YCAPS awards record $70,000 in scholarships to Local Agriculture Students

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Yuma County Ag Producers Scholarship (YCAPS) Program is setting a new record, awarding $70,000 in scholarships to 30 local students pursuing careers in agriculture.

The total surpasses last year's record of $61,000 awarded to 27 students. The program has continued to grow since its founding in 2007, with community support helping local students pursue degrees in agriculture and related fields.

YCAPS President Kyle Kuechel said the program was founded on a simple goal: Giving local students interested in agriculture a path forward while encouraging the community to invest in their education.

"The Yuma County AG Producers Scholarship was founded in 2007 with a simple but important idea. Local students who want to pursue agriculture education should have a path forward and our community should support them," Kuechel said.

YCAPS was established through the Friends of Dr. Barry Tickes Group.

Dr. Tickes is a retired agriculture agent and weed specialist who served Yuma, La Paz and Mohave counties.

Over the years, fundraising events including the Harvest Dinner, Southwest Ag Summit, Yuma Lettuce Days and the John Palumbo Memorial Golf Tournament have helped generate scholarship funding.

Kuechel said those community efforts have turned local support into educational opportunities for students pursuing agriculture-related careers.

The organization has awarded hundreds of scholarships since its creation. Kuechel previously reported that YCAPS had awarded 312 scholarships totaling more than $463,000 since 2007.

The scholarship is designed to provide continued support as students progress through college and, in some cases, graduate-level studies, as long as they remain in good standing.

For students like University of Arizona junior Erubiel Contreras, the financial assistance helps reduce the cost of pursuing an agriculture degree.

Contreras is studying sustainable plant systems and expects to graduate in spring 2027. He is also gaining hands-on experience through an internship with Gowan at the University of Arizona Yuma Agricultural Center.

"It really does help me a lot, or it does help us a lot in general, to get that money that's somewhat difficult to pay for these classes," Contreras said.

Guadalupe Gonzalez, a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in agricultural systems management, is another scholarship recipient.

Gonzalez has completed internships in production and laboratory settings at Condor Seed Production. She said the financial support allows her to focus more on her education and career.

"It truly helps me out, focus more on my actual career and helps me get better grades and focus on what matters to me right now," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez plans to continue her education after completing her undergraduate degree, with the goal of earning a master's degree in agriculture education and eventually helping mentor future students.

"Thank you to everybody that helped out with this. It truly makes a huge difference in our career and everything that we work for," Gonzalez said.

YCAPS says its investment is about more than the dollar amount. The organization encourages scholarship recipients to explore careers across the agriculture industry, including science, business, engineering, research, water management and technology.

The program's goal is to help build the next generation of agricultural professionals while keeping opportunities open for students who choose to build their careers in Yuma County or gain experience elsewhere before returning to the region.

The Yuma County Ag Producers Scholarship Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on providing scholarships for students pursuing agriculture and agribusiness studies.