programs

Scholarships

Promoting Family Life through Youth and Agriculture

HCIL is committed to supporting continued education for young adults with an agriculture background and/or pursuing a career in agriculture. The League encourages youth to challenge themselves and work towards their potential by furthering their education after high school.

To help meet this financial commitment, the League established a scholarship fund in 1993. Scholarships are awarded annually in the amount of up to $1,000 each.

Recipients must be a resident of Hampden County for at least two years, be a good student and must show current or previous involvement in 4‑H, an agricultural endeavor or be a member of a farm family.

Dates to Remember

Download Scholarship Application: Now Available

Deadline to Apply: Applications and pertinent information must be postmarked or received by June 1.

Grants

Providing grants for any agricultural endeavor within Hampden County, including 4‑H, fairs, educational institutions and independent agricultural projects.

HCIL Grant Program

The Hampden County Improvement League (HCIL) is a non-profit 501©3 organization committed to promoting and supporting agriculture within Hampden County. Our funding is aimed to support programs for youth development and agriculture awareness. The HCIL is limited to recipients in Hampden County.

Hampden County Improvement League Youth Agricultural Development Grant Application

Applicants must be between the ages of 13 to 21 as of January 1st the year in which they apply. Each applicant can only receive financial support one time for a specific program. Other similar programs in the future, if awarded, will be considered but not guaranteed depending on the applicant pool for the current year for any previous recipients of the grant. This will be at the discretion of the HCIL current Youth Agricultural Development Grant Committee.

Embryology

Hampden County Improvement League supplies equipment and assistance for embryology programs conducted in local schools. For more information, contact us.

Interested in adding to or improving your science curriculum?

The Massachusetts 4-H Embryology Program is a four-week science program for the classroom; it teaches about the development of life and encourages teamwork and responsibility as students care for the eggs in the incubator and the chicks in the brooder. The UMass 4-H Program offers this program for schools and educational groups in the Western Massachusetts Region (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties), and Middlesex, Norfolk and Plymouth counties.