Wisconsin Dairy Students Get $29,000 in Awards

Students at U.S. colleges and technical schools can apply for dairy-industry scholarships with applications due February 19, 2027.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Scholarships

Bold vector editorial illustration of a round wheel of pale yellow cheese on a wooden board, with a red barn and green fields in the distance. — Wisconsin dairy students can apply for $29,000 in scholarships from the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association before the February 19, 2027 deadline. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association is offering $29,000 in scholarship support to Wisconsin dairy students and industry professionals. Applications are due February 19, 2027, and awards are split across three named programs.

Why it matters

For students pursuing dairy-related degrees or skilled trades, these awards offer direct financial help tied to the state's cheese industry, which funds them through its own members and suppliers. The scholarships are open to students attending a U.S. college, university, or technical school, so they can reduce out-of-pocket costs for in-state students heading into the sector.

The Myron P. "Mike" Dean Cheese Industry Student Scholarship pays $5,000 to each of two students, with eligibility limited to employees or children of employees at WCMA dairy member companies. The Brian Eggebrecht Student Scholarship Supporting Skilled Trades in the Dairy Industry pays $2,000 to each of two students.

The players

Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association

A state trade group whose members are Wisconsin dairy companies, offering scholarships for students and workers entering the cheese industry.

The details

Applicants submit school transcripts, a letter of recommendation, and a completed application form. Forms are available online at WisCheeseMakers.org/Scholarships or by request from WCMA Programs & Policy Manager Amelia Neas. Two WCMA programs target students at a U.S. college, university, or technical school, and the Supplier scholarship funds three $5,000 awards.

February 19, 2027: Deadline to submit scholarship applications.
March 2027: WCMA announces successful applicants.
April 21, 2027: Awards presented at CheeseCon in Madison, Wisconsin.

Education Landscape

Industry-funded scholarships like these fill a gap for students pursuing specialized technical and trade paths, where tuition and training costs can be high relative to entry-level pay. Awards tied to a specific employer sector are a common way workforce-dependent industries recruit and keep trained staff.

Students planning dairy or skilled-trades careers should note the February 19, 2027 deadline and gather transcripts and a letter of recommendation in advance. Ask your school's financial-aid office how industry scholarships like these interact with other aid you receive.

The takeaway

Industry scholarships can offer targeted help for students entering specialized fields, so check whether your intended field has a sponsoring association. Mark February 19, 2027 as the application deadline and start collecting transcripts and recommendation letters early.