Nuffield Canada is pleased to announce the selection of five recipients for its 2019 program:
Ryan Boyd, Forrest, Manitoba, receiving the Western Canadian Grains Research Foundation scholarship.
Mark Brock, Staffa, Ontario, receiving the Grain Farmers of Ontario scholarship.
John Cote, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, receiving a Nuffield Canada alumni fund scholarship.
Scott Holtman, Taber, Alberta, receiving the Alberta Wheat Commission scholarship.
Christoph Weder, Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia, receiving a Nuffield Canada alumni fund scholarship.
“These five scholars will spend the next two years enhancing their leadership and organizational skills
while exploring issues critical to Canadian agriculture,” said Ian McPhadden, Chairman of Nuffield
Canada. “A Nuffield Scholarship is a life-changing experience, providing unique opportunities and
perspectives that are invaluable to the Canadian agricultural climate. Nuffield Canada is very proud of its
2019 candidates and grateful to alumni and program investors for supporting the award of these five
scholarships.”
Ryan Boyd, B.Sc. (Ag), from Forrest Manitoba, sponsored by Western Grains Research Foundation, is the
managing partner of South Glanton Farms, a family farming operation of annual crops and beef cattle.
Ryan will study grazing ruminants as a resilient solution for long-term agriculture profitability,
productivity and climate change.
Mark Brock, B.Sc. (Ag) from Staffa, Ontario, sponsored by Grain Farmers of Ontario, is the
owner/operator of Shepherd Creek Farms Ltd. a 1,600-acre row-crop operation that includes 500 ewes
producing lamb for the Ontario market. Mark’s study will examine funding and investment models with
the goal of creating options for Canadian farmers to confidently make investments that improve
efficiencies and return on investment, especially for operations that may find it hard to take advantage
of economies of scale.
John Cote, B.Sc. (Ag) from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, sponsored by Nuffield Canada alumni, is co-owner
of Blackfox Farm and Distillery. Using the distilling, brewing and wine industries as models, investigation
will be done to determine contributing factors of success in transition from start-up agri-businesses to
growth and expansion phase businesses.
Scott Holtman from Taber, Alberta, sponsored by Alberta Wheat Commission, is a grain producer and
seed grower interested in the interaction between striving to build healthy soils with overall water use,
health, quality and yield of crops grown under irrigation. His study will examine the many ways this can
be done, including microbiology and increased organic matter through methods that include composting
and cover crops.
Dr. Christoph Weder, PhD, from Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia, sponsored by Nuffield Canada Alumni,
is the owner/operator of Venator, Sunset & Spirit View Ranches where he and his wife Erika manage
1,800 purebred and commercial Angus cows and 500 Plains Bison on 35,000 acres of range and tame
pastures in the Alberta and British Columbia Peace Region. Christoph’s study will focus on ecological
goods and services (EGS) and the development of agri-environmental policy to help conserve biodiversity
on farms and ranches.
The five new scholar candidates will have some months to prepare for international study travels. In
March of 2019 they will meet with other scholars from around the globe for a week-long conference,
focussing on global agriculture, business, and personal development, in Iowa
Nuffield scholarships are awarded to individuals who are judged to have the greatest potential to create
value for their industries and for Canadian agriculture through a program of international study. Scholars
have the opportunity to study the best production, management and marketing systems in the world,
while gaining a deeper understanding of the politics, cultures and challenges of global agriculture.
Nuffield Scholar final reports are shared extensively and considered valuable resources for Canadian
agriculture.
Nuffield Canada relies on support from program alumni and industry investors, including:
Alberta Wheat Commission
Farm Credit Canada
Glacier Media Group
Grain Farmers of Ontario
Western Grains Research Foundation
Applications for the 2020 Scholarship program will be due April 30, 2019. For more information on
Nuffield Canada, including application forms, visit www.nuffield.ca.
Source : Nuffield