The Melplash Agricultural Society Scholorship Scheme that awared £35,000 to students this year is open for applications for next year’s award. The scheme has awarded £327,000 to 122 students since it began.
This year awards went to twenty-two students who live within 12-miles radius of the Melplash Village Church. The recipients include fifteen students aged 16 years or over who are beginning studies in agriculture, forestry, horticulture or related subjects, and seven previous recipients whose colleges or universities have submitted satisfactory annual reports.
‘Since its launch in 2007, the Society’s Scholarship Scheme has provided financial support to students starting careers in agriculture, helping fund apprenticeships, diplomas and degree courses. Support may continue throughout a recipient’s course, subject to satisfactory reports from their college or university’ said Society Director George Rendell. ‘We also offer a Travel Bursary to those planning to work overseas and broaden their agricultural experience. Funding varies because each application is assessed on its merits. To date, the Society has awarded £327,000 to 122 students.’
The application form is available to download from www.melplashshow.co.uk. For more details visit the website or contact the Society Secretary Lucy Hart: lucy@melplashshow.co.uk or ring 01308 423337 available from www.melplashshow.co.uk The closing date for applicants for 2027 is July 1 2027.
This year’s 22 students received their awards from the President of the Society, Peter Hardwill in the main ring at the Melplash Show held on 26 August 2026.
Scholarships awarded in 2026 went to Meagan Lister studying T-Level in Livestock at Coastland College; James Batchelor studying Agriculture at Harper Adams University; Ed Stantiford studying T-Level in Livestock Production, Environmental and Animal Care at Lackham College; Jack Ferrett studying Gamekeeping at Sparsholt College; Junior Attinger studying Agriculture at Coastland College; Bobby Ashton studying City & Guilds in Horticulture; Alec Slade studying Land Based Engineering at Bicton College; Eliza Curtis studying T-Level in Livestock Production at Coastland College; Ivy Hopkins studying in Livestock Production at Coastland College; Isabella Avery studying Level 2 in Agriculture at Bicton College; Joseph Pullan studying Professional Forester Degree Apprenticeship; Simon Sage studying Rural Estate and Land Management at Harper Adams University and Felix Sowerbutts studying Rural Estate and Land Management at Harper Adams University.
A Travel Bursary was awarded to Will Banham travelling to Australia to work on a 12,000 sheep, 1,200 cattle farm near Melbourne and Arthur Hazelhurst also travelling to Australia to work on a 12,000 sheep, 1,200 cattle farm near Melbourne.
The Melplash Agricultural Society a charity—charity no 1130201—supports and promotes farmers and food producers in West Dorset. Its showcase event is the popular Melplash Agricultural Show held annually on the Thursday before Bank Holiday in August. In 2027 it will be Thursday 26 August.
The Melplash Show, as well as showcasing the work of local farmers, raises funds to help the Society support the education of agricultural in West Dorset through its Discover Farming and Scholarship scheme. www.melplashshow.co.uk
Discover Farming is the education programme of the Society to help educate children about food, farming and the environment. www.discoverfarming.co.uk
