The East Texas State Fair is proud to support the next generation of leaders through the East Texas State Fair Agriculture Essay Contest Scholarship. One graduating high school senior from East Texas will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship to continue their education at an accredited four-year university, two-year college, technical/trade school or vocational certification programs.
Please complete all sections of this application and submit via email along with your essay to education@etstatefair.com by September 18th, 2026.
Incomplete applications may not be considered.
Eligibility
- Open to graduating high school seniors residing in East Texas.
- Students may attend any accredited public, private, or homeschool program.
Recipient Expectations
The scholarship recipient will be recognized during the State of Agriculture Luncheon at the East Texas State Fair on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The recipient must be present to accept the award unless excused by the scholarship committee due to extenuating circumstances.
______________________________________________________________________________
Essay Prompt Guidelines: Innovation in Agriculture
Agriculture is constantly evolving through new technologies, innovative practices, and creative solutions to meet the needs of a growing world.
In an essay of at least 1,500 words, discuss Innovation in Agriculture and address the following questions:
- Why is agriculture important to our society, economy, and future?
- What are some of the most significant innovations or emerging technologies in agriculture today?
- How are these innovations changing the way food, fiber, livestock, or natural resources are produced?
- What are some of the current challenges facing agriculture, and how can innovation help address them?
- How do you envision innovation shaping the future of agriculture over the next decade?
Applicants are encouraged to support their ideas with examples, research, personal experiences, or observations from their own community.
Judging Criteria
Applications will be evaluated on:
- Understanding of agricultural innovation
- Organization and clarity
- Use of supporting examples or research
- Grammar, spelling, and overall writing quality
- Originality and critical thinking (essays will be filtered for AI use and essays written with AI will be disqualified).