CALGARY STAMPEDE – INTERNATIONAL YOUTH LIVESTOCK SCHOLARSHIPS
Supreme Champion, Commercial Beef: Cole McMahon
Supreme Champion, Purebred Beef: Dakota Townsend
Supreme Champion, Sheep: Shannon McLaughlin
Supreme Champion, Dairy: Tyson Reitveld
Supreme Champion, Equine: Caitlin Malterer
IYLS Recipients (name, hometown)
SENIORS
$3,000
Candace Fankhanel Ferintosh, AB
Brennan Munro Airdrie, AB
Cassidy Matthews Olds, AB
Megan McLeod Cochrane, AB
$2,000
Jared Couch Sundre, AB
Luke Marshall Red Deer, AB
Kyle Dodgson Sangudo, AB
Cole McMahon Galahad, AB
Shannon McLaughlin Whitecourt, AB
Bailey Wauters Wrentham, AB
Dakota Townsend Sylvan Lake, AB
Aiden Jamieson Dalemead, AB
Kayla Jones Olds, AB
Davis Schmidt Watrous, SK
$1,000
Brooke Bablitz Cherhill, AB
Bailey Dietrich Forestburg, AB
Ward Marshall Red Deer, AB
Jill McLerie Red Deer, AB
Maguire Blair Drake, SK
Travis Dow Vermilion, AB
Halley Adams Forestburg, AB
Jonas Haeni Didsbury, AB
Cayley Peltzer Rosemary, AB
Tony Schmidt Falun, AB
Jade Marshall Red Deer, AB
Danae Chostner Stettler, AB
Wacey Townsend Sylvan Lake, AB
Jaymie Thompson Abbotsford, BC
Delanie Knull Crossfield, AB
Cole Dodgson Sangudo, AB
Kaylie Krys Vermilion, AB
Riley Sharp Lacombe, AB
Tyler Dietrich Forestburg, AB
Makenzie Rowley Clive, AB
INTERMEDIATE
$1,000
Emma Gingras Langdon, AB
Jacey Massey Strathmore, AB
Morgan MacIntyre Russell, ON
Bryanne Peltzer Duchess, AB
Cache McLerie Red Deer, AB
Justin Couch Sundre, AB
Baxter Blair McLean, SK
Sierra Wise Airdrie, AB
Madison Sibbald Cochrane, AB
Cara McNaughton Whitecourt, AB
Keely Adams Forestburg, AB
Thomas Wildman Sangudo, AB
Julie Sharp Lacombe, AB
Jenna Schmidt Watrous, SK
Bronwynn Frenzel Magrath, AB
JUNIOR
$500
Kyla Kelly Red Deer, AB
Brynne Yoder Barrhead, AB
Elle Groeneveld Kathryn, AB
Kenzie Hickman Vermilion, AB
Tianna Frenzel Magrath, AB
Alexis Couch Sundre, AB
Calgary – The thing everyone knows about agriculture is that it means work, and lots of it. The 55 recipients of Stampede International Livestock Scholarships understand that. To start with, they have to have done well at various livestock shows around the province like the Provincial 4-H Sheep Show, the Provincial 4-H Beef Heifer Show and the Provincial 4-H Dairy Show among others. Then the 355 entrants, the most ever, and 589 head of livestock, went to the Stampede week Summer Synergy show in Olds. If participants were trying for a scholarship, they had to have submitted a marketing assignment that was judged back in May.
After Summer Synergy, it’s off to Calgary for judged interviews that are the final determinant of just how much money the IYLS will provide toward their post-secondary education. The interviews are not an easy ride, as the judges make sure that the final recipients of the scholarships are worthy.
Five competitors are named Supreme Champions in their specialty. This year’s Supreme Champion, Commercial Beef, is Cole McMahon. “This is my seventh and final year in 4-H and my sixth year coming to Summer Synergy,” Cole says. His beef expertise doesn’t come from his family environment. “My parents are actually grain farmers,” he says. “This cow and two other heifers are the only cattle we own.”
Cole says his cow was actually double-qualified for Stampede as she was the Supreme Champion Commercial Female at the Provincial Beef and Heifer Show as well as Champion Simmenthal female at Summer Synergy.
“With Summer Synergy, every aspect of it is challenging,” he says. “You have the best young kids in the industry there. You have to know what you’re doing to be able to excel and place high enough to receive the scholarship.”
As for the interviews, Cole gives full credit to his 4-H public speaking experience. “That’s where 4-H has given me a great helping hand,” he says. “Without 4-H I wouldn’t have been able to do that.”
The scholarship money will come in handy for Cole next year, he says. “It’s awesome. That’s a huge reason why I even come, is those scholarship dollars. I’m accepted into the University of Saskatchewan to get a Bachelor’s degree in Agri-Business. Then I’ll return home to the family farm.”
There’s another lasting benefit of his 4-H involvement, Cole says. “Almost all my friends have come through the 4-H program - all my closest friends, at least. They’re friends I’ll have for the rest of my life and can always count on.”
About the Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede celebrates the people, the animals, the land, the traditions and the values that make up the unique spirit of the west. The Calgary Stampede contributes to the quality of life in Calgary and southern Alberta through our world-renowned 10-day Stampede, year-round facilities, western events and several youth and agriculture programs. Exemplifying the theme We’re Greatest Together, we are a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit community organization that preserves and celebrates our western heritage, cultures and community spirit. All revenue is reinvested into Calgary Stampede programs and facilities.
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For more information, please contact:
Nicole Henson Amy Evelein
Agriculture Media Committee Chair Agriculture Program Coordinator
Mobile: (403) 875-9808 Office: (403) 261-9159
agmedia@calgarystampede.com Fax: (403) 262-3067
