Scholarships

The J. Fielding Reed Scholarship
The Jimmy & Bunny Champion Academic
Achievement Award
The Ray Hays Family Scholarship
The GCPA Legacy Scholarship
the Glen & Mary harris agronomy & Service To Agriculture Scholarship
The R.W. Griffin Agriculture Scholarship

An important part of the mission of The Georgia Plant Food Educational Society is the support of the education of young men and women interested in a career in agriculture or agribusiness. As a part of that effort, the GPFES offers the following scholarships annually

SUBMISSION DATE – Wednesday, November 11, 2026

J. Fielding Reed $2000
Scholarship

The J. Fielding Reed Scholarship is funded by the GPFES in memory of Dr. J. Fielding Reed who retired as President of the Potash & Phosphate Institute, served as Professor and teacher at the University of Georgia College of Agriculuture, President of GPFES and mentor to many of the members of the GPFES

Jimmy & Bunny Champion $3000 Academic Achievement Award

The Academic Achievement Award is funded by the GPFES in memory of Jimmy and Jacqueline “Bunny” Champion for their outstanding and long-term service to the GPFES. Bunny Champion passed away in 2008 and Jimmy Champion, former long-time president of GPFES passed away in 2021.

Ray hays family $2000 scholarship

The Ray Hays Family Scholarship is funded by GPFES honoring the Ray Hays Family for their outstanding and long-term service to the GPFES. Hays LTI of Camilla, Georgia is a key manufacturer and distributor of fertilizer and other agricultural equipment. Special consideration will be given to applicants who desire to pursue a career in the agricultural equipment field.

GCPA Legacy $2000
Scholarship

The GCPA Legacy Scholarship is funded by the GPFES. The Georgia Crop Production Alliance was formed in 1981 in efforts to educate the retail/wholesale chemical industry, educators, and government agencies on changes within the c/p industry. To consolidate resources, GCPA disbanded their organization in late 2023 and encouraged their membership to join GPFES

Glen & Mary harris agronomy & service to AGRICULTURE
$2000 Scholarship

The Glen & Mary Harris Scholarship was established in 2026 in honor of Dr. Glen Harris, UGA Extension Soils and Fertility Specialist. Now retired, served as the educational advisor to GPFES from 1995 to 2025. His wife Mary, unselfishly served agriculture through countless hours of volunteer work and fundraising efforts for GPFES scholarships and projects.

R.W. Griffin Agriculture $5000 Scholarship

The R.W. Griffin Agriculture Scholarship is funded by R.W. Griffin Industries, LLC in memory of its founder, Mr. R.W. Griffin, who established a retail farm supply store and cotton business in Douglas, Georgia in 1922. Today the company has 21 retail locations, two cotton gins, four peanut buying points, and several major liquid and dry fertilizer terminals.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility: requires that the student is attending a degree-granting institution in Georgia. Priority will be given to the relevance to GPFES educational objectives and includes the disciplines of agronomy, horticulture, ecology, soil fertility, soil chemistry, plant physiology, and other areas related to soil fertility and plant nutrition.