From seeking a mentor to finding the funds for training, the road to becoming an ag pilot is fraught with obstacles, but having $5,000 in seed money certainly helps. That’s the top prize in the 2014 NAAA/BASF Agricultural Aviation Scholarship competition. Applications are due by Aug. 31, so if you have been thinking about applying or sponsoring an applicant now is the time to start preparing. NAAA handed out $31,000 worth of training money to nine aspiring ag pilots in the first four years of the scholarship’s existence, and up to $7,500 could be awarded this year.

The goal of the Agricultural Aviation Scholarship is to strengthen the aerial application industry by helping NAAA Operators bring new pilots into the profession. Each applicant must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator, and scholarship recipients must use the proceeds for flight training or agricultural coursework at a university, college, community college or other institution of higher learning. A stipend for a trainee in an NAAA Operator-sponsored apprentice program is also permissible.

To be considered for the 2014 scholarship applicants must submit:

• A letter of recommendation from the NAAA Operator sponsoring the applicant.
• An essay of 250 words or less written by the applicant explaining why you want to pursue a career in agricultural aviation and how you would use NAAA’s Agricultural Aviation Scholarship to further your education and training.
• A one-page résumé or list of activities detailing all agricultural and aviation experiences, education and training.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria: need, prior experience, likelihood of retention in the aerial application industry, strength of the operator’s recommendation letter, and strength of the applicant’s essay. Click here to read the full instructions and print the scholarship application. If you have questions about any of the requirements, call NAAA at (202) 546-5722.