The Angus Foundation is expanding its support for the next generation of the beef industry with the launch of a new Vo-Tech Scholarship, which will be available beginning with the 2026 application season.
The new scholarship is designed for students involved in the Angus breed who plan to pursue vocational or technical education that leads directly to skilled careers in agriculture and related fields. Foundation leaders say the program reflects a growing recognition that many young people are choosing hands-on careers that are essential to the cattle industry and broader agricultural economy.
The Vo-Tech Scholarship will support students attending accredited technical schools, community colleges, or certification programs. Eligible areas of study include welding, diesel mechanics, feedlot or processing-center operations, animal husbandry, agricultural technology systems, meat processing, and other trade-based training programs that support the beef supply chain.
“For many young people, vocational and technical programs provide the most direct path into meaningful careers that support our industry,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation Executive Director. “By adding this scholarship, we’re ensuring students who choose skilled trades have the support they need to contribute to the future of Angus business.”
The Vo-Tech Scholarship becomes part of the Angus Foundation’s broader scholarship portfolio, which also includes undergraduate, graduate, and Commercial Cattlemen scholarship opportunities. In 2025 alone, the Foundation awarded $395,500 in scholarships to 142 students pursuing degrees and technical certifications connected to agriculture and the beef industry.
The application period for the new Vo-Tech Scholarship is now open, and students are encouraged to apply through May 1, 2026.
The Vo-Tech Scholarship will support individuals pursuing vocational or technical education related to the beef industry. Applicants must be enrolled in accredited technical schools, community colleges, or certification programs that prepare students for skilled careers in agriculture and allied industries. Applications can be downloaded at www.angus.org/foundation/apply-for-scholarships and completed materials must be submitted by email to scholarships@angus.org by the May 1, 2026 deadline.
The Angus Foundation will also offer its Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship again this year. Five scholarships valued at $1,500 each will be awarded to undergraduate students involved in commercial cattle operations that utilize Angus genetics. To qualify, the applicant or their parent or guardian must have transferred or been transferred an Angus registration paper within the last 36 months, on or after May 1, 2023, and the operation must be considered commercial rather than seedstock. The scholarship applies to any field of study and applications are available at www.angus.org/foundation/apply-for-scholarships/commercial-scholarships. Completed applications must also be submitted by email to scholarships@angus.org by May 1, 2026.
Students who are members of the National Junior Angus Association can also apply for undergraduate and graduate Angus Foundation scholarships through a single application. One completed application makes students eligible for more than $250,000 in scholarships awarded annually through the Angus Foundation Scholarship Program. NJAA members can access the application through their American Angus Association login under the “Programs” tab at www.angusonline.org/Account/Login. Applications must be submitted through the AAA portal by May 1, 2026.
In addition, NJAA members may qualify for additional scholarship opportunities administered through partner organizations that share the Angus Foundation’s mission of supporting youth and leadership development in agriculture. Those external scholarship opportunities are listed at www.angus.org/foundation/apply-for-scholarships/external-scholarships and application deadlines vary depending on the program.
Foundation leaders encourage eligible youth to apply for the various scholarship opportunities available this year, including undergraduate, graduate, Vo-Tech, and Commercial Cattlemen scholarships, all of which help support the next generation of leaders in the beef industry.
