A new national foundation is being launched to promote post-secondary agricultural education to Canadian high school students.
The Canadian Agri-Business Education Foundation (CABEF) will award six $2,500 scholarships annually to students enrolling in a post-secondary agricultural degree or diploma program. Larry Hertz, president of CABEF, says the scholarship program is designed to help lead graduates to good jobs and fill the employment gap in the agri-food sector. “Three jobs are waiting for every agricultural graduate,” he says. “The sector needs to increase its talent pool, and we’re contributing with this scholarship program to help high school students make agriculture their career choice.”
Students have until March 1, 2014 to apply.
According to a press release, the scholarships will be awarded in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec – with an additional scholarship available for students from other provinces or territories. Applicants will be considered on academic standing, past and current leadership attributes, and on an essay entitled “Why I am pursuing a career in agriculture.” This scholarship program mirrors a successful initiative in the U.S. called the Agri-Business Educational Foundation (ABEF), whose goal is to assist students interested in a career in agriculture.
“Our U.S. counterparts have seen this program make a big difference there,” says Hertz. “We’re looking forward to similar success in Canada.” CABEF and the Canadian scholarship program will be officially launched at the Best of CAMA, the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association annual awards, in Quebec City in November.
CABEF is a registered charity. Besides Hertz (AdFarm), CABEF’s officers include Vice President Jennifer Christie (John Deere), Executive Director Mary Thornley of Mary Thornley Management, and directors Rod Delahey (The Marketing Den), Justin Funk (Agri Studies), Daniel Lamoureux (La Terre de chez nous), and Rod Merryweather (FP Genetics).
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