Ohio Cattlemen's Association Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Ohio Cattlemen's Association
Program overview (Description)
The Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation administers a suite of college scholarships and grants that support youth involved in the beef and broader agricultural industries. Funding comes from several fundraising efforts and partnerships, and awards are presented at the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet each January. The program is intended to encourage educational advancement and practical re-entry to farm life for the next generation of Ohio beef producers and allied professionals.
Key takeaways:
- Scholarships are managed by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation and presented at the OCA annual meeting in January.
- Funding sources include license-plate sales, fair activities, expo retail sales and gala proceeds.
- Awards support formal agricultural study and practical farm-related training.
General eligibility
Applicants must be high school seniors or current college students enrolled at a two- or four-year college or university pursuing beef- or agriculture-related coursework to qualify for most awards. Some scholarships have additional or different eligibility rules: memorial scholarships often require enrollment at an Ohio college or an agricultural major, and certain grants restrict applicant age. Selection criteria commonly include academic performance, industry involvement and, for some awards, demonstrated financial need.
Key takeaways:
- Core eligibility: high school seniors and current college students in two- or four-year programs studying beef/ag-related fields.
- Some awards require enrollment in an Ohio institution or an agricultural major.
- Age limits and financial-need criteria apply to specific grants.
Award value and scholarship list
The Foundation offers a mix of fixed-value scholarships; amounts and quantities are set per named program. Below is the list of current scholarships and their award amounts.
Key takeaways:
- Tagged for Greatness: four scholarships at $1,000 each.
- Cattlemen’s Country Club: four scholarships at $1,000 each.
- Saltwell Expo Scholarship: three scholarships at $1,000 each.
- Noah Cox Memorial: one scholarship at $1,000.
- Cattlemen’s Gala: twelve scholarships at $1,000 each.
- Bill Tom Memorial Scholarship: one scholarship at $1,500.
- Bill Tom Memorial Success Grant: one grant at $1,500.
- John Grimes Memorial Scholarship: one scholarship at $1,500.
- John Grimes Memorial Success Grant: one grant at $1,500.
- Livestock Judging Team Scholarships (OSU): two scholarships at $2,500 each (one Columbus, one Wooster).
- Large Animal Veterinary Scholarships (OSU): two awards; amounts vary by year.
Specialized awards: purpose, restrictions and permitted uses
Several awards are designed for specific career paths or transitions back to farming and include use restrictions or special evaluation criteria. Success grants are targeted to young people returning to farm operations and may be used for equipment, cattle, or training; vet and livestock-judging awards are reserved for Ohio State students in those programs and emphasize demonstrated interest in beef/food animal practice.
Key takeaways:
- Bill Tom and John Grimes Success Grants: for returning-to-farm youth; funds may purchase equipment, cattle or fund trade/technical training.
- Success Grants: applicants must be graduating seniors through age 25; awards evaluated on financial need.
- Livestock judging scholarships: awarded to Ohio residents on OSU junior/senior judging teams (one for Columbus, one for Wooster).
- Large animal vet scholarships: for third- or fourth-year CVM students who plan to practice large animal medicine in Ohio; amounts are variable.
Selection criteria and evaluation
Most scholarships are evaluated on academic performance, demonstrated interest and involvement in the beef industry, leadership or community activities, and—when specified—financial need. Some named scholarships include an explicit financial-need component that affects award decisions. Preference is frequently given to applicants engaged with the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association or showing clear commitment to the beef sector.
Key takeaways:
- Common review factors: academics, beef-industry involvement, leadership and community service.
- Financial need is a formal part of selection for certain named awards (e.g., Bill Tom).
- Preference is given to applicants active in the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association or who show a clear beef-industry focus.
Application timeline and award notification
Applications are accepted on an annual basis; exact deadlines vary by year and by the specific scholarship program. Recipients are publicly recognized and awarded at the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet each January. OSU veterinary students receive dedicated application notices by email at the end of the autumn semester.
Key takeaways:
- Awards are presented at the OCA Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet in January.
- Deadlines and application windows are annual and may differ by scholarship—check current-year instructions.
- OSU College of Veterinary Medicine students receive application details by email late in the autumn semester.
Administration, partners and contact points
The Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation administers the scholarships in cooperation with donors, expo partners and program sponsors. Several named scholarships are funded by specific revenue streams (license-plate sales, fair attractions, expo merchandise and gala proceeds). For program-specific questions, scholarship administrators and program contacts are available.
Key takeaways:
- Program administered by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation with multiple fundraising partners.
- Funding sources include BMV specialty plates, Ohio State Fair activities, Saltwell Expo merchandise and gala proceeds.
- Key contacts: Coach Matthew Chaney ([email protected]) and Coach Seth Ebert ([email protected]) for judging scholarships; Caroline El‑Khoury ([email protected]) for large-animal veterinary scholarships.
History and named memorials
Several scholarships memorialize individuals and reflect long-standing fundraising traditions that support Ohio’s beef youth. Examples include the Tagged for Greatness plate, the Cattlemen’s Country Club fair fundraiser, Saltwell Expo proceeds and memorial awards honoring Noah Cox, Bill Tom and John Grimes. These memorial and event-driven programs connect donor intent to practical support for education and farm succession.
Key takeaways:
- Many awards are named in memory of contributors to Ohio’s beef community (e.g., Noah Cox, Bill Tom, John Grimes).
- Specific fundraising activities underwrite individual scholarships (e.g., license plates, fair putt-putt, expo sales, gala).
- The named awards honor legacies while directing funds to educational and farm-transition uses.
Where to find application materials
The Foundation and partnering organizations publish application instructions each year; applicants should consult the Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation or Ohio Cattlemen’s Association websites for current forms and deadlines. OSU students in relevant programs will also receive direct communications about specialized scholarships.
Key takeaways:
- Check the Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation or OCA websites for current-year applications and requirements.
- OSU students receive targeted notifications for vet and judging scholarships.
- Contact listed program coordinators for clarification on eligibility and submission procedures.