Winners of the 2015 Canadian Nuffield Farming Scholarship announced

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Nuffield Canada released the names of the 2015 Canadian Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust. The three winners are from different provinces, Becky Parker (Picton, Ontario), Colin Hudon (Rosser, Manitoba), and Greg Donald (Kensington, PEI).

“Over the next two years, Becky, Colin and Greg will not only develop confidence, clarity of vision as well as new leadership and organizational capabilities, they will also be investigating issues critical to Canadian agriculture. The opportunities and perspective that a Nuffield Scholarship provides are invaluable in today’s global agricultural community,” Nuffield Canada Chair Kelvin Meadows said in a release.

Canadian recipients will kick off their experience in February 2015 when they travel to the Champagne Region of France and meet their 2015 scholar colleagues. The week-long trip will include a series of tours, workshops, speakers and networking opportunities. Once the excursion is complete, scholars will travel around the world to begin their studies. Travel will be for the duration of about 10 weeks or longer.

Participating countries of the Nuffield program includes, the United Kingdom, The Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, The Netherlands, and Zimbabwe. Canadian researchers are given $15,000 which helps with the cost of their travel, and compensation for time away from work. The program announced a new partner, Glacier FarmMedia. They are funding the Ontario recipient Becky Parker. The trust says that it hopes to increase financial support in the future.

Applications for the 2016 scholarship class are due April 30, 2015.

More about the winners:

Becky Parker – Ontario

• Raised on a seventh generation mixed livestock farm
• Graduate of the University of Guelph, where she received her Bachelor of Applied Science degree
• She received her Masters of Education in 2012
• She is currently the Project and Partnership Manager with Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc.

Research focus

Becky will research models of agriculture career education and the collaborative relationships between industry groups, youth development organizations and the formal school system.

Greg Donald – PEI

• GM of the PEI Potato Board
• Has a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA
• He has more than 20 years of experience in the potato industry

Research focus

Greg will investigate strategic plans implemented by potato industries in other countries in order to gain a greater knowledge of their long term critical success factors.

Colin Hudon – Manitoba

• He is a farmer and owns F&F Hudon Farms Ltd. with his wife and daughters
• Managing partner of Strategic Agricultural Management Co.

Research focus

The business of farming vs. the business of farmland ownership. Colin will be examining farm business models from around the world, with the hope to help Canadian farmers plan for the future.