Rotary Club of Lethbridge East announces winners of 2023 agricultural scholarships

She said her $10,000 scholarship will go towards her school tuition. She said relieving stress associated with the cost of school will make a big difference in her future career.

Brobbel said, “Going into veterinary medicine without a massive amount of debt really helps you kind of keep your head on the veterinary side of things [and] not worry about money.”

She added that, “Veterinarians are already prone to burnout and just a lot of emotional, kind of mental health issues, and if you can keep the debt down, that can really help yourself and help the producers that you’re working with.”

By working as a large animal veterinarian, Brobbel hopes to further expand her understanding of veterinary medicine alongside local livestock producers.

EMMA KNODEL

Emma Knodel is a third-year agronomy student in the Bachelor of Agriculture Science program at Lethbridge College. Knodel’s family operates a farm near Enchant, Alberta.

She said receiving the $10,000 is “very exciting and amazing”, but the Thursday night gala also provided a chance to network with individuals in the agriculture industry. Knodel said her experience volunteering in the field has also helped her build strong connections.

She has an interest in soil science and plans to continue her schooling by obtaining a Masters of Science and eventually operate her own soil analysis lab.

Knodel said the scholarship will help cover tuition costs, noting “I’m in my third year, so it will be tuition for next year and then anything left over will be going towards [my] Masters.”

Echoing Brobbel’s thoughts, Knodel said the bursary will help alleviate some stress that comes with the costs of tuition.

Knodel said, “Mental health is a big thing in the ag industry. If you don’t have to worry about money or getting a second job, you can focus on your education and do your best there.”

MAKAYLA GROSS

Makayla Gross was raised on a crop and cattle operation outside of Bow Island. She is currently completing her third year of study towards a Bachelor of Management, with a major in Marketing, at the University of Lethbridge.

Upon receiving the scholarship, she said, “It’s definitely an honour to be recognized in this way. As someone young coming up through the ranks in the agriculture industry, it means a lot to be able to be picked out from everybody who applied and to be one of the winners.”

Like Brobbel and Knodel, Gross said her bursary will help cover tuition costs for her upcoming fourth year of studies, “as well as pursuing a Masters or Masters certificate.”

Gross is excited about her options that will come from the connections made through the scholarship application process.

She said, “The connections that we make both through the Rotary Club and all the sponsorships are incredible and will definitely open up doors of opportunity for jobs in different areas.”

Gross added, “Even just being able to network with everyone, like Emma [Knodel] said, is a really great chance to meet other people in the industry, get your name out there and begin looking at some more opportunities after graduation.”

Gross plans to pursue a career in agri-food marketing, with a focus on consumer education and fostering public support for the agriculture industry.

This year marked the fifth year that the $10,000 agriculture scholarship has been awarded to students from southern Alberta.

by Justin Goulet

Rotary Club of Lethbridge East announces winners of 2023 agricultural scholarships

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