Board of Agriculture

The Somerset County Board of Agriculture is proud to administer the Tom Everett Memorial Scholarship. This annual scholarship was created to honor Tom’s personal and agricultural legacy, his initiative and leadership, and seeks to recognize those individuals whose goals are synonymous with Tom’s living definition of success.

General Submission Guidelines – All materials must be received by June 15

• Complete online application form
• Email personal essay and letters of recommendation to somersetcountybdofag@gmail.com
  • Letters of recommendation must be submitted by the person writing the letter
• Mail official transcripts to:
  Somerset County Board of Agriculture
  c/o RCE of Somerset County
  310 Milltown Road
  Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Academic Scholarship – $3,000

Eligibility: The applicant must be enrolled at and have completed the first year’s credits at any accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university in the United States. The applicant must be a New Jersey resident majoring in an agricultural subject area (i.e., Botany, Plant Science, Animal Science, Agronomy, Entomology, etc.) or other related fields. The applicant must also intend to pursue a career in production agriculture or in a field related to agriculture. The applicant (or parent, if under 21) must be a current member of NJ Farm Bureau. In the event of equally qualified applicants, deference will be given to the applicant(s) residing in Somerset County.

Application Materials

1. Online application form which requests:
   • Applicant information
   • List of all other scholarships applied for or received in the previous year
2. A 1-2 page essay (double spaced, typed) stating goals, plan of study and any other pertinent information regarding education and career
3. Two letters of recommendation (1 academic, 1 non-academic) from non-family members
4. An official copy of transcripts from most recent college attended

Continuing Education Scholarship – $500

Eligibility: The applicant (or parent, if under 21) must be a current member of NJ Farm Bureau and will be attending an accredited or approved seminar, workshop, or conference related directly to production agriculture or a field related to agriculture. The committee will review both the applicant and the seminar for eligibility. This scholarship will be awarded by March 1 of the following year, but will be transferred only after the successful applicant has attended the approved conference. Applicants in this category must be at least 18 years of age. In the event of equally qualified applicants, deference will be given to the applicant residing in Somerset County.

Application Materials:

1. Online application form which requests:
   • Applicant information
2. A 1-2 page essay (double spaced, typed) stating seminar/workshop/conference information, goals, plan of study and any other pertinent information regarding education and career

An “open house” event at a local farm where Somerset County residents are invited to enrich their own knowledge and appreciation of agriculture through a farm tour, interactive displays, and engagement with local farmers and agriculturalists. A per family donation to attend supports a noble cause, the Tom Everett Memorial Scholarship that supports the future of farming and education in our community.

• Date TBD

A farm-to-table event where ingredients for dinner are supplied by the farms in Somerset County and prepared by a local chef. This dinner not only highlights the amazing flavors of our local produce and meats but also supports the future of agriculture in our community because all proceeds support the Tom Everett Memorial Scholarship.

• Date TBD