There’s a future in agriculture in Alberta, and that future is supported by young Albertans who demonstrate outstanding community support, leadership and commitment to agriculture and rural Alberta.
AFSC is proud to help foster that future by helping 4-H Alberta recognize deserving 4-H members with the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) 4-H Scholarship. To qualify, recipients must have been an Alberta 4-H member for a minimum of three years, exhibiting outstanding community support; shown strong commitment to the 4-H program; and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher while enrolled in a post-secondary agriculture or agribusiness program.
This year, Emilee Bickley, Alyssa Henderson and Adriana Van Tryp received this scholarship. AFSC is pleased to help support the post-secondary goals of these three young Albertans and remains committed to supporting 4-H Alberta and its members.
Emilee Bickley, Red Deer County
4-H is important to me because it had a major role in shaping who I am as an individual. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities that 4-H has granted me over the years. It is through these opportunities that I have gained many skills that have helped me throughout my life, not to mention all the amazing lifelong friendships and memories that I have made along the way.
I was in four different clubs during my 10 years of 4-H, including the Shadow Riders 4-H Horse Club, the Blindman Light Horse 4-H Club, Red Deer West 4-H Beef Club, and Rangeland 4-H Beef Club. In these clubs, I had a horsemanship project, a young horse project, a market steer project, a photography project, and a crochet project!
I am currently in my third year of a Bachelor of Science with a major in Zoology at the University of Calgary, and I hope to get a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine when I am finished with my Bachelor degree. Upon graduation, I hope to pursue a career in agriculture by being a rural veterinarian and helping out farmers and ranchers in rural Alberta.
Alyssa Henderson, Bashaw
I was a 4-H member for 11 years, participating in Lifeskills, Veterinary Science, Beef, and in particular, Horse, 4-H projects. I learned so many skills in projects, including leadership and communication, many of which I continue to use. Some of my favourite memories are from the regional horse shows, 4-H camps, and trips, and meeting many great people whom I continue to be friends with and run into at various agricultural events throughout the province. In my short time in the “real world,” I’ve come to realize the agricultural industry really is a community, and 4-H was somewhat of a pre-cursor for that.
I’m currently attending the University of Alberta, pursing a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science. I have a strong interest in animal (specifically livestock) nutrition and have been working at a local nutrition consulting company since the spring. Nutrition is often the leading cost for livestock, so after graduation I hope to continue in this field to help farmers and ranchers maximize benefits through nutrition.
Adriana Van Tryp, Burdett
During my years in 4-H, I was a member of Prairie Roses 4-H Multi Club for six years and a member of Generations of Tomorrow 4-H Club for four years. As a member, I always partook in multi-projects. These projects included rockets, scrapbooking, photography, cooking, go carts, sewing, creative options and duct tape boats. In 2018, I was selected as a 4-H Alberta Ambassador for the South Region, where I was able to advocate, teach and share my passion for the program.
4-H is important to me for a few reasons. It has allowed me to build an expansive network, taught me public speaking skills, helped me understand budgeting, organization, and how meetings are run. Also, 4-H played a huge role in helping me discover my love of volunteering and the importance of leadership and initiative. I would not be the person I was today if not for 4-H and the opportunities it has provided me.
Currently, I am enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Management at the University of Alberta. I am in my fourth year of studies and plan to pursue a career in agricultural banking or lending once I graduate.
