By: 2018 Fall NAWG Intern Lainey Wolf
The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) is proud to announce that applications for the Jerry Minore Memorial Scholarship are now being accepted. NWF and chemical company, BASF, partner together each year to award four scholarships to students pursuing agriculture-related degrees. NWF and BASF created the scholarship to honor the life and legacy of Jerry Minore, a BASF employee and an advocate for wheat farmers and the agriculture industry.
The Minore Memorial Scholarship is open to freshman, sophomore or junior college students pursuing agricultural degrees at any accredited junior/community college, college, or university. The student must also be a member of the National Association of Wheat growers (NAWG), have a parent or grandparent that is a member of NAWG or be nominated by a someone on the NAWG Board of Directors or state wheat association. A brief essay about agricultural views and educating the next generation of consumers about wheat is also required.
Applicants selected to receive the scholarship and their parents are invited to attend the 2019 Commodity Classic for an expense paid award ceremony and networking opportunity with industry professionals and growers. The Commodity Classic is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused trade show, and it will take place in Orlando, Florida from Feb 26th-March 2nd. Leading commodity groups such as NAWG, American Soybean Association (ASA), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and National Sorghum Producers (NSP) will be represented at the Commodity Classic.
In its sixth year, the Minore Memorial Scholarship has provided students with the resources they need to gain educational and career experiences in agriculture. 2018-2019 scholarship recipient Kayla Beechinor said, “I am very thankful that I was able to receive the scholarship, because it has allowed me to save money, so I can attend graduate school. This scholarship has also made me want to support other college students in the future, because I want them to have the amazing opportunity that I have had.” Kayla is currently a junior at Washington State University and plans on pursuing a PhD in plant breeding. Besides having leadership roles in multiple organizations on campus, she was able to work as a plant breeding intern for Monsanto in Oahu, Hawaii.
Another 2018-2019 scholarship recipient, Kennedy Klein, is a student at North Dakota State University majoring in Crop and Weed Science with a minor in Botany. Kennedy plans on pursuing a career in agronomy sales after graduating in December. Kennedy said, “The Minore scholarship gave me a once in a lifetime trip that I will never forget. I met so many great people and ag influencers and learned so much about the industry and how it works.” The Jerry Minore Memorial Scholarship has provided financial support for students like Kennedy and Kayla, who will undoubtably become bright young leaders in agriculture.
The deadline to apply to the Jerry Minore Memorial Scholarship is December 1st. To read more about the Minore Scholarship or access the application visit here.
