For immediate release
The 3rd annual OAAS – Central Canada Exhibition Association Scholarship awarded to 8 Ontario students involved in their local agricultural societies
Stirling, ON (October 21, 2024) The Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) is pleased to announce the awarding of the third annual OAAS – Central Canada Exhibition Scholarships, with another increasing year of recipients, eight winners were announced for 2024. Congratulations to Mary Brander (Fergus), Jacquelyn Easson (Caledonia), Joyce Fox (Caledonia), Leah Lai (Lindsay Ex), Cheyanne Leifso (Chesley), Meagan Ravell (Forest), Ethan Ringelberg (Rockton), and Catherine (Cate) Thompson (Bayfield).
Mary Brander: Mary is proud to represent the Fergus Agricultural Society as the 2023-2024 Fergus Fall Fair Ambassador and Junior Director on the FAS Fair Board. She is currently studying Animal Science at the University of Guelph. She is an avid 4-H member, having completed over 70 clubs, as well, as being selected to represent 4-H Ontario youth on the 2024-2026 4-H Canada Youth Advisory Committee. Mary is also a dedicated volunteer, assisting in 4-H, at her local fairs, and in her community. Mary enjoys working on her family’s dairy farm and at
her summer position at the Ontario Veterinary College. Mary enjoys playing hockey, rugby, and reading books in her spare time. Mary aspires to become a large animal veterinarian or pathologist and play a key role in the sustainability of Ontario agriculture.
Jacquelyn Easson: Jacquelyn is in her final year of Biochemistry at the University of Waterloo. Jackie’s involvement with the Caledonia Agricultural Society started at 6 months old where she was often referred to as the “office baby.” Being a part of a family that is actively involved in fair life, Jackie has been an official member
of the agricultural society from the age of 10. Currently, Jackie works on both marketing and communications along with the Fair Ambassador committee. Outside of the fair Jackie volunteers in many other areas. She has been a Science Ambassador and Orientation leader for the last four years. Also has been a part of organizations
such as iGEM (an international synthetic biology organization) and was involved with the Oneida Plowmans Association as the 2021-2023 Oneida Queen of the Furrow. Jackie’s future goal is to be able to apply her biochemistry degree to help integrate biotechnology into the agricultural industry and make it more accessible to all.
Joyce Fox: Joyce was raised on a cash crop farm in Canfield Ontario, where her love for agriculture first began. This went hand in hand with her fair involvement, exhibiting at fairs across southwestern Ontario in the grains, livestock, and homecraft divisions. She has been a volunteer at the Caledonia Fair for the last five years, and
most recently was the Caledonia Agricultural Society’s inaugural Fair Ambassador. She has now joined the society as a general member and plans to support the ambassador program. Outside of her agricultural society, Joyce has been heavily involved with 4-H. During her eleven years of 4-H participation, Joyce received the Junior and Senior Outstanding Haldimand 4-H awards and was a 2023 4-H Ontario Ambassador. Her previous work experiences include acting as a policy analyst intern for the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, along with a summer with RBC Dominion Securities to learn about financial management. As a third-year commerce student at Queen’s University, she is balancing her academics alongside duties as a varsity fencing team captain, with aspirations to enter the law field.
Leah Lai: Leah is a student at the University of Guelph, working towards her B.Sc. in Animal Biology, with future plans to attend the Ontario Veterinary School. Leah has been involved in 4-H for over eight years, where she held many different positions in various club projects. Leah is also a part of the Lindsay Agricultural Society, where I sit on the Ambassador Committee and was honoured to serve as the 2022-2023 Lindsay Ambassador, which led her to become the 50th CNE Ambassador of the Fairs. These experiences have fueled her passion for making agriculture more inclusive, especially for people of colour like herself. When Leah is not busy with school or 4-H, she enjoys hunting, fishing, showing dairy cattle, and horseback riding.
