Paying for college is getting harder as tuition skyrockets everywhere. The average debt for American college students stands at $26,000.
But some students are harvesting local financial aid from the agriculture industry.
"I'm hoping that one day I'll be able to take over my family winery in Santa Cruz," said Cal Poly Freshman Kevin Bargetto.
Bargetto received several thousand dollars in scholarships targeted at students who plan on starting a career in the AG-business.
"It really helped my parents a lot. I already have an older sister that's going to college, and in two years, I'll have a younger sister in college as well. So, at one point in time my parents will have three children in college all at once," said Bargetto.
"Some kids grow up wanting to be involved in agriculture, so we want them to be able to continue their dreams and some day become farmers and ranchers," said Agri-Culture Board Member John Pisturino.
Santa Cruz County based Agri-culture has given out 30 scholarships to AG students since the 80's.
The Monterey County Farm Bureau has given out more than $200,000 in scholarships.
"As the farming community ages across the country, we still need people to continue to grow the food and the other things that we need to sustain our society," said Monterey County Farm Bureau Director Norm Groot.
The agriculture scholarships aren't just for kids who are typically next in line to take over the family farm.
New management positions are opening up to anyone with an interest and the motivation. A college degree is becoming imperative.
"It's a business to be managed. A lot of people want to go in that direction and can do so now with some of the curriculums being offered," said Groot.
Curriculums that are helpful for college students like Bargetto, who is looking forward to his future AG career.
To apply for Agri-Culture scholarships visit this link:
http://agri-culture.us/programs/scholarships
To apply for Monterey County Farm Bureau Scholarships visit this link:
http://montereycfb.com/index.php?page=scholarships
To apply for The women Pursuing Degrees in Agriculture Scholarship visit this link:
http://www.salinascwa.org/scholarships.html
To apply for a 4-H scholarship visit this link:
http://cemonterey.ucanr.edu/4-H_Program/Leaders_Council/Council_Scholarship/
To apply for the California Association of Future Farmers of America Scholarship visit this link:
http://www.calaged.org/programs/state-scholarship-program
