The John White Memorial Scholarship (open category) was introduced in 2007 in honour of former NSW Farmers Chief Executive Officer John White, who passed away in 2006. John played an important role in amalgamating the Graziers Association and the United Farmers and Woolgrowers Association, to form the Livestock and Grain Producers Association of New South (LGPA NSW) in 1978, one of the forerunners to NSW Farmers. As Chief Executive Officer of the new state body, John went on to help assist other amalgamations at a federal level to form the National Farmers Federation (NFF) the following year.