Friends of the Fair Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by California Exposition & State Fair
Introduction
The Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program is offered through a partnership between the Friends of the California State Fair and the California Agricultural Advisory Council. It provides a variety of awards for students pursuing education in areas related to agriculture, the arts, trades, hospitality, and more.
Overview and general eligibility
- There are 12 distinct scholarship categories. Each applicant may submit for only one category per application year.
- Applicants must satisfy every requirement listed for the scholarship category they choose to be considered eligible.
- Recipients are expected to be enrolled for both the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters. Students who will graduate after the fall 2025 term are not eligible, since the awards support a full academic year.
- All applicants must be California residents and able to provide a valid California ID unless otherwise noted in a category.
Scholarship categories (12) — applicants must meet the listed criteria for their chosen category
1) Agricultural Students (current college student)
- Completed at least 12 units of agricultural coursework.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Enrolled as a sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited four-year college/university or accredited community college in California for fall 2025.
2) Agricultural Students (high school senior)
- Planning to study agriculture in college.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Current high school senior (or a junior graduating in spring 2025) who will enroll at an accredited four‑year college/university or accredited community college in California in fall 2025.
3) Art Major
- Declared major or program in the arts (examples include visual arts, dance, music, film, etc.).
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Enrolled as a college freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior at an accredited four‑year college/university in California for fall 2025.
4) Business Major
- Declared program/major in Business or Agricultural Business.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Enrolled at an accredited four‑year college/university or accredited community college in California for fall 2025.
5) California State Fair Exhibitors or Volunteers (In Honor of Rex Hime)
- Either:
- Exhibited in California State Fair youth competitive programs (livestock, horse, small animal, dog, or still exhibits) in any year from 2021 through 2024; OR
- Volunteered in any year from 2021 through 2024 with the California State Fair Youth Task Force or the California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm Programs as a guide, intern, or assistant (during preparation, the Fair, or off-season).
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Enrolled at an accredited four‑year college/university or community college in California for fall 2025.
6) Culinary, Hospitality, or Event Planning Major
- Declared major in Culinary Arts/Cooking, Hospitality Management, or Event Planning.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Enrolled in fall 2025 at an accredited four‑year college/university, a California culinary specialty school, or an accredited community college in California.
7) International Agriculture Students (sponsored by Blue Diamond)
- Academic emphasis or interest in international agricultural trade; majors might include agriculture, economics, business, international studies, language studies, or related fields.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Enrolled at an accredited four‑year college/university or accredited community college in California for fall 2025.
8) Sacramento Region Top Achiever
- Current high school senior.
- Recognized as a Sacramento Region Top Achiever (defined as among the top 5% of the graduating class).
- Graduating from a school located in one of these counties: Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo, or Yuba.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Planning to enroll at an accredited four‑year college/university in California in fall 2025.
9) Teacher Credential Program
- Enrolled in a Teacher Credential Program or pursuing an undergraduate Education major.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Enrolled as a sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited four‑year college/university or accredited community college in California for fall 2025. Re‑entry professionals are eligible.
10) Top 10 Percent of Class
- Current high school senior ranked in the top 10% of the graduating class.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Planning to enroll at an accredited four‑year college/university in California in fall 2025.
11) Trade School Program
- Current high school senior planning to attend an accredited trade school program in California in fall 2025, or currently enrolled in an accredited trade school program in California.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
12) Wine Making or Grape Growing Major (Viticulture & Enology)
- Declared program/major in Viticulture or Enology.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- California resident with valid ID.
- Enrolled as a sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited four‑year college/university, or as a student at a community college in California, for fall 2025.
If you need this reformatted for an application packet or condensed into a checklist for applicants, tell me which format you prefer and I’ll prepare it.