Scientist receives animal care award
Dr. Brenda Ralston, a livestock research scientist at Alberta’s Lakeland College, is the recipient of Alberta Farm Animal Care 2022 Award of Distinction.
The annual award recognizes one individual or group who has made contributions to the field of livestock welfare through leadership, innovation or communication.
During her 35-year research career, Ralston has been committed to welfare and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives in the animal food production industry.
Notably, she has helped bring livestock pharmaceuticals that address animal welfare issues related to management procedures to market.
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She is also a cattle producer and works with her family on their century farm, Twin Lakes Ranch.
Water monitoring volunteers needed
Kerri Finlay with the University of Regina’s Faculty of Science needs volunteers to help her research team test the water quality in more than 70 of Saskatchewan’s lakes this summer.
The water testing is part of the U of R’s water monitoring program.
Volunteers will use kits to test water hardness, alkalinity, chlorine, salinity, pH, oxygen levels and water clarity. The kit also includes an air thermometer, field guides and notepads and other useful items.
Volunteers can sign up at waterrangers.ca/Saskatchewan.
Do More Ag has new executive director
Megz Reynolds is the new executive director of the Do More Agriculture Foundation, a national organization advocating for mental health in Canadian agriculture.
Reynolds will lead efforts to increase mental health awareness and work with provincial and federal governments to develop and implement AgTalk, a 24-7 mental health support line for Canadian producers and their families.
She is a former grain farmer who was engaged in agriculture policy through the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan.
AgriSpirit Fund seeks applications
Farm Credit Canada is accepting applications from registered charities and non-profit organizations for the $1.5 million FCC AgriSpirit Fund until April 29.
For the past 17 years, FCC has awarded rural community groups between $5,000 and $25,000 in funding for various community improvement initiatives.
The fund will again support projects that enrich the lives of residents in cities, towns or Indigenous communities with fewer than 150,000 people.
Rural community groups can view the eligibility requirements and apply online by visiting fccagrispiritfund.ca.
Mentorship program participants chosen
The Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program, delivered by Canadian Western Agribition, announced the mentees and their paired mentors selected to participate for the 2022-23 fiscal year.
The program accepts eight applicants into an 18-month mentorship program.
Mentees and their paired mentors include:
- Kaitlyn Kitzan paired with Dale Leftwich
- David MacTaggart paired with William Greuel
- Erika Stewart paired with Mike Sidoryk
- Kristin Thompson paired with Tara Davidson
- Brooke Dudley paired with Alison Weaver
- Chelsey Mitchell paired with Megz Reynolds
- Morgan Heidecker paired with Sheldon Kyle
- Rena Leier paired with Clinton Monchuk
