WestGen is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 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.
I grew up on a dairy farm located just outside of Hope, BC. From building forts in the hayloft when I was younger, to feeding calves afterschool, to milking nightshifts. My love for the cattle industry grew even more through my years in 4-H. I am still active in the dairy industry by working on the weekends and taking shifts whenever schooling allows me to.
Following graduation from high school, I completed a 6-month Applied Business of Technology certificate at the University of the Fraser Valley with the goal of gaining some office/business skills. I am currently enrolled in the 1-year Retail Meat Processing Program at Thompson Rivers University. My future plans are to open a custom butcher shop of my own!
I am very grateful to be selected as one of the recipients of this year’s award. Thank you WestGen!
Following graduation from high school, I completed a 6-month Applied Business of Technology certificate at the University of the Fraser Valley with the goal of gaining some office/business skills. I am currently enrolled in the 1-year Retail Meat Processing Program at Thompson Rivers University. My future plans are to open a custom butcher shop of my own!
I am very grateful to be selected as one of the recipients of this year’s award. Thank you WestGen!
I would like to thank WestGen for selecting me as a recipient for the Education Awards. I am from Chemainus, Vancouver Island, BC, where my family has a dairy farm. Growing up on a dairy farm, being involved in 4-H, job shadowing and taking various science courses at university has helped me to develop a great passion, knowledge and understanding of animals. I love animals and I want to help them be as healthy as they can be.
I completed my Bachelor of Science at Vancouver Island University while playing varsity volleyball for five years. I am currently a first-year veterinary medicine student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Being a veterinarian goes beyond animal treatment and consists of public health and food safety networks. The demand for food in Canada is increasing and will continue to grow. I want to help Canada’s agricultural industry meet the changing needs for society while prioritizing both human and animal health. Thank you WestGen for supporting me in my career and passion for the Canadian agricultural industry.
I completed my Bachelor of Science at Vancouver Island University while playing varsity volleyball for five years. I am currently a first-year veterinary medicine student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Being a veterinarian goes beyond animal treatment and consists of public health and food safety networks. The demand for food in Canada is increasing and will continue to grow. I want to help Canada’s agricultural industry meet the changing needs for society while prioritizing both human and animal health. Thank you WestGen for supporting me in my career and passion for the Canadian agricultural industry.
My Name is Darrick Nicol. I am very grateful and honored to have been selected to receive one of this years WestGen Education Awards.
I am a third-year student at the University of Lethbridge pursing a Bachelor of Management Degree. Previous to this, I completed Diplomas in Plant and Soil Science and Dairy Science at Lethbridge College and Lakeland College, respectively. I grew up on a 380-cow dairy farm near Coalhurst, Alberta. We milk twice per day in a double 12 parallel parlour. Our farm is primarily irrigated land and we raise all our own feed for our Holstein herd. My goal during post secondary has been to gain a well rounded education that I can apply back to my family farm. I believe that gaining knowledge in agronomy, dairy science, and business will be useful in the future. Moving forward, I plan to return to my family farm where I can work to concentrate the nutrient density of the food we produce in an effort to nourish all Canadians. This award will help me achieve this goal. Thank you again for selecting me to receive this award.
I am a third-year student at the University of Lethbridge pursing a Bachelor of Management Degree. Previous to this, I completed Diplomas in Plant and Soil Science and Dairy Science at Lethbridge College and Lakeland College, respectively. I grew up on a 380-cow dairy farm near Coalhurst, Alberta. We milk twice per day in a double 12 parallel parlour. Our farm is primarily irrigated land and we raise all our own feed for our Holstein herd. My goal during post secondary has been to gain a well rounded education that I can apply back to my family farm. I believe that gaining knowledge in agronomy, dairy science, and business will be useful in the future. Moving forward, I plan to return to my family farm where I can work to concentrate the nutrient density of the food we produce in an effort to nourish all Canadians. This award will help me achieve this goal. Thank you again for selecting me to receive this award.
I grew up on a mixed cattle and grain farm in Mather, Manitoba. My family and I own and operate Black Hawk Angus, we raise purebred Black Angus cattle and have an Angus/Simmental influenced commercial herd. I participated in the Clearwater 4-H Beef Club for many years and am actively involved in the Manitoba and Canadian Junior Angus Associations. I have a passion for agriculture which led me to post-secondary education. Currently, I am in my 2nd year of the Agribusiness Diploma program at Assiniboine Community College and serve as President for the Ag Club. Through college, I have realized that I’m interested in crop inputs. I enjoy learning how producers can use integrated crop management strategies to maximize yield and be economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. After completing the diploma program, I plan to work at an ag-retail and assist producers in making informed decisions on their farms. I would like to thank WestGen for providing this opportunity and selecting me as one of the 2023 Education Awards recipients. Congratulations to all the other recipients!