Aggie Days- Opportunities in Agriculture

Hey there! This post was written as one of several feature blogs for Calgary Stampede's annual Aggie Days, a free event which showcases the diversity of agriculture to consumers. Aggie Days is happening April 21 & 22 at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta. See their Facebook page and other blogs here.

Aggie Days. Source

When you think of a career in agriculture, what comes to mind? A farmer driving a tractor in a field, or milking cows every morning and afternoon? These are vital jobs in Alberta’s agriculture sector, but you may be surprised to discover just how many other career opportunities are available in the business of food, fuel, and fibre.

The agriculture and food industry includes primary production, manufacturing of agricultural products, distribution, and marketing. Professionals in agriculture can be found ensuring meat safety in a processing plant, treating sick animals at a veterinarian’s office, developing national campaigns promoting farmer’s products, or harvesting fields of wheat.

As an Agriculture Business undergraduate student at the University of Alberta, my degree has shown me the many diverse opportunities I will have as an agricultural professional after graduation. I’m planning to use my university education to work in communications for an agricultural company, and continue my passion of sharing the positive stories of agriculture with the public. I may not be doing the combining myself, but I hope to advocate for the people who are.

My passion is showing and telling others about agriculture. What's yours?

In 2000, agriculture accounted for 1 in every 7 Canadian jobs, and contributed to 8.3% of our total Gross Domestic Product. Agriculture is a huge aspect of our nation’s economy and jobs, and encompasses far more than just primary producers. Canada is a large producer of grains, oilseeds, red meat, poultry, swine, and dairy products. We require a strong labour force to not only make sure we can produce these agricultural products, but also market, distribute, and export them. There are many people working to keep agricultural practises sustainable, finding new energy sources and uses for agricultural by-products.

You'll find plenty of interactive agriculture exhibits like this one at Aggie Days!

A job in agriculture is not what it used to be. Hundreds of degree programs are available at universities across Canada for you to pursue your professional dreams in agriculture. How does a degree in Agriculture Economics, Range and Pasture Management, Sustainable Agriculture, or Animal Nutrition sound? The agriculture industry has evolved to allow career opportunities for virtually all talents and passions. 

Ag Media in Draft Horse Town

I told you all about the great opportunity of being the Calgary Stampede Ag Media Intern here and here.

I thought I would feature one of my highlights of the week on the blog today. One of our jobs as the Ag Media Committee was to set up interviews and activities for media sources to engage in. Rolfe at Shaw TV was one of our regulars, covering Stampede Ag for all 10 days from the heavy horses to the tractors.

Rolfe the Promo guy of Shaw TV

I got to tag along on Shaw TV's exploration of Draft Horse Town, one of my personal favorite exhibits at the Calgary Stampede. We did crowd control (making sure people didn't walk into the shot while filming) and suggested sites to visit and people to interview. We also ended up in the clip...in a wagon...being pulled by a television personality. I love Ag Media.

Rolfe got to hang out with Dave, the "Prince" of Draft Horse Town and a great guy to have at Stampede!

I couldn't embed the video, but I CAN tell you that you need to visit this link and click on the "Draft Horse Town" video (second row) to see all the hilarity live.You can see Nicole, another one of the committee members, and I being pulled in the wagon about 1:00 into the video. It was as awkward and hilarious as it looks.

Me(left), Nicole, and Rolfe the puller

I could handle having this as my day job. Granted, only if I'm the one being toted in the bucket and not pulling it. Hope you enjoyed the video, and be sure to check out all the rest of the Shaw TV Stampede Videos!

Calgary Stampede and Summer Synergy Recap

Friends, I'm not even sure where to start on this one.

I have a lot of exciting things to tell you. They all worked together to create the tired, sunburnt, brain-dead, star-struck mess that is currently writing this to you. Any thoughts are not my own but the direct influence of 11 days at the Calgary Stampede and a cattle show.

