BARABOO, Wis.-Foremost Farms USA will offer 11 scholarships worth $2,000 each to member-owners and the children of member-owners in 2005. The Agricultural Education Scholarships will be awarded to students who are pursuing a career in the agricultural field.

"We feel that making an investment in the future of agriculture will pay off in ways that we can't quantify," said Jim Kasten, v. p.-fluid milk, employee and member services. "Increasing the value of the scholarship to $2,000 puts us in line with what the average is for today's scholarship offerings. We are also increasing the number of scholarships awarded from nine to 11."

The scholarships will be awarded starting in this spring. The application deadline is February 25.A copy of the application is available on Foremost Farms' website at: www.foremostfarms.com or by calling 608/355-8798.

One of the 11 scholarships was established by the Don and Lois Storhoff, Reedsburg, Wis. Don Storhoff retired as president of Foremost Farms in 2001.