Brady Donkersgoed (left) and Aaron Lorenz (Photo: Lethbridge & District Exhibition)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge & District Exhibition and Rotary Club of Lethbridge East announced 2021 agricultural scholarship recipients

Feb 26, 2021 | 9:33 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Two Alberta students have received a significant scholarship award.

Aaron Lorenz of the University of Lethbridge and Brady Donkersgoed of the University of Alberta have each received a $10,000 scholarship from the Lethbridge & District Exhibition and the Rotary Club of Lethbridge East. The money will help support their studies in the field of agriculture.

“The opportunity to help shape the future leaders of the agriculture industry is something that is part of the fabric of Lethbridge & District Exhibition. Both recipients of this year’s scholarships are already incredible community members, and we look forward to them being ambassadors for both of our great organizations,” said Mike Warkentin, COO of Lethbridge & District Exhibition.

President of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge East, Bill Mains said this year marks a significant one for the club: its 60-year anniversary.

“Four of our founders were farmers and several others had careers in service industries,” he said.

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Mains is also a member of the organizing committee for the agricultural scholarship awards.

“Our connection to agriculture remains as strong today as it was in the beginning; our entire scholarship committee, as well as several other club members, have roots or careers in agriculture. The agriculture scholarship is our latest partnership with the Lethbridge Exhibition,” he added.

“Congratulations to Aaron and Brady on being the 2021 agriculture scholarship award recipients.”

Wayne Lindwall, Rotary Club of Lethbridge East member and member of the scholarship selection committee said they want to acknowledge everyone who applied for this year.

“We received 17 submissions which were reviewed by a six-person selection committee. The calibre of the submissions was impressive and shows the future of agriculture in southern Alberta should be in good hands when these students enter the work force,” Lindwall stated.

THE RECIPIENT

Brady Donkersgoed is currently in his third year of a BSc in Agriculture at the University of Alberta. In 2020, he graduated from the Agriculture Science program at Lethbridge College.

While at the college, Brady took part in the AgENT program, which focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership. He also participated in the McDalBridge and the Cor Van Raay Agribusiness Case competition.

The Coaldale-born student grew up on a family farm and hopes to continue working with his siblings and parents on their crop and forage operation.

The AgENT program helped him start developing a business plan to convert empty broiler barns on their farm for sustainable and unique endeavors.

Aaron Lorenz is a fourth year Management student majoring in Economics with a minor in Agricultural Economics at the University of Lethbridge.

He plans to pursue graduate studies in Agricultural Economics in the fall. Lorenz grew up in Lethbridge and had the opportunity to work at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre and Farming Smarter.

He was on the Dean’s List throughout his training and achieved a 3.96 cumulative GPA. Lorenz has stayed active in the community over the years, volunteering at the Galt Museum and Archives, and serving as a guide at the Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Centre.

He hopes to use his schooling to assist producers and consumers by contributing to solutions to the industry’s challenges.

More details on the Lethbridge & District Exhibition and Rotary Club of Lethbridge East agricultural scholarship can be found here.