Miss Blogs-a-lot (name courtesy of my family) has achieved victory! As some of you may know, this blog was created as part of the Summer Synergy Youth Livestock Marketing Compeition. There were approximately 55 other blogs created, which you can still see here. And guess what?! We won!

Cowhide bag courtesy of Saddle Barn in Roswell, New Mexico. I want 7. One will do just fine.

I say "we" because without your loyal following, viewing, and commenting, I probably would have given up on this sharing-my-life-with-the-internet deal. But you people rocked me to almost 90 followers and 7000 views in the last two months, and for that, you win too. You can't have my prize, though. It's awesome.

Summer Synergy didn't quit with the awesomeness there. I scored a hefty scholarship which will go right into my booze school fund.

Getting our scholarships on the stage during the Chuckwagon Races

My heifers, the pretty gals you met here, had a blast being pampered at the show and finished 5th and 3rd in their classes. Impact took me for a little run around the ring at the end of her class, no doubt to prove some sort of point, but I made sure she didn't win that little battle. Then I fed her copious amounts of grain, hay, water, and made sure she stayed cool under the fan. Spoiled brat.

I actually got to see the rodeo a few times this year, and cheered on my future husband, Tuf Cooper. The highlight of the week may have been shooting a roping demo with Tuf and CBC Kids.

Tuf showing the CBC Kids crew how to rope

My role as Ag Media Intern also included crowd control for camera crews, gathering stories for news outlets, taking pictures to Tweet, and maintaining the Calgary Stampede Agriculture Facebook Page. Working with Ag Media was an outstanding opportunity. The ladies were incredibly talented and willing to steer me in the right direction, and the job itself was fun and interesting. The volunteer pass I was given also served as VIP privileges to the country bar Ranchman's...not that I took full advantage or anything.

Sam & I were excited about Ranchman's showing some Alberta Beef love.
We love you too, Ranchman's.

I had the opportunity to help share agriculture's story with news sources that reach hundreds of thousands of people. I had conversations with the public, both in person and online, about where their food comes from. The Calgary Stampede is a fantastic place for people to learn about animal agriculture and the great things we're doing. I can't wait to make my career out of this.

So I'm a few dollars richer, lacking a lot of sleep, and incredibly excited for what a future in Agriculture Communications involves. I'd call that a success, people!

Huge thank you to the Calgary Stampede Ag Media Committee and Summer Synergy Committee for all of your hard work and dedication to making the last week a success! 

Calgary Stampede Guest Post by Joey Sabljic

The Calgary Stampede is well underway. The Ag Media committee is keeping the intern team consisting of myself, Shelley, and Joey, very busy. Joey has been writing articles all week about the people and events that make up Stampede agriculture. He hails from Guelph, Ontario as a Research Writer for Students Promoting Awareness of Research Knowlege (SPARK) at the University of Guelph. Here's one he wrote about a heavy horse exhibitor family from Didsbury, Alberta:

The Leclair factor

Sister trio make another strong showing at Stampede heavy horse event

By Joey Sabljic

Good things come in threes – a statement that especially rings true each time the Leclaire sisters from Didsbury, Alberta polish up their Clydesdales and compete in a heavy horse show.

Together, this talented young trio – whose family owns Green Leaf Farms – have been wowing audiences at heavy horse show competitions across North America. And now, they’ve extended their success story to this year’s Calgary Stampede, with a strong showing at the Junior International Heavy Horse Show. 

In this event, each competitor is judged on their own showmanship, as well as their horse’s appearance, disposition and breeding characteristics.

Jocelyn, at age ten and the youngest competitor in the junior category, placed second in decorating and second in showing. Hannah, 14 and the middle sister of the trio, won first prize in the intermediate decoration and show categories. Meanwhile, big sister Amy, 18, claimed fourth in decoration and second in showing for the senior category.

All three sisters advanced to the final stage of six, where Hannah was named this year’s grand champion in showmanship.

