2026 Conservation Scholarships
RULES
Introduction
The Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI), in partnership with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), is proud to support the higher education goals of Iowa students who are passionate about conservation and agriculture.
High school seniors graduating in Iowa’s Class of 2026 who plan to pursue a program of study in any field related to conservation or agriculture are eligible to apply for the CDI Conservation Scholarship.
While a wide range of studies qualify, preference will be given to students pursuing degrees directly related to conservation and/or agriculture. Scholarship funds must be used toward the recipient’s first year of college education.
2026 Application & Instructions
Please note: The 2026 scholarship application form has been updated.
Previous versions will not be accepted.
Applicants should read and follow all instructions carefully, as incomplete or incorrectly filled-out applications will be disqualified. Pay close attention to submission deadlines—late applications will not be considered.
The official application form is available at: http://www.cdiowa.org/
Application Process & Deadlines
- November 2025: Participating SWCDs begin promoting the 2026 Conservation Scholarship.
- Friday, February 6, 2026: Applicants must submit completed applications to their county SWCD office (based on county of residence). To find your local office, visit the USDA Service Center Locator and select your county on the map.
- Friday, March 13, 2026: Each SWCD selects one county winner to forward to their CDI Regional Director.
- Friday, March 27, 2026: The Regional Director selects one regional winner to advance to the state-level competition.
- Friday, April 3, 2026: A panel of CDI Officers and members of the CDI Scholarship Committee reviews regional finalists and selects state winners.
- Friday, May 1, 2026: CDI notifies local SWCD offices of the winning applicants. Local offices will then contact the student, their school, and local media with results.
No applications will be considered if submitted after these deadlines.
Awards
Following the final selection process, the top three state-level scholarships will be awarded as follows:
- 1st Place: $3,000
- 2nd Place: $2,000
- 3rd Place: $1,000
Winners from the remaining six CDI regions will each receive a $500 regional scholarship.
Payment Details:
- The top three state awards will be paid directly to the recipient’s college or university in two equal installments: one at enrollment and one at midterm.
- Regional awards ($500) will be paid in one installment directly to the recipient’s school.
Selection Criteria
Scholarship applications will be evaluated based on the following:
- Involvement, Leadership & Character – 20 points
- Career Choice – 20 points
- Scholastic Achievement – 30 points
- Conservation Message – 30 points
Downloads
2026 Rules for Conservation Scholarships
Congratulations to the 2025 Scholarship Winners!
1st Place – Halaina Crane, Henry SWCD, Region 9, $3,000
2nd Place – Sage McLaren, Fremont SWCD, Region 8, $2,000
3rd Place (tie) – Garret McBeth, Boone SWCD, Region 6, $1,000
3rd Place (tie) – Parker Messerich, Clinton SWCD, Region 7, $1,000
Our 2025 Regional Winners – With an award of $500/Scholarship
CDI Region 1 – Colton Warren, Woodbury SWCD
CDI Region 2 – Elliott Carlson, Humboldt SWCD
CDI Region 3 – Danielle Wagner, Grundy SWCD
CDI Region 4 — Maranda Wood, Jackson SWCD
CDI Region 5 — Lola Comes, Cass SWCD