Value Added Producer Grant

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter value-added activities to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income.

You may receive priority if you are:

• Beginning farmer or rancher.
• Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher.
• Small or medium-sized farm.
• Ranch structured as a family farm.
• Farmer or rancher cooperative.
• Proposing a mid-tier value chain.

For more information visit Value Added Producer Grants in Washington | Rural Development (usda.gov)

National Dairy Promotion and Research Board Scholarship

The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDPRB), through Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI), annually awards up to eleven $2,500 scholarships to eligible undergraduate students (rising sophomore through senior) enrolled in college/university programs that emphasize dairy. Majors include: communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, business, economics, nutrition, food science, and Ag education. In addition, the NDPRB awards a $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to the outstanding scholarship recipient.

For more information visit 2023 National Dairy Board Scholarship Program (abstractscorecard.com)

Tom Imbordino Dairy Science Scholarship

This scholarship to supports those interested in pursuing careers within the dairy or food industry. Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of the following criteria: academic performance, commitment to a career in the dairy or food industry as well as the potential for success. This scholarship is set at $3,500 in 2023 with multiple winners to be awarded this year.

Applicants may be junior or senior level undergraduate students and Master or Ph.D. candidates in dairy or food sciences, attending a North American university.

For more information visit Tom Imbordino Dairy Science Scholarship - FPSA -.

Washington Dairy Ambassador Scholarship

Dairy Farmers of Washington is committed to supporting current and former county and state dairy ambassadors who served county or statewide in Washington.

• The applicant must be a former or current county or state Dairy Ambassador in Washington state enrolled in a four-year university, two-year college and/or trade school in any state for the 2023-2024 academic year with any major.
• Any major or field of study at an accredited institution qualifies. 
• The winner of a $5,000 award must wait one year before they can re-apply for any subsequent award.
• There is no waiting period required for any winner of a lesser dollar award to re-apply.

For more information visit Washington Dairy Ambassador Scholarship (wadairy.org).

Disaster Assistance Program *Whatcom County*

State funding is still available to reimburse up to 75% of eligible damages or losses. The Washington State Conservation Commission and Whatcom Conservation District are administering grants through a Disaster Assistance Program.

A farmer or rancher must:

-Have sustained physical damage or incurred cost due to the major flooding event that occurred in Whatcom County during November 2021, and

-Provide documentation of a reduction in agricultural income or activity as a result of a natural disaster such as a flood, earthquake, or wildfire.

For more information visit Disaster Assistance Program (wa.gov)

or contact Corina Cheever 360-526-2371.