Jane Kile (1954-2010) was a pioneer in Montana’s organic farming and community-supported agriculture movements. An early AERO member and farmer out of Dixon, MT, Jane Kile believed that conserving wildlands, supporting sustainable forestry, farming and ranching operations, and creating stable, self-sufficient rural communities were all important parts of the solution. She was a respected teacher, conservationist, community activist, and an advocate for the sanctity of all life on earth, and appreciated kindred spirits who rolled up their sleeves and participated in finding solutions. Russell Salisbury, her long-time friend and whose contributions to AERO endow this scholarship, shares: “I met Jane at an AERO Ag Task Force Meeting, and we were friends and colleagues until her death. We dreamed of what could be done to portray to all others what the land and its life had taught us.”
Funding through the Jane Kile Memorial Scholarship is awarded for projects that seek to be part of the solution for a more sustainable Montana, and that embody the spirit, innovation, and conservation and community-focused nature of Jane Kile’s own work. We welcome all ideas and interpretations!
Please submit your application by January 7, 2022. The Scholarship Committee will review applications and choose a recipient by January 15, 2022. If you have any questions please email getintouch@aeromt.org.