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 training money certainly helps. This year the odds of receiving a scholarship from NAAA are better than ever. Under its new “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program, NAAA will award up to five flight training scholarships worth a combined $22,500. The deadline to apply for this year’s scholarships is Thursday, Aug. 31. 

• NAAA Scholarship Form (fillable PDF)
• NAAA Scholarship Form (print version)

How to Apply

Thanks to educational grants provided by BASF, GE Aviation and Thrush Aircraft, four $5,000 scholarships and one $2,500 scholarship have been established to support aspiring agricultural pilots in their training needs. Applicants must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator member. Scholarship recipients may use the proceeds for flight training or aviation-related 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.

Along with completing the two-part application, every applicant must submit:

• A letter of recommendation from the NAAA Operator member 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 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship to further your education and training. 
• A one-page résumé or list of activities detailing all agricultural and aviation experiences, education and training.