George F. Sorn Scholarship

The Foundation recognizes that employees — and by extension their families — are the foundation of any agricultural enterprise. In 2007, it established the George F. Sorn Scholarship to help children of farmworkers realize their dreams of a college education. The scholarship benefits deserving high school graduates who are children of employees in the state’s specialty crop industry. A leading authority on farm labor, George F. Sorn led FFVA’s labor division for 17 years. He then served as FFVA’s vice president and general manager from 1984 until his retirement in 1992.

This year, there were a number of outstanding applicants for the George F. Sorn Scholarship. Congratulations to 2025 winner Vanessa Sales-Ramirez!

Awards
$3,000 is awarded annually.

The application period is closed.

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Scholarship Cover Letter

Scholarship Application

Mike and Karen Stuart Scholarship

A focus of FFVA and its foundation is to identify and develop leaders to be strong advocates for Florida agriculture and help foster a pipeline of talent in the industry. In an effort to instill passion for the agriculture industry, engage with a new generation of young leaders and foster a workforce dedicated to the future of Florida agriculture, FFVA created the Mike and Karen Stuart Scholarship. 

The scholarship encourages and supports incoming juniors through graduate program students who are currently pursuing or intend to pursue a career in the specialty crop industry. Applicants may be interested in either production agriculture (growing, shipping, packing) or the allied industry (fertilizer and crop protection, equipment, food safety, sales and marketing, etc.). The scholarship is in recognition of the devotion and many years of service to the specialty crop industry that Mike and Karen Stuart provided.

Congratulations to the 2026 scholarship recipients Ashlee Thomas and Hughes Putnam!

Ashlee Thomas is a senior at the University of Florida pursuing a degree in Food and Resource Economics (FRE) with a specialization in Agribusiness Marketing and Management. Following her graduation in December 2026, she will begin pursuing her Master of Business Administration while launching her career in the agricultural industry. Although the exact role is yet to be determined, Ashlee hopes to build a career that allows her to make a meaningful difference in agriculture. Her long-term goal is to return to her family’s business, Diamond 99 Watermelon Sales, bringing new ideas and experience while continuing to advocate for and promote the agricultural industry. 

Hughes Putnam is a junior at the University of Florida studying Food and Resource Economics and PPEL (Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law). After graduation, he hopes to advocate for farmers and shape agricultural policy through a role with policymakers or an agricultural organization. Ultimately, he plans to attend law school to become an agricultural attorney, defending Florida's agricultural interests. 

Awards
$2,500 per recipient

The 2026 Stuart Scholarship application period is closed.

Scholarship Requirements

Scholarship Application

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