Scholarships from BASF and NAAA benefit agricultural aviators

BASF and the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) have teamed to award two scholarships for education toward aerial application.

The recipients are Colin Lowry, of Ephrata, Washington, and John Nienhuis, of Lawton, North Dakota. Lowry, a student at Big Bend Community College, received a $5,000 scholarship. Nienhuis, who is studying at North Dakota State University, received $2,500.

“Aerial application is crucial to the agricultural industry,” Gary Fellows, BASF's technical market manager, said. “With today’s chemical and technical advancements in agriculture, we have to constantly work to make sure our aerial applicators are safe and effective in the skies.”

Aerial pilots are a new resource to help farmers produce the best crop possible, which gives organizations like BASF and NAAA the opportunity to contribute to the industry in a new way by providing safety goals and scholarships to produce success.

“BASF has been a major supporter of NAAA over the years, and we appreciate their steadfast commitment to our scholarship program,” NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore said. “Since 2010, NAAA has awarded $46,000 in scholarship funds to 13 individuals through the NAAA and BASF Agricultural Aviation Scholarship program. By investing in the next generation, BASF is helping to ensure that this important industry to agriculture, forestry, biofuel production and public health protection is sustained. This is especially important with retirement approaching for a generation of baby boomer agricultural pilots.”
  
Mark Brown, owner of Quincy Flying Service, sponsored Lowry for the scholarship and Jess Brekke, president of Brekke Aviation sponsored Nienhuis.