Applications now available for the 2021 bursary program
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is offering three bursaries in the amount of $2,000 per recipient. The bursaries are available for students of OFA families who are entering or currently pursuing a post-secondary education with a goal of pursuing a career in an agriculture-related field.
Bursary recipients will be selected from applicants who are OFA members, a child of, or an employee of an OFA member and are residents of Ontario. Applicants should be able to demonstrate volunteer and industry-related accomplishments, an interest in agriculture and rural issues, community involvement and satisfactory academic performance.
The winners will be announced at OFA’s 2021 Annual General Meeting in November.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity – the deadline to submit an application for the bursary program is August 31, 2021.
Click here to access this year’s bursary form and application.
Please refer to the Bursary Terms and Conditions for additional information.
OFA announces 2020 student bursary winners
At OFA’s virtual Annual General Meeting, three bursary winners were announced.
Derek Van De Walle of St. Marys, ON is completing his 4th year in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Ontario Veterinary College. Once finished, he looks forward to being a large animal vet for bovine medicine. Derek grew up on a dairy farm, which later became a cash-crop operation. Between exams and assignments, Derek bought a hog and cash crop farm which keeps him very busy. He has also been accepted into the Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s New Entrant Quota Assistance Program, with the goal of one-day milking cows again.
Margaret Alexiou, from Beeton, ON is in her third year of University of Guelph’s Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program. She is specializing in crop science and the environment due to her keen interest in plant and soil health. Margaret found her passion for agriculture at a young age and enjoys being involved with the Beeton Agricultural Society and the Essa and District Agricultural Society. Margaret looks forward to pursuing a Masters degree in soil science, and then ultimately aims to become an agronomist and obtain a CCA-ON.
Caitlin Allen of Alfred, ON is in her 2nd year of the Farm Management and Technology Program at Macdonald College, McGill University. She’s enjoying courses on a wide variety of topics including soil, plant and animal sciences, engineering, and business management. Growing up on her family’s dairy, nurtured Caitlin’s love for all aspects of agriculture. She spends her summers working for area farmers and enjoys everything from milking cows to mending fences and planting crops. Caitlin is eager to pursue a career in the agri-food industry, where she will focus on ensuring Canada is well-positioned to feed the world.
Winners were selected based on their volunteer and agricultural industry-related accomplishments, interest in agriculture and rural issues, community involvement and academic performance. They each received $2,000 to assist with their post-secondary education in an agricultural program. Eligible applicants included students of OFA members families and from across the province who were entering or pursuing post-secondary education in an agriculture-related program.
OFA announces 2019 student bursary winners
Three Ontario post-secondary students were awarded education bursaries towards their studies in an agriculture-related field. Robert Matson of Caledon, Nolan McLarty of West Lorne and Natalie Templeton of Kemptville were chosen from 54 entrants, the highest ever received in the fourth year of OFA’s bursary program. They were recognized at OFA’s 2019 Annual General Meeting in Hamilton, Ontario.
Winners were selected based on their volunteer and agricultural industry-related accomplishments, interest in agriculture and rural issues, community involvement and academic performance. They each received $2,000 to assist with their post-secondary education in an agricultural program. Bursary funds were raised through a silent auction at OFA’s 2018 Annual General Meeting.
Eligible applicants included students of OFA members families and from across the province who were entering or pursuing a post-secondary education in an agriculture-related program. The bursaries were awarded regionally, including one recipient from each region across Ontario (Northern, Eastern and South-Western).