I am excited to introduce myself as The Western Producer’s newest student intern, where you can join me for the next four months as I take on the world of agricultural journalism.
This is my fourth and final year at the University of Regina’s School of Journalism and I am really looking forward to spending my internship writing for all of you.
To help you get to know me better, I’ll start from the beginning. I grew up on a grain farm outside of Esterhazy, Sask. This is where my interest in agriculture started, as I watched both my dad and my grandpa pour their passion into maintaining the family farm.
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The older I got, the more capable I became helping around the yard, especially with the smaller tasks. Even something as simple as holding the ladder was time well spent because it was time I could spend with two of the most influential men in my life.
Being able to grow up in the country brought many learning curves for me and I put to use the skills I didn’t even know I had.
There were also things I discovered I should probably leave to those more knowledgeable. A good example is the shed in our yard that now sits at a permanent 75-degree angle. Moral of that story, I am no longer allowed to measure things. Live and learn.
Fast forward a few years and I am nearly done with school and about to receive my bachelor’s degree in journalism. The journey has provided me with many opportunities to connect with great people who have shared their stories and trusted me through their openness and vulnerability.
In my opinion, that is one of the biggest takeaways from becoming a journalist — always see the humanity in everyone you speak to and take the time to show you can be trusted. It is important to put the work in.
I am eager to use what I have learned into my internship with The Western Producer and to also learn more through this new experience. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I know I will.
