Friends of the California State Fair

The Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program is a collaborative effort between the Friends of the California State Fair, the California Agricultural Advisory Council, and the State Fair Gala Committee.

Each year, the Friends of the California State Fair Student Scholarships help our state’s most promising students achieve their goals and realize their dreams by granting scholarships to a broad range of academic studies.

They are presented to college students and graduating high school seniors who exhibit academic excellence, leadership potential, civic accomplishments, and a strong sense of personal commitment to continuing their education.

What are the categories and who is eligible to apply?

The Friends of the California State Fair offers 12 categories of scholarships with varying eligibility requirements:

• Agricultural Students (current college student)
• Agricultural Students (high school senior)
• Art Major
• Business Major
• California State Fair Exhibitors or Volunteers
• Culinary, Hospitality, or Event Planning Major
• International Agriculture Students (sponsored by Blue Diamond)
• Sacramento Region Top Achiever
• Teacher Credential Program
• Top 10 Percent of Class
• Trade School Program
• Wine & Grape Growing Major

Applicants may apply for one scholarship category of their choice per year. Applicants must meet all of the criteria for a specific scholarship to be an eligible candidate. Applicants must plan to enroll for both the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters. Students graduating after the fall 2023 are not eligible to apply, as this scholarship is intended for the full academic year. 

Scholarship Categories and Requirements:

Agricultural Students (current college student)

• Have successfully completed 12 units of coursework credit in Agricultural classes
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be enrolled as a college sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student in a four-year accredited college or university or an accredited community college in the state of California in the fall of 2023

Agricultural Students (high school senior)

• Plan to be an Agricultural Student in college
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be a current high school senior (or junior graduating in spring 2023) enrolling in a four-year accredited college or university, or an accredited community college in the state of California in the fall of 2023

Art Major

• Have a declared program/major of Art. This can include, but is not limited to, visual arts, dance, music, film, etc.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be enrolled as a college freshman, sophomore, junior or senior in a four-year accredited college or university in the state of California in the fall of 2023

Business Major

• Have a declared program/major of Business or Agricultural Business
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be enrolled in a four-year accredited college or university, or an accredited community college in the state of California in the fall of 2023

California State Fair Exhibitors or Volunteers

• Be one of the following:
  • A participant (exhibitor) in the California State Fair any year from 2019 through 2022 in the competitive programs for youth (livestock, horse, small animal, dog, and still exhibits) or,
  • A volunteer any year from 2019 through 2022 in the California State Fair Youth Task Force or the California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm Programs as a guide, intern, or assistant either in preparation for the Fair, during the Fair, or offseason
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be enrolled at a four-year accredited college/university or community college in the state of California in the fall of 2023

Culinary, Hospitality, or Event Planning Major

• Have a declared program/major of Culinary Cooking or Hospitality Management or Event Planning
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be enrolled in a four-year accredited college or university, a California culinary specialty school, or an accredited community college in the state of California in the fall of 2023

International Agriculture Students (sponsored by Blue Diamond)

• Have an emphasis and interest in International Agricultural Trade, with a major of agriculture, economics, business, international studies, language studies, etc.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be enrolled in a four-year accredited college or university, or an accredited community college in the state of California in the fall of 2023

Sacramento Region Top Achiever

• Be a current high school senior
• Be recognized as a Sacramento Region Top Achiever (defined as the top 5 (five) percent of students in your graduating class)
• Be graduating from a school in one of these counties: Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo, or Yuba County
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be enrolled at a four-year accredited college or university in the state of California in the fall of2023

Teacher Credential Program

• Be enrolled in a Teacher Credential Program or be an undergraduate Education major
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be enrolled as a college sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student in a four-year accredited college, university, or an accredited community college in the state of California in the fall of 2023 (re-entry professionals included)

Top 10 Percent of Class

• Be a current high school senior in the top 10 percent of your graduating class
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be enrolled at a four-year accredited college or university in the state of California in the fall of2023

Trade School Program

• Be a current high school senior with a plan to enter an accredited trade school program in California in Fall 2023 or currently be enrolled in an accredited trade school program in California.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID

Wine Making or Grape Growing Major

• Have a declared program/major of Viticulture or Enology
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Be a California resident with a valid ID
• Be enrolled as a college sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student in a four-year accredited college or university, or as a student in a community college in the state of California in the fall of 2023