Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, announced that the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) awarded more than $120,000 in funds and equipment to eight grant and scholarship recipients from applications submitted in the fourth quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2018. The combined funding cycle is highlighted by a wide variety of projects supporting access to trails and riding areas for off-highway vehicles and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
“We continue to promote and see growth and diversity in the Outdoor Access Initiative, which now has a decade of supporting responsible, sustainable access under its belt,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV / side-by-side group marketing manager. “These last two quarters have been a great example, with projects addressing a wide range of use from single-track trails to sand dunes and back-country areas for the enjoyment of OHVs of all types: motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-side vehicles and snowmobiles.”
As the powersports industry’s leading land access advocate protecting the interests of those who work and play outdoors, OAI supports off-highway vehicle riders, as well as those who rely on land access to camp, hunt, fish, farm and more.
The latest Yamaha OAI grant recipients are:
• The Capital Trails Vehicle Association, Helena, MT
• The Off Road Business Association
• Twin Cities Trail Riders, Jordan, MN
• Crested Butte Avalanche Center, Crested Butte, CO
• Wonders of Wildlife/National Hunting and Fishing Day Live It! Grant Program
• Range Riders ATV Club, Nashwauk, MN
• Save the Rider’s Dunes, North Bend, OR
• Voyageur Country ATV Club, Grand Rapids, MN
This latest funding also featured OAI’s continuing support of National Hunting and Fishing Day, as well as six scholarships to university students as part of the Yamaha Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) program.
“We believe everyone should be able to experience the outdoors and all of the incredible opportunities our public lands have to offer,” Nessl said. “Working through like-minded partners like National Hunting and Fishing Day, as well as seeding appropriate safety and land stewardship messaging with future influencers and professional communicators via the ACT program, helps ensure we’ll all be able to enjoy the outdoors for generations to come.”
Yamaha’s longtime ACT Scholarship Program was brought under the OAI umbrella as part of the program’s expanded mission to support those who work and play outdoors. Through the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative’s ACT Scholarship Program, Purdue University, Utah State University, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Kansas State students were awarded a combined $8,250 in scholarships.
Recipients of this year’s Yamaha ACT scholarships receive financial assistance to attend the 2018 Ag Media Summit, and to continue promoting and encouraging safe and responsible use of ATV and SxS vehicles within the agriculture community.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2018, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative is accepting qualified applications for consideration of support and funding. For more information on the Outdoor Access Initiative, or to submit a grant application, visit www.YamahaOAI.com.
