OFA helps fund post-secondary education for ag students

Nov 23, 2017

Organization presented the awards at its AGM

Staff Reporter

Farms.com

On Monday, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) presented three student bursaries at the organization’s Annual General Meeting in Toronto.

Emily Potter, a fourth-year animal science student at the University of Guelph, was a recipient of the northern region award.

To earn the bursary, Potter submitted an application highlighting her experience and involvement in both the agri-food industry and her community.

While Potter hasn’t fully decided what she wants to do after graduation, she plans on returning to northern Ontario to work with beef cattle in some way.

“I already have a few cows at home,” Potter told Farms.com in an interview before the bursary presentation. “So, I’d like do something with those animals and hopefully get a job off the farm.”

And Potter has a few words of advice for anyone interested in pursuing a career in animal science.

“Find out which industry you love and get involved. There’s always so much to learn, so keeping connected with people in the industry is really helpful,” she said.

Cassie Allen from eastern Ontario and Julie French from southwestern Ontario also received bursaries.

Video: How women saved agricultural economics and other ideas for why diversity matters | Jill J. McCluskey

Dr. Jill J. McCluskey, Regents Professor at Washington State University and Director of the School of Economic Science

Dr. McCluskey documents that women entered agricultural economics in significant numbers starting in the 1980s, and their ranks have increased over time. She argues that women have increased the relevance in the field of agricultural economics through their diverse interests, perspectives, and experiences. In their research, women have expanded the field's treatment of non-traditional topics such as food safety and nutrition and environmental and natural resource economics. In this sense, women saved the Agricultural Economics profession from a future as a specialty narrowly focused on agricultural production and markets. McCluskey will go on to discuss some of her own story and how it has shaped some of her thinking and research. She will present her research on dual-career couples in academia, promotional achievement of women in both Economics and Agricultural Economics, and work-life support programs.

The Daryl F. Kraft Lecture is arranged by the Department of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, with the support of the Solomon Sinclair Farm Management Institute, and in cooperation with the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.