Joe Leiser Memorial AgCredit, ACA Scholarship Program
Application deadline: March 1, 2026 (online application must be completed by March 1, 2026 at 11:59pm)
Educational scholarships are awarded to students who are furthering their education through attendance at a college or university and have selected a major in agriculture or a major/program that will support agriculture and the rural community. Examples of majors/programs that support the rural community include but are not limited to medical services, public services, computer programming, application development, surveying, accounting, communications and the ag-tech industry. Applicants studying a major/program outside of agriculture should provide details in their application on their plans to support agriculture and the rural community through their degree or course of study.
The scholarship selection committee may award one or more scholarships in an individual amount of up to $3,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. The scholarship selection committee has the discretion to determine the number of scholarships awarded based upon the number of eligible and complete applications received.
To be eligible, applicants must be an immediate family member (dependent) of a voting stockholder of AgCredit, ACA with a current loan. At the time of application the student must be a graduating high school senior planning to attend a post secondary school majoring in an agriculture or community supported degree program or be attending a post-secondary school majoring in an agriculture or community supported subject.
Other Criteria:
- Children of current employees or directors of AgCredit, ACA are not eligible for this scholarship.
- Previous recipients of scholarship funds are not eligible to re-apply.
- Previous applicants (who have not received scholarship funds) may apply every year they are eligible.
- The scholarship is to be used to pay education-related expenses and will be issued in the form of a joint check with the school.
The selection committee will consist of three current board members of AgCredit, ACA. They will review all complete applications and choose the three recipients. No interviews will be conducted. The process will be completed by July 31, 2026.
Application requirements:
- Complete the application using the link.
- Current Official Transcript, including most recent term, may be attached to application or mailed to: AgCredit, Attn: Karen Welter, 610 W. Lytle St. Fostoria, OH 44830.
- In lieu of an official transcript, an Advising Report AND copies of grade reports from each term attended will be accepted. Advising Report and copies of grade reports may be attached to application.
- Two letters of recommendation from sources at the applicant's discretion. These may be attached to application or emailed to kwelter@agcredit.net or mailed to AgCredit, Attn: Karen Welter, 610 W. Lytle St. Fostoria, OH 44830.
- A word document or PDF containing no more than four letter sized pages with information from the past two years answering these questions:
- A resume including the following items:
- Your past and present co-curricular activities including offices and extent of involvement.
- Your work or experience or other commitments that may involve a large amount of time.
- Your scholastic accomplishments.
(Make a definite distinction among the three categories above)
- From your resume, pick one activity that has benefited you the most and explain.
- Why have you decided on an agricultural program? If your major/program is not agriculture related, how will it support agriculture or the rural community?
- Tell us more about yourself and explain how this scholarship would benefit you.
- A resume including the following items: