PICKLEBALL PLANTER - Key Persons

During the Summer of 2017, Aaron Trost made a drastic life decision at age 37. After careful thought, prayer and encouragement from friends, he downsized his successful political consulting business and decided to attend seminary full-time. Shortly thereafter, he found pickleball and his life changed forever. After playing pickleball for a few months, he lost over 20 pounds, got in outstanding shape and regained his deep love of sports. Even better, he made all kinds of new friends of all ages who loved the sport as much as he did. After playing the sport obsessively throughout seminary, Aaron worked his way into a 5.0 doubles player and competed in many tournaments. He also worked as a pickleball pro at Chicken N Pickle, where he really enjoyed teaching the sport and getting beginners comfortable with the game. During the pandemic, Aaron reflected a lot on his future in pickleball. Even on his best days on the court, he didn't see himself as good enough to be a professional pickleball player. He loved teaching, but he didn't see himself as a full-time pickleball instructor either. Instead, he felt a unique calling for his future in the sport. In 2021, Aaron founded Pickleball Planter Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is focused on planting and growing pickleball in underprivileged communities across our nation and the world. He wants to take pickleball to new places so new faces can enjoy the sport. Aaron also wants to raise up other brave "Pickleball Planters" to go out and grow the game in new communities. Join him on his mission!