Hernando-Citrus Farm Bureau Offers Scholarships to Local High School Seniors

The Hernando-Citrus Farm Bureau announced that scholarship funding is available to graduating high school seniors who live in Hernando and Citrus counties, with awards of up to $1,000 to support post-high-school education. For many local families, even modest awards can be the difference between pursuing a certificate, community college or four-year degree and postponing plans because of cost.

Application materials circulated on local scholarship portals and school guidance lists describe the Hernando-Citrus County Farm Bureau Scholarship and provide a mailing address for submissions: Hernando-Citrus County Farm Bureau, Attn: Scholarship Committee, 617 Lamar Ave., Brooksville, FL 34601. The Farm Bureau office lists a phone number of (352) 796-2526 and Executive Director Valerie Ansell as a primary contact for questions. One portal summarizes the program this way: "The Hernando-Citrus County Farm Bureau Scholarship Application provides a scholarship to seniors up to $1000!"

Local guidance documents also note program criteria that may shape eligibility and equity. A school guidance listing cites involvement in an agriculture youth group and possession of a Farm Bureau membership number among application items, and provides the Farm Bureau mailing address for submissions. An online scholarship posting instructs applicants to print and fill out the application and states, "The application must be postmarked and handwritten by April 15, 2025 to:" which suggests a mailed, paper-based application process used in recent cycles.

Because the Farm Bureau’s public announcement did not publish full procedural details for the current year, seniors should confirm deadlines, whether typed applications or scanned submissions are accepted, and whether membership is required before preparing materials. Students and families can call the Farm Bureau at (352) 796-2526 or check with high school guidance offices for the most current application packet and instructions.

The scholarship sits alongside other community awards that collectively expand pathways for Hernando and Citrus students. Local organizations including the American Legion Auxiliary, the Atwood fund, Badgewives, and the Hernando Audubon Society have active scholarship programs that target fields from environmental science to criminal justice. Those funds, together with the Farm Bureau award, help lower financial barriers that disproportionately affect first-generation students and low-income households in rural and semi-rural communities.

From a public health and social equity perspective, keeping postsecondary options affordable supports long-term community well-being. Higher educational attainment is linked to better employment prospects, improved health outcomes, and greater civic engagement. Ensuring clear, accessible application processes and outreach to students without Farm Bureau ties will determine how equitably the funds reach the county’s most financially vulnerable seniors.

What comes next: eligible seniors should contact their high school guidance counselor and call the Hernando-Citrus County Farm Bureau at (352) 796-2526 to request the current application form, confirm the deadline, and clarify submission rules. Clear information from the Farm Bureau will help counselors target outreach and ensure students from all backgrounds can compete for the award.