Churchbridge, SK (December 30, 2018) –Emmett Sawyer and Daniel Stefner of Alberta were selected as the Outstanding Young Farmers Memorial Scholarship winners for 2018. Each winner received a $1,000 scholarship to support their post-secondary agricultural education.
Growing up on a family farm in Acme, Emmett has been part of conversations that have included how to affect agricultural change, and how to ensure the voice of the farmer is heard. Emmett has used his 4-H public speaking experience to highlight his passion of promoting agriculture awareness and showing farmers how they need to be “ag-vocates” when promoting their industry. He was chosen to represent youth in the recent“Ag More than Ever” media campaign and participated in the Grow Canada Conference in Ottawa before going on to his post-secondary education. Emmett began his post-secondary education at the University of Lethbridge in fall 2018 where he is working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Agriculture Studies
Daniel gained his agricultural experience by helping on his grandparent’s farm on weekends and during his summers. When he went back home to St Albert, he realized many of his friends had no connection with agriculture and where their food came from. He started to gear much of his school work to agricultural related topics hoping to dissolve the myths and misconceptions about unsafe food and common practices. As he continues his post-secondary education, he wants to reconnect people with the people and places that their food comes from. Daniel is completing his second year of a Diploma in Agriculture Management- Crop Production at Olds College
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.
“The future of agriculture is in good hands with these two “ag-vocates” says Program Manager, Carla Kaeding. Both recipients’ essays showed their passion for wanting to share with the public the importance of agriculture to Canada and the world now and in the future.
Both winners will be recognized at the Alberta OYF regional event February7-8, 2019 in Red Deer.
Full details and application forms for the OYF Memorial Scholarships are available at www.oyfcanada.com under “Scholarships”. The deadline for nominations for the 2019 scholarships is June 30, 2019.
Celebrating 39 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, La Coop fédérée and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,and the program is supported nationally by BDO and Farm Management Canada.
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2019 will be chosen at the National event in Fredericton, NB December 3-8, 2019.
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For more information contact:
Carla Kaeding, Program Manager, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers
306.896.7833 ·kaedingc@hotmail.com · www.oyfcanada.com