Applications are now open for high school seniors with an interest in agriculture to apply to become a Kentucky Ag Athlete of the Year. The award also comes with a scholarship from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
To be eligible, students must participate in at least one KHSAA sport during the 2023-2024 school year and be a graduating senior accepted to a college, university, or trade school following graduation. Officials said applicants are not required to be an agricultural major, and preferences will be given to Kentucky colleges.
Elizabeth Gordon is the Division Director of the Education and Outreach Division for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. She said when looking at applications, they are looking at more than just being involved with an organization.
“We love to see applications with active agriculture, either working on their family farm, being born and raised. Sometimes they work on a neighbor farm, or they just have a desire to work in agriculture,” said Gordon.
Gordan added there are so many ways that an applicant could be involved in agriculture, and it is purposefully left open-ended.
“We are accepting of any kind of agriculture. We’ve had several in the past, we’ve had applications from urban students, from Louisville and Lexington,” said Gordon.
One boy and one girl will be announced as the winners at the 2024 UK Healthcare Boys’ Sweet 16 in March at Rupp Arena and will each be awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Four other winners will be awarded $1,000 scholarships.
The Ag Athlete of the Year scholarships are funded through the KDA’s “Ag Tag” Program, funded by voluntary donations from Kentucky motorists buying or renewing their farm vehicle license plates. The deadline to apply is December 31. Those interested can visit the KHSSA website.