Equipment & educational assistance

Your scholarship package

• One beekeeping jacket
• One bee smoker
• One deluxe hive tool
• One complete beehive
• One living colony of honeybees

This is not a cash scholarship. Equipment and the colony are awarded only after all program completion requirements are satisfied, not upon initial selection.

Veterans & first responders

Who can apply?

U.S. military veterans and first responders may apply. No prior beekeeping experience is required. Experienced beekeepers receive the same consideration as beginners.

There is no geographic distance restriction. Participants arrange their own transportation to AJ Honey Farms-designated locations.

You do not need to be enrolled in Hives for Heroes before applying. Its acceptance serves as eligibility verification for both categories; membership does not guarantee an AJ Honey Farms scholarship.

2 · Join Hives for Heroes

Recipients must join and be accepted into Hives for Heroes and request AJ Honey Farms as their assigned beekeeping mentor. Enrollment may occur before or after a scholarship offer. AJ Honey Farms will assist when necessary.

3 · Complete Apprentice Level Beekeeping

Recipients must successfully complete the Apprentice Level Beekeeping course in the University of Montana Master Beekeeper Program.

Explore the University of Montana course →

Hives for Heroes offers a separate BeeUniversity scholarship/reimbursement program for qualifying educational expenses, subject to its own eligibility and approval. Reimbursement is not guaranteed; AJ Honey Farms does not administer that funding.

AJ Honey Farms

AJ Honey Farms provides hands-on beekeeping education, volunteer training opportunities, mentorship, instructional support, coordination of scholarship participation, and continuing education after graduation.

Hives for Heroes

This veteran and first-responder mentorship network connects participants with beekeeping support. AJ Honey Farms directs recipients to the network, assists with enrollment as needed, and asks participants to request AJ Honey Farms as their mentor.

Guidance beyond graduation

Recipients continue to have access to AJ Honey Farms’ educational guidance: one-on-one mentorship, organized classes, practical workshops, telephone and text-message support, and seasonal hive-management guidance.

The planned AJ Honey Farms Education Center may offer additional opportunities in the future.

Take your hive home

After completing all three requirements, recipients may take their awarded beehive and colony home to establish an independent apiary.

Recipients arrange transportation of their equipment and living colony. AJ Honey Farms teaches safe preparation, transportation, and relocation during training; transportation services are not promised.

What selection considers

Applicants are evaluated primarily on their genuine interest in learning beekeeping and their willingness and commitment to complete the program. Financial need and prior beekeeping experience are not primary selection factors.

AJ Honey Farms and Old Soldier Farm representatives make award selections.

Offers & acceptance

AJ Honey Farms may contact selected applicants through any available contact method, with telephone preferred. Applicants not selected receive email notifications.

Initial recipients have until March 15 to respond and accept. If a recipient does not respond or accept, one alternate may be selected for that position. The alternate has 14 calendar days from notification to accept. If the alternate does not respond, the position remains unfilled until the following annual cycle.