RICHMOND, Ind. — Harvest Land Co-op is proud will offer nine $1,000 agricultural scholarships for the 2012-13 academic year. 

To be eligible for this scholarship, the student must: be a high school senior; enter a post-high school agricultural program; be involved in agriculture in their local community; and live or attend school in Harvest Land Co-op’s market area.

These scholarships will focus on need and leadership potential of future contributors to the agricultural industry. Scholarships can be found on Harvest Land’s website at www.harvestlandcoop.com.

Applications are due March 1, 2012. Send scholarship applications to: Harvest Land Co-op, Youth Development Committee, ATTN: Luann Nichol, P.O. Box 516, Richmond, IN 47375.

For questions, please call Luann Nichol at 1-800-866-2736.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — American Angus Assoc. members interested in becoming more effective leaders in the agriculture industry are encouraged to apply for the fifth annual Beef Leaders Institute (BLI). Held June 17-20, 2012, the program brings Angus producers together in St. Joseph, Mo., for a series of informative sessions.

Funded through the Angus Foundation, BLI is designed for Association members 25-45 years old to provide insight into the beef industry, while enhancing their knowledge of the Association and strengthening leadership skills.

Cory Poser, a 2011 participant from Denton, Mont., said the experience he gained by attending BLI will allow his family to continue their farming tradition.

 “BLI was a great way for me to expand my knowledge of the beef industry and help the farm and my family advance our operation into the future,” Poser said.

During the three-day event, BLI participants are able to tour a beef harvesting and packing facility, retailer, fabricator, feedlots and other industry segments, including the Association. The Association provides transportation, lodging, meals and materials during BLI. Attendees will be responsible for round-trip transportation between their home and either Kansas City or Saint Joseph, Mo.

To apply, contact the American Angus Assoc. at 816-383-5100 or visit www.angus.org Applications for the 2012 program are due March 1.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — High school seniors across Indiana still have an opportunity to submit their entries into the Hoosier Horsepower Essay Contest for a chance at one of four $2,000 prizes to help fund their college education. 

The Hoosier Horsepower Essay Contest is sponsored by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance, in conjunction with the Indianapolis Colts, to encourage Indiana students to think about the important role farmers play in their daily lives.

To be eligible for the essay competition, applicants must be a high school senior in Indiana and plan to enroll in an accredited college or university within the United States pursuing either an associate or bachelor degree for the 2012-2013 school year.

Essay competition winners will be awarded based on a combination of factors. Academic achievement, leadership and community service will be considered in addition to their essay detailing how today’s farmers are working to tackle tomorrow’s needs for food, fiber and fuel.

Winners will be announced prior to the end of the 2011-2012 academic year. All essays must be postmarked no later than Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. Parents and students can go to www.colts.com/hoosierhorsepower to learn more.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Imagine sitting in a Parisian cafe with a warm drink in hand, not people-watching but cheering on a cowboy as he takes on a chute fighter. This unexpected scene is a possibility now that U.S., Canadian and Australian youth have a new online network that will enable them to share the heart-pounding thrill of the rodeo globally. In joining the Alltech Ag Network on iHigh.com, the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) has a feature-rich platform that will enable them to post news articles, share photos and video clips, and even live-stream broadcast their events online and to mobile devices.

The NHSRA will have a dedicated website as well as its own channel – delivering up “all rodeo, all of the time.” iHigh and the NHSRA partnered together last summer to provide the first-ever complete live video webcasts of the National Junior High Finals Rodeo and National High School Finals Rodeo, drawing more than two million views during the events.  This new partnership will expand the association’s reach, allowing states and provinces the ability to work with iHigh to webcast rodeos, post photos and articles and market their associations through the NHSRA Channel.

Founded by Jim Host, iHigh.com started with a focus on high schools nearly twelve years ago.  More recently, iHigh has rapidly expanded its offerings to small colleges and universities, private schools and youth organizations large and small, such as iHoops, USA Swimming, the NJCAA, BMX, debate, FFA and others. 

iHigh is working with the individual states and provinces within the NHSRA?to help them set up their free accounts and begin using the variety of services that are offered. Several states and provinces have already joined on to the service.  For more information and to register, association officials should contact the NHSRA at 1-800-466-4772.

Archived webcasts of the 2011 NJHFR and NHSFR are available for viewing by visiting www.ihigh.com/nhsra

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Corn Growers Assoc. (MCGA) is now accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. A minimum of two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each will be awarded. 

Members of the MCGA, including students, growers and associates as well as members’ children between the ages of 17-25, are qualified to apply. Only one application per membership number will be accepted. Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student at a post-secondary education institution in the fall of 2012 to be eligible. Students in an accredited agricultural program are eligible for a one-year membership in the MCGA for $20. Grower and associate memberships in the MCGA are $60 for one year, $155 for three years or $500 for a lifetime. Membership in the MCGA automatically enrolls you for membership in the National Corn Growers Assoc.

Scholarship applications and membership information can be obtained from the MCGA office by calling 517-668-2676 or online at www.micorn.org Applications must be received in the MCGA office no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2012.