Last year’s Stampede saw the Leclaire sisters make a sweep of the same Junior International Heavy Horse Show event, placing first in each of the junior, intermediate and senior categories.

At the tender age 18, Amy, the eldest of the sisterly trio, could be considered the veteran of the bunch, having competed in heavy horse competitions across Canada and the United States for almost a decade. She sees herself as a mentor to her younger sisters, even though the nature of the competition sometimes pits them directly against one other.

“You don’t like to compete against your sisters, but you try to give them as much help as you can – especially when you’ve been through everything yourself,” she explains.

However, Amy’s two younger sisters aren’t exactly newcomers to heavy horse events, either. Hannah’s victory at this year’s Stampede marks her eighth year competing. And although only her second year of competition, Jocelyn plans to compete and move into the older categories as her sisters did before her.

Like many tight-knit family groups, the Leclaires come by their passion for heavy horses honestly. One might even say it’s genetic, as their father, Roger, began competing in heavy horse show events when he was Jocelyn’s age.

Since then, each of his daughters has been quite literally raised into the family passion. 

“When Hannah was only about three weeks old, she was already at one of my father’s shows with us,” recalls Amy. “I really couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.”

The Leclaires plan to compete in October at the International Youth Livestock Show in Madison, Wisconsin. But for now, with their competition at the Stampede over, the Leclaires will pack up their horses and head back to Didsbury to savour another successful showing.

“Just the fact that you competed at the Stampede is something that’s special – after all they say it’s the greatest show on earth,” says Hannah. “But it’s also something that can really raise your profile and help you out in the future.”  

“You all may have done well,” interjects their father, Roger, who watched anxiously from the sidelines as his daughters competed. “But I definitely won first place in stress.”

Animal Welfare at the Stampede (Day 2)

The Calgary Stampede is well-known for a near century of cowboy tradition and culture. Livestock are an integral part of these traditions, from the farm animal exhibits to the rodeo to the chuckwagons.

These events would not exist without a team of Calgary Stampede directors and volunteers dedicated to the humane management of the animals at the center of it all.

Image from here

This morning I experienced yet another perk of working in Stampede Agriculture Media. Along with our committee chairperson, I attended an animal welfare presentation by Dr. Ed Pajor of the University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and leader of the Pain and Animal Welfare Research Group, and Dr. Temple Grandin, a world-renowned animal ethologist responsible for designing humane livestock facilities which house over half of the cattle in the United States and Canada.

The presentation focused on animal welfare in rodeo and other Stampede events, and was delivered to an audience of Stampede directors and Animal Care Advisory Panel members.

Image from here

I was incredibly impressed by how clearly and practically Dr. Pajor and Grandin were able to delve into the fundamentals of animal behavior, genetics, and standards of welfare.

The Calgary Stampede works closely with various animal welfare groups, including the SPCA, Calgary Humane Society, and Dr. Grandin herself. The highest standards of animal care are maintained at the Stampede with the interest of keeping the animals safe and the tradition alive.

The rodeo and chuckwagons are institutions in the world of cowboying. They exhibit the best of the best in terms of livestock, athletes, and horsemanship. Rodeo goers can be confident that the Stampede executive works incredibly hard to stay current on animal welfare standards and go above and beyond what is required.

Check out the Calgary Stampede's Animal Care page

Yeehaw,

Rosie the Intern

Calgary Stampede Agriculture, Day One

It's day one of the Calgary Stampede. Will and Kate made their appearance in front of 350,000 starstruck spectators at the annual Stampede Parade. The crowds have started pouring through the gates, onto the midway, and through the barns. Agrium Ag-tivity in the City is hosting fabulous exhibits to educate the masses about where their eggs, milk, cereals, and meat come from. The miniature donkeys, llamas, sheep, goats, and ducks are settling in at the Country Critters display. The blacksmiths are working away in the Big Top and the heavy horses are being diligently prepared by their owners.

