Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) is proud to support agriculture’s next generation. MCA’s bursary program is designed to assist with the financial needs of students pursuing education in a field that will benefit the agriculture sector.

Six post-secondary students from Manitoba have been awarded with MCA 2024-25 bursaries valued at $2,000 each. The 2024-25 bursary recipients are Mika Cleave from Ochre River, Noah Kaminsky from Brunkild, Chad Pouteau from Mariapolis, Layne Thompson from Ochre River, Jadyn Wiebe from Plum Coulee, and Abby Mazier from Justice.

“Educating and inspiring the next generation is a strategic priority for our organization,” says MCA chair Robert Misko. “Each of our bursary recipients has chosen to pursue their passion and expand their knowledge, and I hope they will eventually use that knowledge and passion to advance our industry.”

Bursary applicants needed to meet the following criteria:

• Have completed a minimum of one year (two terms) of post-secondary education at the college or university level (diploma or degree) and are enrolled full-time for the 2024-25 school year in an agricultural program within Canada.
• Have achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.
• Have an interest in wheat (spring or winter), corn, barley, flax or sunflower crops, or agriculture in general, as demonstrated in a brief, one-page letter.
• Are from a farm that is a member in good standing with MCA
• Have not previously been awarded an MCA post-secondary bursary (past high school bursary recipients remain eligible for a post-secondary bursary).

An independent selection committee was contracted to evaluate the applicants based on their connection to or interest in agriculture, explanation of why they decided to enrol in an agriculture-related post-secondary program, how they hope to benefit the agriculture industry once they have graduated and are in the workforce, and their academics and writing skills.

This year, the selection committee included Curtis Cavers, an agronomist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based in Portage la Prairie, and Loveleen Kaur Dhillon, the agronomist in residence for special crops at the University of Manitoba.

Born and raised in southern Manitoba, Cavers holds a bachelor of science in agriculture, majoring in soil science, and a master’s degree from the University of Manitoba. Prior to assuming her current role at the University of Manitoba, Dhillon completed her PhD in plant science at the University of Saskatchewan and was working as a post-doctoral fellow.

Thank you to the selection committee for evaluating the bursary applications and congratulations to the 2024-25 bursary recipients!

Meet the MCA 2024-25 bursary recipients