By Joseph Maciag, Multimedia Communications Specialist, Communications Branch, Regina
Agriculture has played an important role in Marleigh Mann’s life since childhood. She’s had a passion for animals since she started in 4H almost a decade ago.
“When I started 4H, we had sheep which we showed. I’ve also had a steer and heifer every single year,” said Mann.
of the 2024 Agriculture Student Scholarship.
Ranching has been integral to her family for generations. Her extended family has been farming and ranching for over a century near Sandy Beach with her own family starting their yard site backgrounding operation in the 1970s.
“Our family has kept our heifers, so our siblings and I have built up a small cow herd,” Mann explained. “I’ve been able to watch them grow, and it’s pretty cool to have home-grown genetics and calves that you’re proud of.”
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Mann is the grand-prize winner of the 2024 Agriculture Student Scholarship receiving a $6,000 scholarship to pursue post-secondary education at Lakeland College where she will study Agricultural Sciences.
For this year’s scholarship application, students were given the choice of creating either a three-minute video or writing an essay on the topic of farming and environmental sustainability. Applicants were graded on their alignment with the theme as well as their professionalism.
Mann’s winning essay, Sustainable Agriculture, the Future of the Industry, highlighted the potential of sustainable agriculture. It promoted innovation, adaptability and the overall vitality of the livestock industry. She also advocated for building public trust and transparency through educational opportunities such as farm tours and social media. She emphasized more needs to be done to combat a lack of understanding and misconceptions in the livestock industry.
She highlighted how Saskatchewan agricultural producers have continued to adapt and create new practices that promote sustainable and responsible practices that protect the environment. By using rangeland and pastures for livestock production, which are often unsuitable for crop production, producers contribute to preserving natural ecosystems, wildlife biodiversity, watershed protection and reduce soil erosion.
Mann shared the decision to apply for the Agriculture Student Scholarship was a daunting one, but she became inspired by reading previous years’ essays.
“You could tell how educated and passionate they are about agriculture, which I thought was fantastic,” she said, pointing out the theme of farming and environmental sustainability really hit home as she believes how her family farm operates really is the definition of sustainable agriculture.
“What we do as cattle ranchers is extremely sustainable and environmentally friendly,” she added. “It’s great to be promoting that to the public because that’s how we’ll be able to push [sustainability] forward.”
Would she recommend future students to apply for the Agriculture Student Scholarship?
“Yes, researching and writing essays is something you’ll have to do in university,” she explained. “You have to do proper research and that can push you out of your comfort zone, but that alone is reason enough to do it.”
Mann sees the agriculture industry heading in a positive direction.
“I really believe agriculture is going to continue to thrive and I’ve already seen that in my own community,” she said. “When you read the essays [of other applicants] there truly are a lot of kids that are involved and passionate. We have a big world to feed and sustainable agriculture practices will keep getting better. The future certainly is bright.”
Mann’s studies will take her to Lakeland College where she will focus on Agricultural Sciences. After a year of playing for the college women’s hockey team, she will be taking a university transfer to the University of Saskatchewan’s Agriculture and Bioresources program where she’ll be pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a focus on Animal Sciences.
The Agriculture Student Scholarship is funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3.5 billion investment by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada's agri-food and agri-products sectors.
This year’s Agriculture Student Scholarship Runners-up
In addition to the $6,000 grand prize scholarship, three recipients were awarded $3,000 each to further their agricultural knowledge at a post-secondary institution.
Clare Wever received their certificates at the Saskatchewan Legislature.
Clare Wever
Clare interviewed various agricultural producers in the province for her essay. Through her interviews, she learned first-hand about the sustainable agricultural practices being undertaken by Saskatchewan producers to safeguard the environment while enhancing food security. She is currently in her first year at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan focusing on animal welfare.
Katie Moyle
Katie’s essay talked about the past, present and future of sustainable agriculture in Saskatchewan. She highlighted how Saskatchewan producers have been leaders in sustainable agriculture for generations and continue to innovate and push forward best practices. She will be attending the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan in the fall of 2024 studying agribusiness.
Madalynn Anderson
Her essay focused on environmental sustainability, showcasing how Saskatchewan producers are using new and innovative technologies for soil and water conservation, while highlighting new advancements in precision agriculture. She will be attending the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan in the fall of 2024 studying agribusiness.