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Young people are the future of the agriculture industry. Recognizing this, the Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association (OVSGA) provides scholarships to youth of the Ottawa Valley planning to pursue a career in agriculture and entering at least their second year of post-secondary studies. Up to four 2023 scholarships of $2,500 each are available.
The first OVSGA scholarship was presented in 2017. Since then, OVSGA has distributed almost $50,000 to our agricultural community. Past scholarship recipients have come from across the Valley and surrounding area, from Prescott to Frontenac, and Russell to Lanark and beyond.
Haleigh-Jo TePlate was one of the 2022 recipients. Haleigh-Jo grew up on the family dairy and cash crop farm near Finch in Stormont County. There she learned the value of dedication and hard work and developed her love of farming. “It has always been a dream of mine to return home to the farm and have a career in the field of agriculture” she says.
Former scholarship recipient, Stormont County’s Haleigh-Jo TePlate, with her beef project animals.
Choosing agriculture for post-secondary studies was an easy decision for Haleigh-Jo. She attended Algonquin College Perth for a certificate of Agriculture in Business to enhance her business knowledge and skills. Haleigh-Jo then headed to Alberta, to study for her Bachelor of Applied Science in Agribusiness at Olds College. Having completed her first year, she says “During my studies, I have learned valuable life skills and lessons, which I am now using at my current summer internship with Syn-Agri”.
Haleigh-Jo has a long resume of volunteer work, from the Stormont Ag Society to the Plowmen’s Association, receiving the Young Volunteer Award presented by the local MP as one of Ontario’s outstanding young individuals. For three years, she held the title of Princess of the Furrow and represented Stormont County at International Plowing Match Queen of the Furrow competitions. She is a proud member of Stormont/Glengarry Junior Farmers and 4-H, having completed more than 80 diverse projects in homecraft, dairy, beef, lifeskills, plowing and youth leadership. Haleigh-Jo says she “loves to interact and spend time with people who share her same interests”. Working with her 4-H beef project animals is a summer highlight.
Participating in seed shows is also a favourite past-time. Haleigh-Jo has had success at the county seed shows, leading to entries going to the Ottawa Valley Championship Seed, Feed and Forage Show. She has received the John Posthumus 4-H Award for most points in the 4-H Life Skills section at the Championship Seed Show for the past 4 years from 2020 through 2023. In 2022 she also received the Hudson Family Award for most points in the 4-H Field Crop section.
To other young people applying for scholarships Haleigh-Jo says, “receiving scholarships means you can worry less about the financial stress, so you can focus on your education and studies to achieve your goals”. It is important to note that although applicants require at least one year of post-secondary studies, registration in an agricultural program is not a requirement to apply for the OVSGA Scholarship. Training in other areas can lead to success in the agriculture industry including accounting, communications, economics, engineering, and more.
OVSGA volunteers look forward to showcasing more of Ottawa Valley’s very talented and dedicated youth planning for a career in agriculture. Scholarship applications are invited before the June 30, 2023 deadline.
For more information visit ottawafarmshow.com.
© 2015 Farmers Forum Newspaper, serving Eastern Ontario and Western Ontario. Website maintained by Theresa Rudge.
