Palmerston native receives Dairy Farmers of Ontario bursary

MINTO – Palmerston native Chayse Herrfort is one of six Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) members selected to receive a $5,000 bursary from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO).

“It was truly an honour to receive the bursary and I couldn’t thank the OHA and the Dairy Farmers of Ontario enough,” said Herrfort, who played last season for the Minto 81’s in the Ontario Elite Hockey League.

The bursary program recognizes young athletes who “demonstrate leadership in building strong, healthy communities, achieve academic excellence and display a deep passion for and commitment to the game of hockey,” states a DFO media release.

Herrfort told the Advertiser he is currently in the fourth and final year of his Doctorate of Chiropractic program at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto, and he is also doing a clinical internship.

“I was super excited to receive this bursary because chiropractic school is a large financial commitment and this helped lower the burden of that,” he said.

Applicants for the bursary had to be members of the OHA and attend a post-secondary institution. Another thing the DFO was looking for in applicants, said Herrfort, was individuals with high-standing grades and participation in the community.

“At DFO, we believe that supporting young people is an investment in the future of our communities,” stated Cheryl Smith, CEO of DFO in the release. 

“This year’s bursary recipients have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their sport while excelling in their education and showing strong leadership and character. We are proud to support their continued success and congratulate each of them on this well-deserved achievement.”

OHA executive director Mark Tuck added the association is “thrilled” to partner with the DFO on the bursary program, which recognizes “commitment both on and off the ice, and reflects our shared belief in supporting well-rounded student-athletes.” 

He added, “we know our players will benefit tremendously from this meaningful partnership.”

Herrfort has been playing hockey since his parents put him in Timbits hockey at around the age of four.

He played up to novice in the Minto Minor Hockey Association and later moved on to Huron Perth Lakers minor hockey, where he played AAA from atom to U16.

“Then I was fortunate enough to sign with the Listowel Cyclones, where I was able to play for five years,” he shared in a DFO video.

From there, he played at Wilfrid Laurier University for four years.

“After that, I came full circle and made my way back to Minto and played for the men’s senior team,” he added.

In his spare time, Herrfort has assisted young Minto Minor Hockey players and, while at Laurier, he organized blood drives and was a peer academic coach.

“I’ve learned from a lot of people that have been part of their communities, and I want to take what I’ve learned from them and the qualities that they embody and I want to use those qualities throughout my life as well,” said Herrfort.

He told the Advertiser that once he graduates from chiropractic college, he plans to work in or near the area he grew up in “to give back to the community that gave so much to me.”