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Tamara Snook has found her home in agriculture.

Originally from Ontario, 19-year-old Tamara moved to small town Oxford, Nova Scotia and is fulfilling her dream of working with animals through the help of 4-H and Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture.  

Through 4-H, Tamara has pledged her head, heart, hands and health to bettering her club, her community, her country and her world.

“4-H is a community and has given me family – a home away from home,” explains Tamara.  “Someone is always there for you. They take care of you and look out for you.”  “It’s also given me a huge sense of self-confidence,” she added.

And it is this self-confidence that enabled Tamara to win the organization’s National Citizenship Award and to be nominated for Member of the Year for Cumberland County 4-H.

The National Citizenship award enables young members of 4-H to learn about Canada and its history including governance, parliamentary procedures, citizenship and politics in a way that is fun, inspiring and memorable. Sixty members were selected across Canada for 2014, including Tamara.

“We were able to produce a mock debate in Parliament house in Prince Edward Island as part of the 150^th anniversary of Confederation!”  “We learned so much.”  

The goal of 4-H is to develop citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills of youth through experiential learning programs and a positive youth development approach.

“4-h is such a good program and helps so many different people with so many different things – it becomes your life,” shared Tamara.  “I’ve seen so many people grow from the program.”

And Tamara is no exception.  She earned several industry scholarships including the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association scholarship, 4-H Council scholarships and an entrance scholarship from Dalhousie University upon enrolling at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture in 2013 to study Animal Science.

“I’ve always loved this campus, she explained.  I’ve attended 4-H weekend on this campus and have just always wanted to come here.  I love it here!”

Tamara feels at home on campus with its close-knit community of like-minded students.

“It is such a great campus and a close campus, everyone knows everyone and there are so many opportunities,” said Tamara.

Scott Reid, Coach of the Dal AC Woodsmen team saw Tamara competing in a 4-H woodsmen’s competition and asked her to try out for the Dalhousie team.  Now a second year veteran, Tamara is Captain of the Woodsmen’s B Team, is employed part-time with the Safety & Security office and worked with Conference Services this past summer.

Tamara combined her 4-H showmanship skills and her love for the Ag Campus this past weekend at the Livestock Show during College Royal October 18^th.

Tamara helped with showmanship and clipping of the animals in preparation for the Livestock show.  “I know a few tricks!” she added.   She needed a few tricks to get through the busy weekend with College Royal Livestock show, travelling with the Dal AC Woodsmen’s team, attending a 4-H banquet and studying for mid-terms.

But Tamara wouldn’t have it any other way.  “I plan to continue my membership in the 4-H program, eventually becoming a leader,” she said while also pursuing a career in veterinary pathology or wildlife conservation.

This is Agriculture and This is home for Tamara Snook.

Learn more about students like Tamara and the Faculty of Agriculture during Discovery Day 2014.  Step onto our campus and learn to change the world!

http://www.dal.ca/admissions/discovery-day.html

Tamara Snook in the Ruminant Animal Centre on the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus during College Royal 2014