One of the pillars of the National Dairy Shrine mission is to inspire youth, and a significant part of achieving this mission is providing scholarships to college students. Beginning in 2026, the National Dairy Shrine has made significant improvements to the number and value of scholarships, in addition to streamlining the application process.
At the organization’s board meeting in October 2025, board members approved a $500 increase to scholarships sponsored by National Dairy Shrine. This increase is reflective of the rising costs of expenses related to a college education.
In addition to increased scholarship value, there are several new scholarships available. This includes:
• The National Dairy Shrine Pre-Vet Scholarship: Supported by Zoetis, this scholarship provides $2,500 to a student enrolled in a pre-vet program in their third or fourth year of undergraduate study.
• The Richard H.L. Chichester Scholarship: This scholarship, supported by Select Sires, recognizes an undergraduate student currently enrolled in their third or fourth year at a four-year college with an explicit interest in the dairy industry. One $1,500 scholarship will be given. Funds for the scholarship will be provided in part by the sale proceeds of an elite dairy sire appropriately named S-S-I Richard Chichester-ET. The scholarship amount or quantity may increase over time as funds are added to the account.
Also, the student recognition award has been renamed the Dr. Les Hansen Student Recognition award thanks to a significant contribution by Dr. Hansen.
Applicants can now upload information using an online form, making the application process more streamlined. All information regarding scholarships and the application process can be found at www.dairyshrine.org/youth/#scholar.
The application process opens March 1, 2026 and all applications are due by midnight on April 15, 2026. For any questions about scholarships or the application process reach out to the National Dairy Shrine office at info@dairyshrine.org.
