Maine Offering Money to Students Who Want to Farm

Maine agriculture officials are offering scholarship grants to students pursuing an education in farming and other fields involving natural resources.

The money is available through the state Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's "Rural Rehabilitation Fund." Department officials say students are eligible if they live in Maine and have been accepted for enrollment by a college that offers an agricultural degree.

The student must also demonstrate financial need and must be enrolled in a course of study that leads to a degree in agriculture or another natural resource field.

The deadline for this year's applications is March 1, 2016.

The Agricultural Resource Development Division manages this dedicated revenue fund for purposes of providing scholarships for farm families to assist their children in attending college. The Division is responsible for policy and loan-making decisions of this fund.

Investments of fund dollars go to providing low interest loans to farmers for purchasing land, or feeder cattle. The fund also provides capital improvement loans to agricultural fairs.

To date the fund has provided assistance to over 20 students, 7 farmers and 5 fairs.

For further information about the program contact Jessica Nixon at (207) 287-3494.