursuing education related to the cattle industry and allied fields.
Funding: Scholarships are funded primarily by the "Cowboy" vanity tag and by generous private family contributions.
- Supports multiple education levels: high school, collegiate, post-graduate
- Funded by both public license-tag purchases and private donors
- Open to members and affiliates of the Alabama cattle community
High School Scholarships
High school seniors may apply for a variety of scholarships administered by the Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation. The awards include scholarships targeted for college, junior college, and trade school pathways, alongside several memorial and family-named scholarships. Each scholarship has its own criteria and selection process managed by the foundation. Applicants should review individual award requirements when applying.
Eligibility: High school seniors who meet the foundation's requirements for the specific scholarships.
- "Tagged for Greatness" Scholarship
- "Tagged for Junior College" Scholarship
- "Tagged for Trade School" Scholarship
- Outstanding Junior Cattleman Scholarship
- Martha Davis Service Award
- Ina E. Powell Memorial Scholarship
- Cecil Lane Family Scholarship
- John Williams Memorial Scholarship
- Butch & Lisa Smathers Scholarship
- Multiple scholarship types to support different post-graduation paths
- Applicants should confirm specific award criteria
- Membership and community involvement are common considerations
Collegiate Scholarships
Collegiate students can apply for scholarships that emphasize academic excellence, civic engagement, campus involvement, industry involvement, and transfer support. Several awards are named for donors and families and include options for student athletes such as equestrian and rodeo team members. These scholarships are intended to support students actively engaged in campus life and the cattle industry. Applicants must meet the foundation's eligibility and application requirements for each award.
Eligibility: Enrolled college students who meet the criteria for the specific collegiate scholarships.
- "Tagged for Academic Excellence" Scholarship
- "Tagged for Civic Engagement" Scholarship
- "Tagged for Campus Involvement" Scholarship
- "Tagged for Industry Involvement" Scholarship
- "Tagged for Transfer" Scholarship
- Collegiate Equestrian/Rodeo Team Scholarship
- Harlice E. & Sara W. Kirby Scholarship
- Ed Wadsworth Memorial Scholarship
- May & Ned Ellis Family Scholarship
- Butch & Lisa Smathers Scholarship
- Milton Wendland Memorial Scholarship
- John Michael Brown Scholarship
- Scholarships reward academic, civic, and industry engagement
- Named awards reflect donor and family support
- Opportunities available for student-athletes in equestrian and rodeo
Post-graduate Scholarships
Post-graduate awards are available for advanced study and professional training related to veterinary medicine, animal sciences, agricultural law, and rural medicine. These scholarships support students pursuing graduate degrees or professional programs that benefit the agricultural and cattle communities. Each named scholarship targets a specific field or institution and may have specialized eligibility criteria. Applicants should consult the foundation for application specifics and program requirements.
Eligibility: Graduate and post-graduate students enrolled in qualifying programs and meeting award-specific requirements.
- Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship
- Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences Graduate Student Scholarship
- Agricultural Law Scholarship
- Rural Medicine Scholarship
- Smathers Family Veterinary Scholarship
- Focused on advanced training in veterinary, animal science, law, and rural medicine
- Named scholarships often tied to specific institutions or disciplines
- Applicants should verify program eligibility and documentation requirements
Application Timeline & Award Process
The application window for the 2026–2027 scholarship cycle opens on Sept. 1, 2025, and closes in November 2025. Applicants will be notified of award decisions or deferrals by Feb. 14, 2026. Scholarships for the cycle will be presented at the 2026 Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation Scholarship Banquet. Prospective applicants should prepare materials early and confirm deadlines for individual scholarships.
Application Timeline: Applications open Sept. 1, 2025; close in November 2025; notifications by Feb. 14, 2026.
Award Presentation: Scholarship recipients will be recognized at the 2026 Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation Scholarship Banquet.
- Open period begins Sept. 1, 2025; submit applications before the November deadline
- Notification of awards on or before Feb. 14, 2026
- Awards are presented at the foundation's annual scholarship banquet