I'm also settling in with the Stampede Agriculture Media Committee as a social media intern. These ladies (and one gentlemen) have the job of communicating Stampede Ag stories with media outlets and the public. It's a great opportunity for me to network with people in the field I'm hoping to get into!

I look forward to this week all year. It's great to be on the media end of things and making sure people are hearing about the great exhibits Stampede Agriculture has to offer.

Blacksmith Competition

If you're on the park today, here's what you can get up to in Stampede Agriculture.

Agrium Ag-tivity in the City

8:00am-9:00pm

Agrium Barn Tours

11:00am-8:00pm

World Championship Blacksmith's Competition

10:00am-9:00pm in the Big Top

Team Penning

5:30pm in the Scotiabank Saddledome

Miniature Donkey Showcase

3:30-4:00pm in the Northern Lights Arena

Horse Haven

8:00am-9:00pm in the North Agriculture Barn

Heavy Horse Showcase

12:00pm and 7:00pm in the Scotiabank Saddledome

The Cattle Trail

8:00am-9:00pm in the Agriculture Barn

See the Stampede Agriculture page for more events.

Tweet us at @stampedeag!

Calgary Stampede: The Internship and What You Have to See

The Calgary Stampede is only two days from kickoff.


I've been to the Calgary Stampede religiously since I stomped on my first pair of red cowboy boots. I've done the rides, seen the rodeo and chuckwagons, and spent far too much in the RoundUp Center tradefair. I've shown my cattle with some of the best and even sang in the Karaoke Competition, and no, I don't want to talk about.

This year is going to be a little different.

I'll be there from July 7th to 12th as an intern with the Agriculture Media Committee. I am beyond excited for this opportunity. It's my first real chance to get some hands-on experience doing what I actually want to end up doing. I'll be telling some great stories from around Stampede Park using social media, and promoting the heart of the Calgary Stampede, agriculture.

I've heard nothing but great things about the committee and the experience from past interns. Keep checking the blog for updates from Stampede!

If you're stopping by Stampede, or practically living there like I am, there's one thing you're going to have to check out.

The Cattle Trail. It's exactly what Stampede needs: interactive education about beef, agriculture, and the ranching lifestyle directed right at consumers.

Read the article explaining it all here.

Image from here

The Cattle Trail will allow Stampede visitors to walk through the "pasture to plate" of beef production, with industry experts along the way to answer any questions. Hopefully I'll be able to help out a little in my off-time. It's open daily from July 7 to 18 on the south side of the Agriculture Barn. If you don't know where that is, just follow the smell.

I'll be sure to update you with other must-see events during the week.

And don't forget..

YEEHAW!

The Royals are Coming!

Wills and Kate take Calgary.

Whether you accredit it to our inherent loyalty to our mother country, the fact that generations of our families have watched their family grow up, or even just the pure glamor of their real-life fairytale- for whatever reason, we Canadians love the Brits.

We cried at Diana's funeral, sighed at William and Kate's wedding, and now, we will get to watch them indulge in the true spirit of the west at the Calgary Stampede. That's right folks. If you haven't heard the news already, Cambridge's freshly honeymooned couple is Calgary-bound for one short day of their 9 day July visit to Canada and the US. They are set to be in Calgary July 8th, the opening day of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. The couple will appear in the parade as official parade marshals.

Picture compiled from this picture, this one, and this one.

I will be anxiously watching the parade this year from the stands, and I'm a little too excited to see the couple in real life. Sure, they don't do much but stand there and look pretty. But they are a symbol for our country's roots, and it certainly doesn't hurt that they are avid supporters of agriculture. My only other real-life royal sighting to date is Prince Charles at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto as he walked through the cattle barns.

I hope Will and Kate get some time to look around the Stampede, in which case I would highly recommend the heavy horse and cattle displays in the agriculture barns, as well as the rodeo and chuckwagon races.

William and Kate, we'll see you at the Stampede. Yeehaw!

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