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Alberta 4-H Hall of Fame welcomes new inductees

Alberta 4-H Hall of Fame welcomes new inductees

Sally Barkwell and Leora Carothers received the honour

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Two deserving Alberta women were inducted into the Alberta 4-H Hall of Fame.

Sally Barkwell, a registered dietitian from Peace River, and Leora Carothers from Stettler received the honour Monday while meeting with Alberta’s provincial ag minister.

The hall of fame recognizes people who have made contributions to 4-H through leadership, involvement with youth and motivating others.

“Congratulations to this year’s 4-H Hall of Fame inductees,” Devin Dreeshen said in a statement. “These individuals contributed countless hours to 4-H and embody its selfless spirit of volunteerism and community building. Thank you for your leadership with this important rural youth development program.”


Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen with Sally Barkwell and Leora Carothers.

For Barkwell, the induction is an early Christmas present.

"I was surprised and honoured when I found out," she told Farms.com. "I would watch people get inducted throughout the years and think about if it would ever be me one day. Well, now it is, and with it happening so close to Christmas, it's just wonderful."

Between the two inductees, they have more than 50 years of volunteer experience.

Barkwell has about 30 of those 50 years. Witnessing how young people grow into adults is what inspires her volunteer work, she said.

"I've seen the youth development in my own family with my own children," she said. "You watch them become confident young people and grow into adults who want to give back to the community."

Their dedication to 4-H made Barkwell and Carothers the right candidates for the hall of fame.

“They’re both longtime volunteers with 4-H,” Sharon Uhrich, a member of Alberta 4-H’s hall of fame selection committee, told Farms.com. “They’ve volunteered as parents, as project leaders, and as club leaders, and have given at the regional and provincial levels as well.”

Aside from a select number of individuals involved with 4-H who are paid by the provincial government, 4-H runs entirely on volunteer efforts.

“We’re all volunteers and we continue to volunteer because we see the value in the 4-H program and everything that it brings to communities in Alberta and across the country,” Uhrich said.

Farms.com has reached out to Carothers for comment on their induction.


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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