DECEMBER 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC 4-H Canada’s top scholarship awarded to BC member


by MYRNA STARK LEADER BARRIERE – A UBC student from


Barriere is the recipient 4-H Canada’s most prestigious scholarship. Sara Kate Smith received one of four


4-H Canada Leadership Awards of Distinction (LEAD). Winners receive a $20,000 scholarship towards four years of post secondary studies. The award recognizes senior club members who embody leadership, excellence and academic achievement. Smith was recognized for community engagement and communications. “I was so excited and so grateful,” says Smith, who at 18 is pursuing a political science degree and contemplating the Master of Management program at the UBC Sauder School of Business. “I am interested in consulting with small businesses and working on developing communications plans, perhaps within the agriculture sector,” she explains. Smith discovered a passion for communications making speeches and presentations in 4-H. She’s a three-time winner of the BC provincial communication finals which led to placing in the top six at Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture in Toronto. She was selected as BC’s representative at the US national 4-H conference in Washington. She’s presented a TEDx talk on “Why agriculture needs Millennials,” which addresses the importance of engaging youth in the ag sector. And, at the global 4-H summit in Ottawa this past summer, she was North America’s representative during the youth closing ceremonies. She also delivered a workshop presentation on the importance of personal branding and lessons learned from organizing a BC conference.


got to see that,” Smith says. Her interest in the field grew when she had the opportunity to network with prominent ag leaders and others at the global 4-H summit. “They showed me that this was a niche that was available and important,” she says. In addition to the scholarship, Smith


looks forward to being matched with a mentor this February, another part of the award. “One of neat things that I love about


Sara Kate Smith was singled out for her communication skills. SUBMITTED PHOTO “Part of why I think I got the scholarship is


because, in 2016, I ran a communications conference in BC called Speak Out Loud that was targeted to 4-H members across the province who wanted to improve their communication skills and receive more professional development,” she says. At her own conference, she networked with people in her community as well as other speakers. While they came from various parts of agriculture, they all recognized the importance of communications. “Having that openness in communication


between what’s happening hands on in a business, or at a company or at a farm, and the consumers or the people externally, is incredibly important and I


the agriculture sector is there are so many opportunities to be involved even if they don’t want to be that farmer down the road,” she says. “There’s communications, or veterinary medicine, or feedlot development or management. Whatever you want to do, there’s always something in agriculture that allows you to explore what you are passionate about.” Like a true seasoned ambassador, Smith praises 4-H for opening the door to new experiences. The second-generation Yellowhead


4-H Club member says her first 4-H project was a market lamb named Clover. In her first ever showmanship class, she dazed off and didn’t place well. As a result, she was determined to win her next showmanship class. When the next fair came around, she didn’t take her eyes off the judge and she won grand champion youth showman. “I was so happy! There is certainly something special about seeing your hard work pay off first hand, especially when you are seven-years-old and it comes in the form of a pink championship ribbon!” Smith says recalling her first 4-H win. The 4-H Canada LEAD scholarships are made possible through a generous partnership with CN.


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Thank You To Our 2017 Partners


National Partners Platinum Partners


Gold Partners


The Mohr Family Charitable Gi Fund Silver Partners


Bronze Partners


University of the Fraser Valley Diana’s Monogramming The Mane Event Expo Ritchie Smith Feeds/Sure Crop BC Farm and Ranch Realty Corp. Investors Group


Armstrong Scholarships Home for the Holidays!


4-H Brish Columbia has moved to our new office! 1150 Kalamalka Lake Rd, Vernon, BC, V1T 6V2


Stay tuned for details for an Open House in the New year!


Saanich Fruit Growers’ Associaon Richard Fa Memorial 4-H Scholarship W & A Farms


Season’s Greetings & Happy New Year from the 4-H BC staff


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