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MFA Incorporated and MFA Oil Company Expand Educational Opportunities Through Scholarship Program Changes
COLUMBIA, Mo. — June 30, 2026 — MFA Incorporated and MFA Oil Company today announced changes to their scholarship programs that will create additional educational opportunities for students while aligning each program with its respective foundation.
The MFA Foundation, established in 1958 and historically supported by both companies, will become the education-focused foundation of MFA Incorporated and its local affiliates, administering scholarship opportunities for eligible students connected to those organizations.
MFA Oil Company will move its scholarship program under the MFA Oil Foundation, which has supported rural communities through charitable giving since 1998. In addition to administering MFA Oil scholarships, the foundation will maintain its longstanding grant program that supports organizations focused on education, youth development, human services and civic efforts.
Together, these changes will create two distinct scholarship opportunities for qualifying students while allowing each organization to focus its educational giving in ways that best serve its members, customers and communities.
Since 1965, the MFA Foundation scholarship program has helped more than 16,000 students from rural communities pursue higher education. The program will remain a cornerstone of MFA Incorporated's commitment to supporting future generations.
Since 1998, the MFA Oil Foundation has awarded more than $4.7 million in grants throughout MFA Oil's market area. The foundation's grant criteria and application process remain unchanged.
“This is about clarity and focus,” said Bob Huffman, president and CEO of MFA Incorporated. “Both organizations care deeply about rural communities. Aligning the scholarship programs with each organization allows us to better support the people and communities we serve while continuing our shared commitment to education.”
“Our commitment to the communities where our customers live and work is unchanged,” added Jon Ihler, president and CEO of MFA Oil Company. “By bringing our scholarship program under the MFA Oil Foundation, we're creating additional opportunities for eligible students while allowing each foundation to focus on the unique needs of the communities it serves.”
Active grant commitments already approved under the MFA Foundation will continue without interruption. Current grantees will receive direct communication with additional information in the coming days. Future scholarship eligibility will align with each foundation's parent company, with additional details to be announced ahead of the next application cycle.
About the MFA Foundation
Established in 1958, the MFA Foundation provides educational opportunities for students in rural communities through its Scholarship Program. Since 1965, the program has helped more than 16,000 students from rural communities attend college or university. The MFA Foundation is the education-focused foundation of MFA Incorporated.
About the MFA Oil Foundation
The MFA Oil Foundation supports rural communities through scholarships and grants that strengthen education, youth development, human services and civic initiatives. Since 1998, the foundation has awarded more than $4.7 million in grants across MFA Oil Company's trade area. The MFA Oil Foundation is the charitable foundation of MFA Oil Company.
About MFA Incorporated
MFA Incorporated is a Midwest-based regional farm supply and marketing cooperative serving more than 45,000 farmer/owners in its trade area. Through its network of retail locations and affiliated cooperatives in Missouri and adjacent states, MFA provides value-added products, services and expertise to help farmers succeed.
About MFA Oil Company
MFA Oil Company, formed in 1929, is a farmer-owned cooperative and one of the nation's leading propane retailers. The company supplies fuels, lubricants and propane to customers in Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Through its subsidiaries, MFA Oil operates Break Time convenience stores, Big O Tires franchise locations and APM, a wholesale fuel distributor. MFA Oil also supports rural communities through the MFA Oil Foundation. Learn more at mfaoil.com.
Contacts
Steve Fairchild, Director of Communications, MFA Incorporated
573–876–5425 | sfairchild@mfa-inc.com
Tom May, Sr. Director of Employee Relations, MFA Oil Company
573-876-0311 | tmay@mfaoil.com
Note: This page is scheduled to be updated prior to December 2026