The primary purpose of the Fair is to provide a place to display livestock, agriculture, crafts and the like in a safe, family-oriented environment. The Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair is a special annual event of very limited duration, with a specific objective of providing thousands of attendees an educational and entertainment experience, serving a main audience of family and youth, in a safe, family-oriented environment.
**PURCHASE OR ACCEPTANCE OF A TICKET, PASS, OR RIDE ARMBAND AND ENTRY INTO THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA & LEE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS CONSTITUTES YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF ALL RULES, SAFETY GUIDELINES, PROHIBITED ITEMS, ANY EXPOSURES RELATED TO A FAIR, INCLUDING UNEVEN GROUNDS AND SURFACES, ANIMALS, RIDE ACTIVITIES, AND INCLUDING COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AS POSTED ON SWFLCFAIR.COM**
Scholarship Applications are accepted electronically. Please email your Application Packet to fcrone@leeciviccenter.com by Monday, April 1, 2024.
Instead of transcripts, please include a copy of your most recent semester-ending report card. Please don’t hesitate to email with any questions.
The Fair Association offers four (4) Scholarships to graduating Senior’s meeting set criteria.
Livestock Exhibitor Youth Scholarship
A total of $10,000 in scholarship funds are available to be awarded to qualifying applicants in the Livestock Department to for the Fall term of the year of qualifying. A minimum of $500 up to a maximum of $2,500 is awarded to qualifying applicants, based on evaluated scores. The applicant must be an active exhibitor involved in the Livestock Department with the Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair, hold a 3.0 GPA, and be a current high school senior. This includes seniors who are concurrently dual enrolled in a college.
Lee County Farm Bureau Youth Scholarship
A total of $1,000 for tutition is available to be awarded to two qualifying applicants at $500 each who meet the criteria. This scholarship is funded by the Lee County Farm Bureau and administered by the Fair Association. Awards are determined based on evaluated scores. The applicant must be an active 4H/FFA Exhibitor showing in the Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair, be a resident of Lee County, hold a minimum 3.0 GPA, be a current high school senior – this includes seniors who are concurrently dual enrolled in a college, and who aspire to major in an Agricultural related field.
Open Exhibitor Youth Scholarship
A total of $10,000 in scholarship funds are available to be awarded to qualifying applicants in the Open Exhibitor Youth Scholarship Division. A minimum of $500 up to a maximum of $2,500 is awarded to qualifying applicants, based on evaluated scores. The applicant must be an active exhibitor or participant in the Fair, or has participated 3 out of the 4 high school years, in the Fair, hold a 3.0 GPA, and be a current high school senior. This includes seniors who are concurrently dual enrolled in a college.
Adam Barfield Market Animal Youth Scholarship Application
A total of $5,000 in scholarship funds is available to be awarded to two qualifying applicants in the Market Animal Division. The applicant must be an active 4H/FFA Exhibitor showing in the Market Animal Division with the Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair, hold a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be a current high school senior. This includes seniors who are concurrently dual enrolled in a college.
Tips for Youth Scholarships
- Take the ACT and/or SAT more than once if you are not satisfied with your score. And take it during your senior year! A few more months of maturity and finishing your junior year classes help. If you don’t do well on one of the tests, take the other one. TAKE A PREP CLASS!
- Fill out every question of the application. Even a sentence or two about why you don’t have leadership roles/special circumstances/a job is better than leaving it blank.
- Get a job. Even if it’s baby-sitting, pet sitting or mowing lawns, it shows initiative.
- Take a leadership role. Even if it’s secretary of the Spanish Club, do it.
- Most schools require volunteer hours; be able to show how you made a difference during those hours. Instead of “handed out water during the marathon”, write, “worked the water station at the marathon promoting physical fitness, raising funds for charity and ensuring runners were well hydrated.
- Let your personality show, even if you have limited space. Try to describe how the activities you were involved in enriched your life. “I never thought I’d enjoy cleaning cages at the humane society shelter, but spending time with dogs made me realize how much joy they bring.
- Count the hours. For example, most marching band members spend 10-20 hours a week outside of class in rehearsal. Include those numbers.
- There are a lot of scholarships out there. Bug your guidance counselor for lists.
- Always show your application to a trusted adult before submitting.
- Do not lie, but the more information, the better.
- Find leadership roles in group activities, including sports teams, scouts and band. It helps.
- Have a “low” GPA or test score? Explain it. Text anxiety. Illness. Divorce. Working to help support family finances. Everything is taken into consideration.
- Adults want to help. There is money out there. Go for it!
Congratulations to our 2023 Scholarship Winners
2023 Livestock Exhibitor Youth Scholarship Recipients
Zane Rice – $2,000
Kelsey Dodd – $1,800
Britnee Patrick – $1,700
Lindsay Widener – $1,700
Katie Howard – $1,100
Ethan Watkins – $1,100
Haley Cassaday – $600
2023 Open Exhibitor Youth Scholarship Recipients
Ethan Watkins – $2,500
Lindsay Widener – $2,500
Katie Howard – $1,500
Britnee Patrick – $1,500
Haley Cassaday – $1,000
Kelsey Dodd – $1,000
2023 Adam Barfield Market Animal Youth Scholarship Recipients
Kelsey Dodd – $2,500
Ethan Watkins – $2,500
2023 Farm Bureau Youth Scholarship Recipients
Haley Cassaday – $500
Ethan Watkins – $500
