Saline County taking applications for $1,000 Oliver Hagg Scholarship

Kendrick Calfee, Salina Journal
·3 min read
In this file photo, Kelton Kern, 16, washes his angus steer named Maximus at the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center during the Tri-Rivers Fair.
In this file photo, Kelton Kern, 16, washes his angus steer named Maximus at the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center during the Tri-Rivers Fair.

The Saline County Expo Center is accepting applications for the Oliver Hagg Scholarship — a $1,000 renewable scholarship for students pursuing a career in agriculture — until March 6.

Saline County students graduating high school in 2023 and entering college or a vocational school in the fall and majoring in an agricultural field are eligible to apply.

Expo Center Director David Flaherty II said the applicant pool for the scholarship has been low in recent years.

"It's been tough trying to draw in applicants, you know, with the farming community going down, growing slimmer," Flaherty said. "I think last year we had one applicant... if we get any they usually come in the week before they are due."

Supporting the future of agriculture

As of Feb. 9, there have not been any applicants for this year's Oliver Hagg Scholarship. But Flaherty said he is hopeful for some applicants to make their way in closer to the March 6 deadline.

The scholarship is renewable every year the student is in school, and in order to renew, the student must maintain a 3.0 minimum grade point average and continue to major in the ag field.

Oliver Hagg was a local farmer who was invested in local 4H and FFA, and after his passing, he donated some land to Saline County.

In his will, Hagg stated that it was his wish that the land — 1,100 acres of farm ground — is used for conservation and education.​ There have been numerous projects done on the farm over the years, but in 2001, the County established the Oliver Hagg Memorial Scholarship Fund with money the county gets from renting out the land.

Each year a renewable $1,000 Scholarship is awarded to a Saline County High School Senior.​ Since its inception, 93 total students have received the scholarship.Beyond majoring in any agricultural related field, other criteria for this scholarship are community involvement and strong school/work ethic.

Students prove the aforementioned criteria by submitting the following items along with their application:

  • Transcript of high school grades. If home schooled, indicate such and provide appropriate documentation.

  • One letter of recommendation from school personnel.

  • One letter of recommendation from civic leader or minister.

  • One additional letter of recommendation.

  • One page summarizing your leadership, listing any awards and honors you have received, your extra-curricular activities including school, church and community.

  • One page stating your interest in the field of Agriculture and what you plan to do after completing college or vocational school and why you should be considered for this $1,000 scholarship, including financial need.

For an application, students can visit the Saline County Expo Center website at www.salinecountyks.gov/expo-center or visit their office located at 900 Greely Avenue, Salina KS 67401.

In the past, Flaherty said, students have said they appreciated the scholarship and that it helped them further their careers in agriculture.

"The biggest feedback we get is 'thank you very much, it really helped out," Flaherty said.

Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering county government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Saline County scholarship available to students studying agriculture