Churchbridge, SK (September 30, 2017) – Danyka Maurer of Saskatchewan and Luc Roy of Quebec have been selected as the Outstanding Young Farmers Memorial Scholarship winners for 2017. Each winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship to support their post-secondary agricultural education.
Danyka grew up on a fourth generation grain farm that she feels will continue to grow and thrive both in the amount of product produced as well as the types of products produced. She feels that as the agriculture industry has progressed from its roots, it has transitioned from subsistence farming to a business world. She feels “farming is a business that requires attention to marketing, human resources, economics, accounting, finance and more”.
Luc was raised on a diversified farm that produced hogs, dairy cows, crops and orchards. He feels there are three things that will help him make agriculture sustainable and well understood by consumers. They are well established and experienced producers (parents) to learn from, exceptional agricultural education institutions for learning and developing networks of specialists and production groups for sharing ideas and networking.
Danyka is beginning her post-secondary education at the University of Regina where she will be working towards a Bachelor of Administration. Having completed a Diploma in Farm Management Technology in the spring of 2017 Luc is enrolled in the Baccalaureate in Agricultural Economics at McGill University for the fall of 2017.
Since 2009, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers program has supported agricultural education for young Canadians through its Memorial Scholarship fund. The OYF Memorial Scholarship was established by the late Martin Streef, recipient of both Ontario’s and Canada’s OYF awards in 1996, to help future generations of Canadians pursue their passion for agriculture. Martin was president of Streef Produce Ltd., a family-run fresh fruit and vegetable business in Woodstock Ontario.
The award includes two annual scholarships – one to an individual who has completed at least one year of post-secondary study in agriculture, and the other to someone who has completed high school and is enrolling in a post-secondary education in agriculture. As part of the application process, applicants are asked to write an essay about why they are passionate about agriculture in Canada.
“Both Danyka & Luc submitted thought-provoking essays about their views on the future of Canadian agriculture,” says Luanne Lynn, president of Canada’s OYF program. “It is so inspiring to provide scholarships to current and future agriculture students that will take the reins and help drive the future of the agricultural industry.”
Danyka will be recognized at the Saskatchewan OYF regional event in June 2018 and Luc will be recognized at the Quebec OYF regional event in August 2018.
Full details and application forms for the OYF Memorial Scholarships are available at oyfcanada.com under “Scholarships”. The deadline for nominations for the 2018 scholarships is June 30, 2018.
Celebrating 37 years, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ program is an annual competition to recognize farmers that exemplify excellence in their profession and promote the tremendous contribution of agriculture. Open to participants 18 to 39 years of age, making the majority of income from on-farm sources, participants are selected from seven regions across Canada, with two national winners chosen each year. The program is sponsored nationally by CIBC, John Deere, Bayer and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through Growing Forward 2, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative. The national media sponsor is Annex Business Media, and the program is supported nationally by AdFarm, BDO and Farm Management Canada.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2017 will be chosen at the National event in Penticton BC Nov 30- Dec 3, 2017.
For more information contact:
Carla Kaeding, Program Manager, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers
306.896.7833 ·kaedingc@hotmail.com · oyfcanada.com