High school seniors pursuing careers in agriculture are encouraged to apply for the 2014 Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship. The Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship was established in 2009 to honor Herb Clutter's influential role in organizing leadership groups on behalf of Kansas wheat producers and is administered by the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers.

The scholarship fund will award one $500 scholarship per year, to a college or university-bound incoming freshman from Kansas, pursuing a career in the field of agriculture. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must plan to be a full-time student at any two or four year, Kansas college or university. Recipients will be selected based on academic achievement, leadership qualities and career objectives focused around the field of agriculture. Recipients will receive the scholarship to be applied toward tuition for the student's college or university education. The scholarship is non-renewable.

The Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship was established through a fund in memory of Herbert W. Clutter, a farmer from Holcomb and the first president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, which was established in 1948. Clutter encouraged Kansas wheat farmers to organize as a strong, unified voice, which led to the formation of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers in 1952. He encouraged research in education and industrial uses of wheat, improved variety development and methods to produce the best product at the lowest cost. Clutter's efforts led to the formation of the Kansas Wheat Commission by the Kansas legislature, in 1957.

"Herb's story and the impact he had on the wheat industry serves as an excellent example to young adults as they begin their college careers," says Justin Gilpin, CEO Kansas Wheat. "His vision, hard work, and sense of community are all qualities tomorrow's leaders will need to possess. This scholarship is intended to carry on his legacy in the Kansas wheat industry."

Applicants of the Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship must complete the scholarship application, which includes a 400-500 word essay discussing why they have chosen to pursue a career in agriculture. The selection committee will use this essay along with the student's application in determining the scholarship winner. The deadline for scholarship applications is February 1, 2014.

More information about the Herb Clutter Memorial Scholarship is available by contacting Dalton Henry at 785-539-0255 or email dhenry@kswheat.com. An application is available on the Internet at www.kswheat.com.