The Wellington Federation of Agriculture recently announced the recipients of the eighth annual Agricultural Student award for Wellington County students to pursue post secondary studies in agriculture.
Rebecca Hannam, of RR2 Guelph, and Amelia Taylor, of Fergus, have received awards in the amount of $500.
Hannam is currently attending the University of Guelph, working towards a Bachelor of Commerce in agricultural business. Her ambitions include pursuing a career in agricultural education, communications, or crop production. She is in her first year of studies.
Hannam has numerous achievements. She is the current Fergus Fall Fair ambassador, was awarded the title of 2006 Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture senior champion, and has also received a Monsanto Canada opportunity scholarship for post secondary studies.
She stated, “Growing up in a farming community has instilled strong work values into my everyday life. In addition to work close to home, I have filled the position of resource assistant at 4H Ontario during the summer of 2007 and was the communications assistant for the Ontario Farm Animal Council during the summer of 2008. Both of these positions allowed me to grow and develop as an employee and member of the greater agricultural community in Ontario."
Taylor is the current Wellington County Queen of the Furrow, and was a finalist for the title of 2009 Ontario Queen of the Furrow at the International Plowing Match held in September in Teeswater. She is is working towards a BA in Agricultural Economics in her first year at the University of Guelph. Taylor like Hannam, is interested in being involved in agriculture education in the future, and promotion of agriculture to urban communities. She may also pursue a career in agricultural sales and marketing.
Taylor has an impressive resume. She is working part-time for AgCareers.com as a project manager and sales intern. She works part-time for Fraberts Fresh Foods, a local Buy Local initiative store in downtown Fergus. She has worked for Better Farming magazine attending trade shows and assisting with the classified section . She is active in her church and 4-H.
Applications for the 2009 Ray Baptie Memorial Bursary will be available in June by contacting the WFA administrator Lisa Hern at 519-848-3774.
