Today@Dal

Bridget Wilson, a Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture student, is the 2014 recipient of the 4-H Canada AgriVenture Global Scholarship program. This program will enable Bridget to live and work in New Zealand for six-months beginning this October.

Bridget, a fourth-year university student pursuing an agriculture degree in Animal Science, Genetics and Molecular Biology -- will take part in a six-month program to rural New Zealand. Originally from Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia, Wilson is currently enrolled at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture, Truro. She will live and work on a dairy farm in New Zealand from October through April. The $3,000 scholarship will be applied towards the AgriVenture program fee.

“I applied for the scholarship because travel was something I really wanted to do when I was finished school. I wanted to experience agriculture from a new perspective, further my education on a practical level and learn about new cultures,” explained Wilson. “4-H has taken me many places already and this seemed like a great opportunity! It was exactly what I wanted to do.”

“The AgriVenture scholarship recognizes a 4-H member who is a leader in their club and community” said Allison Sarauer, AgriVenture Program Co-ordinator for Canada. “AgriVenture trainees are ambassadors for Canadian agriculture and we’re happy to support an outstanding 4-H member or alumnus in gaining experience and exposure to the global agriculture scene”.
Wilson has been involved in the 4-H for 13 years in Inverness County, taking part in many projects and activities with her specialty being dairy.
“I hope to gain new perspectives... not only about agriculture and the dairy industry but about life generally,” she added. “What knowledge I gather I hope to bring back to Nova Scotia and use in my career working with dairy farmers and hopefully running my own dairy farm someday.”

AgriVenture provides cultural and work experiences to young adults aged 18-30. Wilson had a choice of dairy, beef, sheep or crop placement opportunities in a variety of host countries including New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden and others.

Wilson was chosen by Nova Scotia 4-H as the provincial candidate for the scholarship and joined others from across Canada in the competition. Scholarship applicants with at least two years 4-H experience are welcome to apply by November 1 annually through their Provincial 4-H office.
http://apply.4-h-canada.ca