The Wellington Federation of Agriculture has announced the recipient of the eighth annual Agricultural Student award.
Laura Austin, of Alma, was the winner of the award that goes to Wellington County student pursuing post secondary studies in agriculture.
Austin, of R.R.#1 Elora, received $500.
She said in an interview last week that she received notice she had won by email to Ridgetown, where she is currently studying.
She had to submit an essay to become eligible for the award, and noted she did not know how many other people also applied.
She said she learned she won because of work she did in the community and her farming background.
Austin is no stranger to winning. Last year she won a gold medal at the provincial and national Technological Skills Competitions for her presentation on farm safety.
“It is very nice,” she said of the student award.
She plans to use the cash to buy books for school and added, “I have a horse, so I’ll save some for her.” She added that some of the money can also be used for “car costs.”
Austin will be officially recognized at the Wellington Federation of Agriculture Banquet and OFA regional meeting, which will be held next October.
She is currently attending the University of Guelph, Ridgetown College campus and working towards a Diploma in Agriculture.
She said she hopes to complete that and then attend the University of Guelph for a degree in agriculture. She plans to go into the Farm Safety field, or perhaps into the nutrition field.
Austin has been actively involved in 4-H, completing 38 clubs thus far. She also helped to refurbish tractors to raise $28,000 for Wellington County 4-H, and was Youth Leader for the farm safety club.
Austin, 18, has been involved in 4-H for eight years.
She helped organize a safety day in which local children could come and learn about farm safety. Austin also enjoys showing horses and will be a competitor and volunteer in July of 2008 for the World Percheron Congress held in Toronto.
The WFA Agricultural Student award was initiated in 1998 but renamed in 2002 in memory of the late Ray Baptie, a former president of WFA.
The award is available each year to up to two students who reside in Wellington County and who are in their first year of a post secondary agricultural program.
Award criteria balances scholarship, school, community involvement, and future agricultural plans. Information on next year’s scholarship is available at wfofa.on.ca, or by contacting the WFA administrator, Lisa Hern at 519-848-3774.
