Niman Ranch celebrated its more than 550 U.S. family hog farmers and awarded 16 Next Generation Scholarships this weekend in Des Moines, Iowa, at its 13th Annual Hog Farmer Appreciation Dinner. Niman Ranch established the Next Generation Scholarship Fund in 2006 to preserve the integrity of U.S. family farms by supporting the children of rural communities who wish to attend college and pursue an education focusing on sustainable or environmental practices and who intend to return to the family farm upon graduation.
The Next Generation Scholarship Fund receives contributions from sustainable food advocates including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Whole Foods Market and many members of Niman Ranch’s distributor network. Since 2006 more than $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 60 students. This year, Niman Ranch provided 16 deserving students scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $1,000 each.