KENNESAW, Ga. – Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, today announces its Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative endowed more than $100,000 in funds and equipment to eight grant recipients in the first quarter of 2017. This quarter is further highlighted by Yamaha’s continued support of the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Foundation, and Yamaha’s Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) grant program.

Starting this year, Yamaha’s tenured ACT grant program will be under the Outdoor Access Initiative (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 grant program, Oklahoma State University, Utah State University, The University of Florida and the University of Illinois were awarded a combined $8,500 in grants. Recipients of this year’s Yamaha ACT grants receive financial assistance to attend the 2017 Ag Media Summit in Snowbird, Utah, from July 22 to 26, and to promote and encourage safe and responsible use of ATV and Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles within the agriculture community.

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“While much of the Outdoor Access Initiative’s focus goes toward creating and improving conservation and recreational opportunities, the program additionally affords support to those in the agricultural industry – and has for some time now,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV / SxS group marketing manager. “We have been honored to support the future of agriculture through the National FFA Foundation for many years, and bringing Yamaha’s nearly decade-old ACT grant program under the Outdoor Access Initiative is a perfect fit.”

As the powersports industry’s leading land access advocate protecting the interests of those who work and play outdoors, Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative supports off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders, as well as those who rely on land access to camp, hunt, fish or farm. The 2017 first quarter Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative grant recipients are as follows:

· Black Hills Jeeps, South Dakota
· Chippewa County Sportsman’s Off-Road Vehicle Association, Michigan
· Coalition of Recreational Trail Users, Minnesota
· Maryland Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance, Maryland
· National Ag Communicators of Tomorrow
· National FFA Foundation
· Pennsylvania ATV Trail Development Corporation, Pennsylvania
· Responsible Recreation Foundation, Colorado
· Tri- County ATV Recreation & Rescue Association, Inc., Pennsylvania

The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative continues to accept 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.