Friends of the California State Fair
Scholarship Sponsored by California State Fair
Presented by Friends of the California State Fair (in partnership with the California Agricultural Advisory Council)
Program snapshot
- Name: Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program
- Partner: California Agricultural Advisory Council
- Application period for the 2025–2026 academic year: opens December 17, 2024 and closes March 3, 2025
General eligibility rules
- Applicants may submit an application for only one scholarship category per year.
- Candidates must satisfy every requirement listed for the category they choose.
- Recipients are expected to be enrolled for both the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters. Students whose final graduation date is after fall 2025 (i.e., who will graduate in fall 2025) are not eligible, since the award supports the full academic year.
- California residency is required and applicants must provide valid identification proving residency.
- Minimum cumulative GPAs are noted for each category below.
Available scholarship categories (12 total) and specific requirements
1) Agricultural Students — current college student
- At least 12 units of completed coursework in agriculture
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- California resident with valid ID
- Enrolled in fall 2025 as a college sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited California four-year university or an accredited California community college
2) Agricultural Students — high school senior
- Planning to pursue an agricultural program in college
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- California resident with valid ID
- Current high school senior (or a junior who will graduate in spring 2025) planning to enroll in fall 2025 at an accredited four-year college/university or an accredited community college in California
3) Art Major
- Declared major or program in art (examples include visual arts, dance, music, film, etc.)
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- California resident with valid ID
- Enrolled in fall 2025 as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior at an accredited four-year college or university in California
4) Business Major
- Declared major in Business or Agricultural Business
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- California resident with valid ID
- Enrolled in fall 2025 at an accredited four-year college/university or an accredited community college in California
5) California State Fair Exhibitors or Volunteers — In Honor of Rex Hime
- Either:
- Exhibited in California State Fair youth competitive programs (livestock, horse, small animal, dog, or still exhibits) in any year 2021–2024; OR
- Volunteered in any year 2021–2024 with the California State Fair Youth Task Force or the California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm Programs serving as a guide, intern, or assistant (preparation for the Fair, during the Fair, or off-season)
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- California resident with valid ID
- Enrolled in fall 2025 at an accredited California four-year college/university or community college
6) Culinary, Hospitality, or Event Planning Major
- Declared program in Culinary (cooking), Hospitality Management, or Event Planning
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- California resident with valid ID
- Enrolled in fall 2025 at an accredited California four-year college/university, an accredited California culinary specialty school, or an accredited community college in California
7) International Agriculture Students (sponsored by Blue Diamond)
- Academic emphasis or interest in international agricultural trade or related fields (examples: agriculture, economics, business, international studies, language studies)
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- California resident with valid ID
- Enrolled in fall 2025 at an accredited California four-year college/university or an accredited community college in California
8) Sacramento Region Top Achiever
- Current high school senior
- Recognized as a Sacramento Region Top Achiever (defined as within the top 5% of the graduating class)
- Graduating from a high school located in one of these counties: Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo, or Yuba
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.75
- California resident with valid ID
- Planning to enroll in fall 2025 at an accredited four-year college or university in California
9) Teacher Credential Program
- Enrolled in a teacher credential program or an undergraduate Education major (re-entry professionals are eligible)
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- California resident with valid ID
- Enrolled in fall 2025 as a college sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited four-year college/university or an accredited community college in California
10) Top 10 Percent of Class
- Current high school senior ranked in the top 10% of the graduating class
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.75
- California resident with valid ID
- Planning to enroll in fall 2025 at an accredited four-year college or university in California
11) Trade School Program
- Current high school senior planning to enter an accredited trade school program in California in fall 2025, or currently enrolled in an accredited trade school program in California
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- California resident with valid ID
12) Wine & Grape Growing Major (Viticulture / Enology)
- Declared major in Viticulture or Enology
- Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0
- California resident with valid ID
- Enrolled in fall 2025 as a college sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited four-year college/university, or enrolled at a community college in California
Note: Applicants must confirm they meet the listed enrollment and academic criteria for the category they select. The application window is December 17, 2024 through March 3, 2025.