National Rice Month Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by US Rice Federation

Overview

September is National Rice Month, a celebration highlighting U.S.-grown rice and the farmers who produce it across six states. The National Rice Month Scholarship Video Contest invites graduating high school students in those states to create short, original videos that showcase the significance of rice locally and globally. Entrants are encouraged to educate, entertain, and tell personal or community stories about rice in three minutes or less. The contest emphasizes creativity and effective storytelling while promoting awareness of a staple crop grown on family farms.

Description: The contest requests original videos or animations of three minutes or less focused on U.S.-grown rice, National Rice Month, or rice’s importance to a student, state, or the world.

• Open to graduating high school students in the six primary U.S. rice-growing states.
• Videos must be original, informative, and three minutes or less.
• Aim is to educate, entertain, and highlight U.S.-grown rice.

How to Enter

To enter, produce an original short video, upload it to an approved platform, and submit it through the contest entry form by the deadline. Accepted upload platforms include YouTube and Vimeo; TikTok-format videos must be submitted via Vimeo. After uploading, entrants are encouraged to promote their videos on social media to gather views and votes. All entries must be complete with the required application materials to be eligible for judging.

Instructions: Create the video (≤3 minutes), upload to YouTube or Vimeo, complete and submit the entry form, and share the video to increase visibility.

• Upload options: YouTube or Vimeo (TikTok via Vimeo only).
• Complete the official entry form and submit before the deadline.
• Sharing on social media is recommended to build votes and engagement.

Eligibility Requirements

The contest is open to graduating high school students in the 2026–27 school year who reside in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, or Texas. Previous National Rice Month Scholarship winners are not eligible to apply again. Certain exclusions apply: children of USA Rice Federation board members, affiliated organization board members, committee members, USA Rice employees, or employees of the sponsoring company are ineligible. Entrants must comply with all contest rules and provide required documentation when requested.

Eligibility: Graduating 2026–27 high school students from the six primary rice-growing states, excluding listed relatives and organization affiliates.

• Residency in one of the six designated rice-growing states is required.
• Previous scholarship winners and specific relatives of organization staff are excluded.
• Applicants must meet all documentation and submission requirements.

Scholarship Prizes

Three scholarship awards sponsored by the American Commodity Company (ACC) will be presented, totaling $10,000. The grand-prize winner receives $5,000 and an invitation (plus a chaperone) to the USA Rice Outlook Conference. Second and third place winners receive $3,000 and $2,000 respectively. Awards are intended to support postsecondary education and are administered in accordance with contest terms.

Award Value: Grand prize $5,000; second place $3,000; third place $2,000 — total awards equal $10,000, sponsored by ACC.

• Grand prize includes $5,000 and a conference invitation with chaperone.
• Second place: $3,000; third place: $2,000.
• Funds are awarded to support the winner’s accredited education or qualifying trade program.

Video Requirements & Important Dates

Submitted videos must be original, focused on U.S.-grown rice, and no longer than three minutes. Entries must be uploaded and the entry form submitted by October 31, 2026. Winners will be notified by November 21, 2026. Supporting materials and any required enrollment verification must be provided before scholarship funds are disbursed.

Application Timeline: Submission deadline October 31, 2026; winners notified by November 21, 2026; proof of enrollment required prior to fund distribution.

• Video length limit: three minutes or less.
• Submission deadline: October 31, 2026.
• Winners notified by November 21, 2026; verification required before payment.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be evaluated by the USA Rice Federation on creativity, production quality, and effectiveness in telling a compelling story about U.S.-grown rice. Judges’ decisions are final. The contest rewards original work that clearly communicates a message, demonstrates technical competence, and engages an audience. Entrants should focus on clarity of concept and execution to maximize scoring potential.

• Primary criteria: creativity, quality, and storytelling effectiveness.
• Originality and audience engagement are highly valued.
• Judging decisions by the USA Rice Federation are final.

Terms & Conditions

All entries must be accompanied by a completed and signed application form and will not be returned. By entering, participants grant the USA Rice Federation ownership and promotional rights to submitted materials. The Federation is not responsible for lost or misdirected entries and reserves the right to use entries for promotion. Winners accept prizes with no liability to the organizers for injuries, losses, or damages related to prize acceptance or use, and proof of enrollment at an accredited institution or qualifying trade program must be provided before scholarship funds are issued.

Terms: Entries become property of the USA Rice Federation, are non-returnable, and are subject to the stated liability and eligibility rules.

• Completed, signed application form required; entries become Federation property.
• The Federation is not responsible for lost or misdirected entries; decisions are final.
• Proof of enrollment required before scholarship funds are paid to the winner’s school.