ASA/BASF Soy Scholarship
Offered by American Soybean Association
About This Scholarship
The Soy Scholarship is a $7,000 award from the American Soybean Association, the national policy group for U.S. soybean farmers, sponsored with BASF. It goes to a single high school senior who plans to enroll in an agricultural program in college, which makes it one of the larger one-time awards open to ag-bound seniors.
Eligibility runs through ASA membership. The applicant must be the child or grandchild of an ASA member, which in practice usually means a parent or grandparent who belongs through their state soybean association. Applicants who are 18 or older can also join ASA on their own. The award is paid in two $3,500 installments across the freshman year, and the second payment depends on staying in good academic standing.
The application centers on a 500-word essay on the question of what role the applicant will play in the future of agriculture, plus two recommendation letters and a high school transcript. The current form, for the 2027-2028 college year, must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. Central on December 31, 2026.
Eligibility
- Current high school senior planning to enroll in an agricultural program in fall 2027
- Child or grandchild of a state soybean association / American Soybean Association member (applicants 18 or older may join ASA independently; dues are not listed on the scholarship page)
- Must maintain good academic standing to receive the second $3,500 installment
How To Apply
- Confirm that a parent or grandparent holds a current state/ASA membership, or join ASA yourself if you are 18 or older
- Write a 500-word maximum essay on "What role will I play in the future of agriculture?" (.doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf, or .txt, under 10MB)
- Collect two recommendation letters, one from an authority figure and one personal (such as an FFA advisor or pastor), plus an official or unofficial high school transcript showing your GPA scale
- Submit the online application linked from the Soy Scholarship page by 11:59 p.m. CST on December 31, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my family have to farm soybeans?
The requirement is membership, not acreage. You must be the child or grandchild of an ASA member (usually through a state soybean association), or join ASA yourself if you are 18 or older.
Is the $7,000 paid all at once?
No. It is paid in two $3,500 installments over the freshman academic year, and the second semester's payment requires good academic standing.
Can college students apply?
No. The Soy Scholarship is limited to current high school seniors heading into an agricultural program.