Alabama Cattlemen's Association Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Alabama Cattlemen's Association

Overview

Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation scholarships provide financial support to students across multiple academic levels and are available to members of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association. Funding comes from the sale of the "Cowboy" vanity car tag and private family donations. The program offers a range of awards tailored to high school seniors, undergraduate collegians, and post-graduate students. Details about specific scholarships and application requirements are grouped by eligibility category below.

• Member-supported scholarships funded by tag sales and donations
• Opportunities at high school, collegiate, and post-graduate levels
• Application and award details vary by award and student level

High School Seniors

High school seniors who are members or whose families are members of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association may apply for a range of Foundation scholarships designed for incoming college, junior college, or trade school students. These awards recognize academic achievement, service, and involvement in the cattle industry and related activities. The section below lists the specific high school–level scholarships available for the 2026–2027 cycle. Applicants should review eligibility and application requirements for each award before applying.

Eligibility: High school seniors.

Available Awards:

• "Tagged for Greatness" Scholarship
• "Tagged for Junior College" Scholarship
• "Tagged for Trade School" Scholarship
• Outstanding Junior Cattleman Scholarship
• Martha Davis Service Award
• Ina E. Powell Memorial Scholarship
• Cecil Lane Family Scholarship
• John Williams Memorial Scholarship
• Butch & Lisa Smathers Scholarship

• Targeted awards for entering college, junior college, or trade programs
• Recognize academic merit, service, and industry involvement
• Review each award’s criteria before applying

Collegians

College students (undergraduate level) may compete for scholarships that support academic excellence, civic and campus engagement, industry involvement, transfers, and participation in collegiate equestrian or rodeo teams. Additional named scholarships recognize leadership and scholarship in specific areas related to the cattle industry. Applicants should confirm enrollment and any program-specific requirements for each award. A list of available collegiate scholarships is provided below.

Eligibility: Collegians (undergraduate students).

Available Awards:

• "Tagged for Academic Excellence" Scholarship
• "Tagged for Civic Engagement" Scholarship
• "Tagged for Campus Involvement" Scholarship
• "Tagged for Industry Involvement" Scholarship
• "Tagged for Transfer" Scholarship
• Collegiate Equestrian/Rodeo Team Scholarship
• Harlice E. & Sara W. Kirby Scholarship
• Ed Wadsworth Memorial Scholarship
• May & Ned Ellis Family Scholarship
• Butch & Lisa Smathers Scholarship
• Milton Wendland Memorial Scholarship
• John Michael Brown Scholarship

• Support for academic and extracurricular excellence at the collegiate level
• Includes awards for transfer students and team participants
• Named scholarships honor donors and industry leaders

Post-graduate Students

Post-graduate scholarships support advanced study in fields related to animal sciences, veterinary medicine, agricultural law, and rural medicine. These awards are intended for students pursuing graduate or professional degrees who are engaged with the cattle industry or related disciplines. Applicants should verify graduate-level eligibility and any school- or program-specific requirements. The Foundation’s post-graduate awards are listed below.

Eligibility: Post-graduate students (graduate or professional programs).

Available Awards:

• Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship
• Auburn University Department of Animal Sciences Graduate Student Scholarship
• Agricultural Law Scholarship
• Rural Medicine Scholarship
• Smathers Family Veterinary Scholarship

• Designed for graduate and professional students in industry-related fields
• Includes veterinary and animal sciences support
• Check program-specific eligibility requirements before applying

Application Timeline

The 2026–2027 scholarship cycle opens on September 1, 2025, and the application window closes in November 2025. Applicants will receive notice of award decisions or deferrals by February 14, 2026. Scholarships will be presented at the 2026 Alabama Cattlemen's Foundation Scholarship Banquet. Candidates should confirm exact application deadlines and submission requirements for individual scholarships.

Application Timeline: Applications open September 1, 2025; close in November 2025; award notifications by February 14, 2026; awards presented at the 2026 scholarship banquet.

• Applications open September 1, 2025
• Submission window closes in November 2025
• Notifications issued by February 14, 2026; awards presented at the 2026 banquet