Cheyanne Leifso: Cheyanne resides near Chesley, ON with her family, and is presently attending her second year at the University of Guelph for the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program, with a major focusing on science, crops, business, and environment. Cheyanne has really enjoyed her experiences as the Chesley Fall Fair Ambassador, visiting agricultural societies, local fairs, and community events. Cheyanne is a graduate of the Walkerton District Community School where she was active on the school curling and soccer teams. Cheyanne is a Bruce County 4-H member participating in livestock and lifeskills clubs and enjoys attending dairy shows with her 4-H calf. Following University, she plans to stay involved in agriculture returning home to their multi-generation family dairy farm.
Meagan Ravell: Meagan is currently enrolled in her second year of the Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Lambton College. Alongside her family, Meagan has been an active volunteer with the Forest Agricultural Society for many years. She was a Junior Director from the ages of 14-17 and became a director
when she turned 18. Meagan helps with various fair committees throughout the year and currently serves as the Chair for the Junior Directors. Meagan has dedicated her roles to increasing youth involvement within Ontario Agricultural Societies and assisted the OAAS with their Youth Pilot Project. Meagan has also participated in the
4-H program and was a member of the Forest Dairy Club. Meagan has grown up loving the Forest Fair and is excited to see what the future holds!
Ethan Ringelberg: Ethan has completed his first year at Conestoga College/Guelph Campus of the Heavy Equipment/Farm Equipment Diesel Mechanic diploma program. Ethan aspires to be the 4th generation to carry on the family farm and become a full-time dairy farmer, on their 200-acre farm, where they milk 62 Holstein.
Ethan volunteers as an “advocate” for the dairy producers with the local Holstein club and with the Rockton Agricultural Society. Ethan has recently started an Instagram page and a YouTube channel to share what he does on the farm using his phone and a drone. It is called “Our Farm Story” and Ethan plans to continue to help inform consumers how their food is produced and to dispel myths and to encourage people to consider careers in agriculture. Ethan is honoured to have been selected to receive the OAAS scholarship, as the Rockton’s World Fair has been a big part of his life since he was little, showing his dairy calf in the Tiny Farmer class. In addition to giving a speech, entering the school fair and junior departments, and helping at the work bee by repairing the tractors for the kids’ tractor pull and other events.
Cate Thompson: Cate is in her third year of studying Animal Biology at the University of Guelph. With a longstanding passion for research and a love for animals, Cate developed an interest in animal health, specifically in livestock disease prevention through genetics and management practices. She is also broadening her interests by pursuing a minor in Agriculture. This fall, she began volunteering at the Ontario Dairy Research Centre, located just outside Guelph, where she records cow behavior during feeding and collects methane emission data for a large-scale research project aimed at applying genomics to enhance environmental sustainability and improve disease resistance among dairy cattle. Cate plans to continue her education after completing her undergraduate degree, with her love of animals driving her future endeavors.
Volunteering for the Bayfield Agricultural Society has always been an important part of her summers, especially during fair weekend, and she is pleased to now serve on the Board of Directors. Having come from a nonfarming background, Cate has gained significant exposure over the past few years and now holds a deeper appreciation for the Canadian agri-food system. Outside of her studies and volunteering, she enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends, as well as her dog.
The OAAS – Central Canada Exhibition Association Scholarship was launched in 2022 and in partnership together, the OAAS and the Central Canada Exhibition Association (CCEA), created a scholarship program recognizing youth who have been actively involved in their home agricultural societies and fairs.
Thirty-one (31) applications from ten (10) districts throughout Ontario were received for the inaugural year. Evaluation criteria for the scholarship included local agricultural society, community and school involvement, letters of reference, proof of post-secondary enrollment, and an essay outlining “their future plans for contributing as a volunteer within their current or future community.”
The eight scholarship winners will be invited to and recognized at the 2025 Ontario Association of Agricultural Society Convention, on February 20-22, 2025.
About the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies
The Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) provides leadership, guidance, education, and resources for its 212-member Agricultural Societies.
For more information on Ontario agricultural societies and their fairs visit www.ontariofairs.com
For more information contact:
Vince Brennan
Executive Director
Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies
613-395-2465
oaas@oaasfairs.com