John Snider Memorial Award
John Eric Snider was a longtime farmer and agronomist specializing in regenerative agriculture who traveled throughout the western U.S. advising farmers and research projects. When he died in February 2022, this award was created in his memory via donations and gifts from his friends, family, and colleagues to honor his lifetime of work and dedication to sustainable farming. Funds were given with the intention to support Chico State students in their education in soil health and regenerative agriculture.
Awards are $1500 per recipient.
This award is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants must complete the required application and write an essay (see below). Applications will be reviewed and ranked, and the top candidates may be interviewed by the panel. Student GPAs will be validated at this time. Please provide a self-reported GPA in the award application. Awards will be distributed to students demonstrating dedication to their chosen field of study related to soil health and regenerative agriculture. The number of awards distributed will be at the discretion of the committee.
How to Apply
Choose one of the following two essay topics and write a 500-1000 word response . Then click the link below to fill out the application and copy and paste your essay into the space provided on the application. (4000 characters fit in the space — or provide a link to a Google Docs file.)
1. Explain the concept of soil health and how it affects the productivity and sustainability of agricultural systems. What are some of the factors that influence soil health and what are some of the practices that improve it?
2. Define regenerative agriculture and discuss its benefits for the environment, society and economy. How does regenerative agriculture differ from conventional agriculture and what are some of the challenges and opportunities for its adoption?