2023 Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program Memorial Scholarship winners features Vauxhall farmer
Hannah Stamp of Vauxhall and Sarah MacDonald of Vanderhoof, BC have been selected as the Outstanding Young Farmers Memorial Scholarship winners for 2023. Each winner receives a $1,000 scholarship to support their postsecondary agricultural education.
Hannah Stamp’s passion for agriculture comes from growing up on a family farm and the opportunities it has provided her. She feels agriculture is more than just feeding the world. It is a community that deeply cares for each other and all of humanity. While pursuing her diploma in agriculture at Lethbridge College, Hannah will embrace the technology and share knowledge with others. Hannah admires the courage and heart that those in the Canadian agriculture industry emulate.
Sarah MacDonald plans to use her love of agriculture and politics in her future career. She will complete her Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness at the University of Saskatchewan before pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy. She feels it is crucial to have policy makers and people in government that are passionate and understand agriculture from a working perspective. With a family history of 250 years in farming, her passion has ‘roots deeper that an old alfalfa stand’ and will benefit her future agriculture policies.
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.
Full details and application forms for the OYF Memorial Scholarships are available at https:// www.oyfcanada.com/language/en/nominations-criteria/scholarship/
The deadline for nominations for the scholarships is June 30, 2024.
Celebrating 43 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, Sollio Agriculture, CN and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,. Media Partners are WS and Glacier FarmMedia. The program is supported nationally by BDO.