The winners of the 2026, $10,000 Agricultural Scholarships are (L to R) Liam Sjodin, Karl Petker, and Julia Rawleigh. (Image Credit: Photo: Meghan Villiger - Chris Yauck Photography)

By LNN Staff

Three Scholarship Award Winners

Rotary Club of Lethbridge East hosts $10,000 Agriculture Scholarship Awards Dinner

Mar 23, 2026 | 2:09 PM

Rotary Club of Lethbridge East celebrated southern Alberta’s top students pursuing a post-secondary education in agriculture by handing out its annual Agricultural Scholarships this month.

The $10,000 Agriculture Scholarship Awards Dinner held on March 5, featured the scholarship presentations of course, guest speaker Dr. Sidney Shapiro from the University of Lethbridge who discussed artificial intelligence, automation, and the next generation of agriculture, as well as a live auction hosted by Perlich Bros.

Live auction hosted by Perlich Auction. (Image Credit: LNN Staff)

This year’s scholarship award winners include:

Julia Rawleigh

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Julia was raised in Vulcan, Alberta where a strong agricultural community and rural way of life instilled in her a deep appreciation for animals, hard work, and service. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Science in Zoology at the University of Calgary, and during her undergraduate summers, she gained hands-on experience in swine, dairy, and equine production. Following her undergraduate degree, Julia completed veterinary technology training at Olds College, becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician and expanding her clinical knowledge and technical expertise. She recently achieved her goal of being accepted into the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, where she continues to pursue her passion for animal health. After graduation, Julia hopes to pursue a career in production animal medicine, supporting producers and strengthening rural agricultural communities. Beyond academics, Julia serves as an ambassador for her veterinary school, representing her program at events and supporting prospective students. She is deeply grateful for the generosity of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge East and its industry sponsors, whose support makes her continued education and professional growth possible.

Karl Petker

Karl grew up on a farm near Coaldale, Alberta, where he developed a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for crop production and the role agriculture plays in rural communities. He is currently in his third year at Lethbridge Polytechnic, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agriculture science. Recognized for both academic excellence and leadership, Karl has earned multiple scholarships throughout his post-secondary studies. Alongside his full academic commitments, he competes on the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks men’s volleyball team and has further developed his leadership skills through coaching. Following graduation, Karl plans to pursue a career in agronomy consulting, partnering with producers to deliver practical, research-based solutions that enhance productivity and long-term sustainability. He is sincerely grateful to the Rotary Club of Lethbridge East and scholarship sponsors for their investment in his education and promising career in agriculture.

Liam Sjodin

Liam Sjodin grew up in Brooks, Alberta and fell in love with agriculture from a young age whether it was helping his grandparents, friends, or other family members. His passion for the beef industry started when he was 11 years old when he entered the local 4-H beef club. He credits his six years in 4-H for much of his early learning about cattle and the beef industry. But his parents taught him so much more in relation to animal nutrition and husbandry. His love for biochemistry, nutrition, immunology, and physiology have destined him for a career in veterinary medicine and commitment to become a food production veterinarian. He is in his fourth year of Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan and recently accepted for M.Sc. studies in the fall of 2026. He has had hands-on experience in the dairy, poultry, and beef barns on campus and worked at the University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine Faculty doing research with dolphin and Union caribou and herd traceability in Nunavut. He also worked for a veterinarian on his cow/calf and custom feeding operation on a ranch and learning about all elements of feed production and processing. He will continue to work at Bow Valley Genetics which is a bovine reproduction clinic working in the semen, embryo, and IVF lab. All of this experience has inspired Liam to enter the workforce and help producers reach their goals as a food production veterinarian. He thanks all the sponsors and Rotary Club of Lethbridge East for their generous support.

Rotary Club officials acknowledge they raise these funds through the generosity of their sponsors and supporters.

Click here to learn more about the Rotary Ag Scholarship.