Race for Education offers scholarship
for Locust Trace Agriscience Farm student

In January, the Race for Education board approved for a $5,000 college scholarship to be awarded to one high school senior that currently attends Lexington’s Locust Trace AgriScience Farm and is interested in pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field of study.

At Locust Trace, students learn about agricultural business, farm management, and environmental stewardship and entrepreneurship. These students not only benefit from a traditional academic setting, but gain hands-on experience working directly with animals and crops on the farm’s 82-acre site off Leestown Road. The property also includes a veterinary clinic, arena barn, livestock barn and community gardens.

Some of the courses high school students can register for at the farm include: plant and land science; biotechnology and environmental science; agriculture power mechanics; equine and veterinary science; small and large animal science. Locust Trace also pursues net-zero energy usage and sitting lightly upon the land. The farm is minimally connected to water, sewage and electric municipalities. Instead, Locust Trace relies on photovoltaic solar panels, constructed wetlands, on-site wells, cisterns, and passive solar and geothermal technology.

The deadline to apply for the Locust Trace scholarship is April 15. Application information is available at www.raceforeducation.org/scholarship. The candidate will be chosen by a selection committee. Criteria includes financial need, communication skills, leadership, and commitment to the agriculture industry. The recipient will also have the opportunity to participate in The Race For Education’s federal Assets For Independence financial literacy program and receive an additional $4,000 in scholarship funding.

The Race for Education provides educational programs and college scholarships to young people in the equine and agriculture industries with significant financial need. The majority of their students come from high-need, low-income backgrounds. The Race for Education not only offers financial support for these students, but also mentoring, tutoring, and partnership support to ensure students are receiving the support and educational skills they need to be successful.

From Race for Education