Land O’Lakes, Inc. supports postsecondary education through targeted scholarship funding tied to agriculture and animal care. In the Purina Animal Nutrition Scholarship, the company established a national program for students in the United States who have experience showing or caring for livestock animals, equine, or poultry and who plan to continue their education in college. The program serves high school seniors, recent high school graduates, and current college undergraduates who will enroll full time in undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school.
The scholarship’s structure shows a clear emphasis on agricultural experience, academic commitment, and leadership. The award amount is $3,000, with up to ten awards granted for undergraduate study. Selection considers academic performance, leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, educational and career goals, unusual personal or family circumstances, an online recommendation, and direct experience raising or caring for large or small livestock, equine, or poultry. Applicants also complete a short essay on the impact that nourishing and raising animals has had on their lives, and financial need is not part of the selection process.