Applicants must be FFA members working towards two or four-year degrees in one of the following areas of agriculture: agronomy, crop science, agricultural communications, education, journalism, extension, public relations, business management, economics, finance, sales, marketing, plant pathology, plant breeding, plant genetics, soil science, soil conservation, water conservation or public service and administration. Applicants must also be residents of Arkansas, Californis, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Nebraska to be eligible for this award. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required. Selection is based on the overall strength of the application.