Education Awards 2022

WestGen is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 WestGen Education Awards. Each of these selected students will receive $2000 to assist them with their post-secondary agriculture studies. The selection committee was extremely pleased with the quality of applicants this year, and encourages those not selected to apply again next year. Supporting youth and the development of the Western Canadian cattle industry are mandates of WestGen’s Endowment Fund, and we look forward to watching these students become successful in each of their chosen career paths.

Colin Balme

Thank you Westgen for choosing me as one of this year’s recipients of the Education Awards. I was raised on my family’s farm on Vancouver Island where we milk 130 cows with three Robots. I found my passion for the dairy industry by working at home on the family farm and through the Cowichan 4H Holstein Club. I decided to attend Lakeland College to further my education through their Dairy SMF program. I am in the second year of the program, where I am one of this years Finance Coordinators for our Student Managed Farm team. This program has given me many opportunities and helped me make numerous connections in the industry throughout Western Canada.

My plans in the future are to return to the farm where I can continue to milk cows into the future alongside my family. I am very grateful to be receiving this award and would once again like to thank the selection committee for choosing me as a recipient.

Madeline Boonstra

I grew up on a dairy and grain farm in Meadows, Manitoba, and have always been involved in the farm and in the agricultural industry. Throughout my childhood and early adulthood, I have actively helped my family in the barn and in the fields, operating the baler, milking, and feeding calves. I am still very involved in the industry through working at Farm Credit Canada for the past two summers and attending industry events.

Currently, I attend the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba and am in my fourth year of a Human Resource and Leadership/Organizations major. I plan to utilize my commerce education and my agricultural background, as well as supplementary AgriBusiness electives in my degree and continue working in the industry in the future.

I am very grateful to have been chosen as one of WestGen’s recipients for the 2022 Education Award. Thank you WestGen!

Julianne Lavoie

Julianne is a third-year veterinary student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a degree in Animal Bioscience at the U of S before getting into veterinary medicine. Although she did not grow up on a dairy farm, she has been involved in the dairy industry in many ways. She was a member of the Sask Valley Dairy 4-H club for over 10 years. She was a participant in the Western Canadian Classic (WCC) Saskatchewan team. She also spent numerous summers working at her family’s dairy farm. As part of her undergrad Julianne completed a thesis project which investigated feeding practices in dairy farms with automatic milking machines. Overall, Julianne is passionate about working with animals, and plans to work in mixed animal practice once she graduates with a focus on working with both dairy and beef cattle.

Christina de Vos

I grew up in Fork River Manitoba, on my family’s mixed farm. We run a commercial cow calf operation along with grain acres. Until the age of 18 my family owned a dairy farm. Growing up, I was always very involved on the farm and in 4H which is where my love for the agriculture industry started. The biggest factor that pushed my interest in ag is how it is always changing. The ability to always be learning new ways to help be more productive in a sustainable manner.

I am currently enrolled the Animal Science Technology Program at Lakeland College. I am this years Range and Forage Coordinator, on the Extensive Grazing and Research Unit. My future plans are to one day take my education to my own beef operation and work an off-farm job related to animals nutrition. From milking cows to being in the field, I knew from a young age it’s where I belong. I would like to send a big thank you to WestGen for selecting me as one of this year’s scholarship recipients.

Kaitlyn Warkentine

Growing up on a dairy farm in Landmark, Manitoba, I have been blessed with the opportunity to be immersed in the agriculture industry from a young age. Not only did my parents involve me with the day-to-day chores on the farm, but in the behind-the-scenes decision making as well. As I got older and became more involved, I knew that I wanted my future career to be centred in agriculture. I completed my Bachelor of Science at Providence University College in 2021, and am currently in my second year of veterinary medicine at the WCVM. I have always had a passion for animals, but my core interests lie in the intersection of agriculture and production animals. I am looking forward to working with producers to further the dairy industry by increasing efficiency, sustainability, and animal welfare once I graduate as a veterinarian.

I am extremely thankful to WestGen for selecting me as one of the Education Award recipients this year. Thank you for investing in not only my education, but also in the future of Canadian agriculture.