The Tennessee Council of Cooperatives is a nonprofit organization established to promote the cooperative form of business through education and promotion of all types of cooperatives. The Council sponsors six college scholarships for agricultural students from each of Tennessee's four-year agriculture programs: Austin Peay State University; Middle Tennessee State University; Tennessee Technological University; the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; the University of Tennesse, Martin; and Tennessee State University.

The scholarship program, started in 1984, is an effort to acknowledge and aid the young people most likely to return to communities served by rural cooperatives. TCC considers the scholarships an investment in the future of cooperatives and their leadership. Several scholarship recipients from the past currently serve in one of Tennessee's cooperatives or in one of the state's agriculture-related agencies which work with, support and help build cooperative businesses.