Nuffield Canada is offering up to six $20,000 scholarships for Canadians aged 25–50 who are looking to add to their ag portfolio.
By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com; Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay
Are you looking for a new ag challenge that will change your life? Then maybe a Nuffield Canada Scholarship is for you!
Nuffield Canada is offering four to six $20,000 scholarships annually for mid-career individuals who are Canadian citizens between the ages of 25 and 50, with a passion for agriculture, and who are ready to challenge themselves in a self-directed program of international travel and study.
Unlike academic scholarships, Nuffield Scholarships are for the personal and professional benefit of those already established in the industry. While adding value to Canadian agriculture, the scholars assume positions of greater influence in their fields.
Scholars are required to do a minimum of 10 weeks of travel study within 24 months to examine and research a topic or issue of their choosing that is relevant to modern production. Each scholar then prepares a written report (approximately 10,000 words) of their research findings, conclusions, and recommendations and presents a summary to the Nuffield Board, with peers, sponsors, and industry leaders in attendance.
“The greatest gift that Nuffield gave me was the opportunity to step outside my business and connect with some of the world’s most intelligent and passionate people in agriculture,” said Steve Larocque, Nuffield Canada Chair and a 2008 Scholar.
“The Nuffield experience taught me to think differently and lift the ceiling on what I thought could be achieved. It changed the trajectory of my family and my business and made a positive impact on the way we treat our soils in Canada. I’m forever grateful for the experience and the lifelong community of incredible people I have the privilege of calling friends. The journey never ends in Nuffield,” he continued.
Nuffield Canada is now accepting scholar applications, selected through a written and one-way video application process, from April 1 through June 30, 2024, for the 2025 scholar cohort.
Scholarship recipients can come from all areas of primary production, including food, fibre, health care, biofuels, forestry, aquaculture, and fisheries. Successful candidates can represent any aspect of the value chain, such as primary production, processing, governance, communications, safety, and others. Nuffield Canada values diversity and encourages applicants from all production philosophies, such as commercial, organic, cottage, medicinal, Indigenous, Kosher, Halal, and others.
For scholar sponsors, Nuffield offers exposure to new products, services, technologies, and marketing approaches through knowledge brought home by scholars. They also gain relationships with the very best young farmers and entrepreneurs in Canada and throughout the world through the Nuffield International network. Sponsors become part of a pathway for leadership development within organizations, industry, and rural Canada as scholars go on to become highly sought-after as speakers, advisors, board members, and influencers. Sponsors are further embraced as part of the Nuffield network through communication sharing, hosting tours and speakers, helping to recognize leadership potential, and encouraging applications.
Nuffield Canada, a registered Canadian charity, has over 130 alumni. As part of a larger international community, Nuffield Canada has affiliate organizations in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, the US, and Zimbabwe. Scholar recipients instantly become members of the 2,000-member global Nuffield alumni network, which hosts and supports travelling scholars.
Applications and more information can be found at www.nuffield.ca.