Youth Scholarships

Abby McMullin is currently entering her third year at the University of Saskatchewan, where she's majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Agricultural Business. Being an Agro at the U of S has given her the chance to learn from a strong, supportive ag community while exploring both the science and business sides of the industry. This summer, she had the opportunity to further that learning through her role with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) in Saskatoon, gaining valuable experience from a different angle within the agriculture sector.

She's always been actively involved in agriculture. She was raised on her family farm in McNab/Braeside, where her family runs a small herd of commercial Black Angus cattle. She's been a proud 4-H member for over ten years and has been involved in the purebred beef industry through organizations like the Canadian Junior Hereford Association, where she was lucky enough to serve a two-year term as a national delegate representing Ontario juniors.

She's currently growing her own herd of purebred Simmental cattle and she has had the opportunity to show both cattle and horses across the country. She regularly helps organize and participate in local events, including volunteering on the Renfrew Fair Board. There, she assists with the horse, beef, and steer shows, as well as various other fair activities. "Agriculture has given me so much, from the people I’ve met to the experiences I’ve had and the work ethic I’ve developed along the way."

Alecsa Villeneuve is a third-year student at the University of Guelph studying Wildlife Biology and Conservation with a minor in Agriculture. She grew up working on a dairy farm just outside of Moose Creek, Ontario. Agriculture has always been a big part of her life, she's been involved in 4-H for over 10 years, participating in clubs like dairy, cooking, woodworking, and veterinary studies.

In high school, she was part of ILead, an Indigenous study group that helped her learn about and connect with her culture through guest speakers and shared stories. Programs like ILead have helped her feel more connected to her Indigenous roots and broadened her understanding of sustainability, community, and the importance of respecting the land and all living things.

Because of these experiences, she's become passionate about using science to create a more sustainable future in agriculture. She volunteered at the Elora Research Station, helping collect data on methane emissions in dairy cattle, and recently wrote a research paper on how genetic selection can reduce the carbon footprint of the Canadian agri-food sector.

Giving back to her community is also very important to her. Whether she's helping at College Royal, supporting Autism Ontario events, or mentoring younger 4-H members, Alecsa always try to lend a hand. Her goal is to work in agricultural research and education, using science to support a more sustainable and resilient future for Canadian agriculture.

Maria Prinzen is currently pursuing an Honours degree in Agriculture at the University of Guelph, where she's actively involved in the Dairy Science and Soil & Crop Clubs. These opportunities have expanded her agricultural knowledge through guest speakers, hands-on learning, and club events. Guelph’s strong research facilities and community make the program both practical and inspiring.

Her agricultural background is rooted in her family’s dairy and crop farm, where she helps with feeding, breeding, milking robots, planting, and harvest. They crop 600 acres for feed and raise about 150 cows. In 2016, Maria and her sister started a Boer goat herd, now at 20 does, which they manage fully—from feeding to marketing—to support their education. This summer, she's working as a Crop Scout and Feed Support Intern with TCO Agromart, where she scouts fields, samples soil, and supports customers.

She's been involved in 4-H for many years through Dairy Sen$e, EastGen Showcase, and leadership roles as a Youth Leader and Junior Director. She's also contributed to her school and church by reviving their yearbook, serving as class president, and volunteering in children’s programs.

Her future goal is to take over her family’s dairy farm, focusing on sustainability, herd genetics, and consumer education. She wants to share the realities of farming through social media and tours, leaving the land better than she found it and ensuring a strong future for agriculture.

Noah Haan is from Marysville, Ontario. He's currently studying Agricultural Management at Olds College in Alberta. Where he's working to build on the knowledge he's gained growing up on his family's farm. He's a second-generation farmer, and agriculture has always been a central part of his life.

On their farm, he works as the barn manager in the pig barn, where they raise mainly heritage breed pigs. He is responsible for their daily care, feeding, health checks, and overall barn management. Alongside the pigs, they also run a herd of about 100 beef cows. Noah helps with feeding, bedding, and calving throughout the year. Being involved with both the pigs and the cattle has taught him the importance of good animal handling and care, attention to detail, and the kind of work ethic farming demands. Together with his father and brother, they crop 1000 acres of cash crops as well as specialty crops such as sunflowers. For the past 20 years, the farm has been direct marketing the meat to stores, restaurants and farmers' markets, which he intends to continue doing.

Outside of the farm, he's volunteered for many years at his local church, 4H clubs and local sports teams. His family also hosts an annual tractor and truck pull on their farm to raise money for local families and charities. This year marks our seventh event, and it’s become a tradition they're proud to be part of.

Noah is passionate about livestock and committed to continuing his path in agriculture. "I look forward to building on what my family started and staying involved in the farming community for years to come."