They had a deep appreciation for Jane Kile and her life’s work. A passionate AERO member, Jane was a pioneer in Montana’s organic farming and community supported agriculture (CSA) movements, and believed conserving wildlands, supporting sustainable forestry, farming and ranching and creating stable, self-sufficient rural communities were all important parts of the solution.

Russ shares:
“I met Jane at an AERO Ag Task Force Meeting, and we were friends and colleagues until her death. We called, talked, and we dreamed of what could be done to portray to all others what the land and its life had taught us. We never came up with a workable solution in our minds of letting the land show people what it needs to support life for all life.”

The Jane Kile Scholarship is AERO’s small way of remembering these giants in Montana’s sustainability movement, and paying their work forward.  We invite you to apply and keep the momentum going! 

Intentionally broad to accommodate a spectrum of creative project ideas, the Scholarship seeks to fund projects that “let the land show people what it needs to support life for all life.”

Past projects funded include: a solar energizer for electric fencing and a solar-powered mobile e-waste unit. Other ideas include: increasing soil fertility; funding a speaker in your local community; promoting zero waste on your farm, ranch or farmers market; season extenders for your garden plot, farm or ranch; promoting food growing in your community; establishing a gleaning project; renewable energy projects for your community, farm or ranch.

All ideas welcome!  Application deadline is November 30. Submit your application here.