Two Beaufort County students are getting a little help with college expenses, thanks to the county’s Farm Bureau scholarship amount being doubled to $1,000 each.

Mike Godley, president of the Beaufort County Farm Bureau, said the scholarship program has existed as long as he can remember, but this year the committee couldn’t decide between the two top applicants, Amy Arnold and Billie Jalynne Waters, so each was awarded $1,000.

Godley said in situations like this the Farm Bureau usually divides the money, but this year the board decided both winners deserved the full amount.

“It is unique in that the qualifying element is for a student who is going to study agriculture or a related field,” he said, adding that the winners must also have good grades and extracurricular service activities. “You really had applicants that really blew that criteria out of the water.”

Arnold is a Washington resident who attended Washington High School, and Waters is a Chocowinity resident who attended Southside High School. Both are set to attend North Carolina State University this fall.

“Currently it’s a field of opportunity. … They’re going to have a job and do well at it,” Godley said. “It’s responding to a calling that many people involved in agriculture do so because of just something in their nature.”

Arnold, 18, said she was surprised but thankful that the scholarship committee decided to give each winner $1,000 and plans to use it toward tuition and books.

“I was born and raised on a farm, and I’ve just always been surrounded by it,” she said. “It’s one of the greatest things because it provides so much for so many people.”

Arnold said her father, who is a member of the county’s Farm Bureau, encouraged her to apply. She said it means a lot to know the organization supports her pursuit in the field of agriculture, especially in a time when some people dismiss how important it is.

“Agriculture is the basis for everything on the planet,” she said. “I love Jalynne so much and I was so happy. … It just shows that they are supporting us in our education.”

Arnold said she plans to study horticulture science in college and is looking forward to using her education to help others, hoping to one day own a greenhouse operation.

“We’re cultivating that community to plant that seed for those young people,” Godley said. “It’s our mission. It’s what we do.”

Waters was out of town and unavailable for an interview.