The Canadian Cattlemen's Association and the International Stockman's Educational Foundation are proud to host Canadian and international students at the 2013 International Livestock Congress - Calgary. This year the congress will be taking up to 20 successful students for the program.

One of our mandates is to reach out to future leaders. ILC-Calgary is proud to once again sponsor those students that are successful in the application process. The student program will start Tuesday July 9, 2013 with students arriving at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in time for the ILC Student program orientation session at 6:00 pm, and runs till Friday night July 12, 2013 with the students going to the Grandstand Show at the Calgary Stampede. We think this is a great opportunity for the students to meet the leaders of the industry, hear the issues in the industry and the experts' perspectives on these issues, meet other students working in the field of agriculture and possibly meet their future employer.

Last year 16 agricultural students from Canada and around world were sponsored to attend the ILC student program. In the past, several program alumni pursued and obtained employment with Alberta's agricultural industry players.

Download ILC Conference Student Agenda - PDF

Why does ILC support a student program?

First, we promote agricultural education and training of our industry with our future leaders. We want to continue to engage students to identify the issues in our industry, increase their awareness of these issues and their global impact. Students will have the opportunity to hear, learn from and interact with global agricultural industry experts. We believe this learning experience will encourage these promising young people to continue their career in agriculture.

Second, to create vital exposure for our industry. Our industry today has a high demand for creative solutions. Getting youth involved at this level encourages a new generation with the energy, intellect and creativity we need to keep it sustainable. ILC - Calgary allows the students the opportunity to interact and learn from the agricultural industry professionals attending the conference as speakers, sponsors and stakeholders. Regardless of where the students are from, we are bringing young talent to this province - to experience and have an appreciation for Alberta agriculture and encourage our future agricultural industry leaders.

Here is a recent update on some of the
2012 ILC Student Bursary winners…

• Lachlan Strohfeldt, Australia, is currently in his 4th year of studies in a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at James Cook University. The activity he enjoyed most at ILC was the Student Forum, which tackled the issue of sustainability of production and responding to consumer perceptions, attitudes and needs.
• Jaclyn Kaufman, Canada, is currently studying Animal Science under the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the University of Guelph. She summarizes her experience with the ILC Student Bursary Program in one word: experience. She thoroughly enjoyed networking with industry leaders and building connections with passionate students like herself.
• Ed Metzger, Canada, says the two biggest things he took from ILC were the large network of contacts he met and a broader knowledge of the Canadian cattle industry. Ed is applying to the Ontario Veterinary College and plans to pursue veterinary medicine as a career.
• Aklilu Wake Alemu, Canada, is working on the environmental sustainability of the cattle sector and believes that being part of the conference will facilitate the road towards finding a job once he finishes his studies.
• Tawnya Ullenboom, Canada, is currently competing her Master's program, with her thesis project involving methane production and residual feed intake in beef bulls. She feels that the student tours we really well picked and broadened her knowledge in the industry.
• Josie Garner, Australia, was accepted into the honours degree at Charles Sturt University, in which she is investigating the colostrum quality and immune status of calves on NSW dairy farms and its relationship to the calving system and calf mortality rates. The highlights of her ILC trip were Feedlot Health Management Services, Livestock Identification Service and Cargill.
• Cally Thomas, USA, transferred to Kansas State University and is majoring in Animal Science. She thinks that the student tours tied in very well with the Student Forum because it gave her a chance to really understand the different methods of production in the States, Canada and worldwide.
• Sean Thompson, Canada, enjoyed meeting new people, both fellow students and industry leaders. He believes, as a farmer and student that the ILC Program was worthwhile and informative to talk about cattle with people from within Canada and internationally. He currently began his M.Sc in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba.
• Rachel Glascock, USA, graduated from Texas A&M this year in Animal Science and Meat Science. Rachel says ILC offered a rich learning environment that built onto her education, encompassing a wealth of knowledge that could not be gained in a classroom.
• Gatlan Gray, USA, is pursuing a Masters in Meat Science. Being driven by technology, Gatlan was excited on the Student tours when he heard about the camera that would assess the temperature of the animal through the eye to detect sick cattle even before they would begin to exhibit signs or symptoms of sickness.
• Natalie Preston, Canada, brought her ILC experience home when ILC speaker, Ryder Lee, discussed how producers need to make known the different practices they use to give their livestock better care. This challenged Natalie, in which she talks more with others about how to raise her sheep to give them the best care.
• Mitch Shaefer, USA, is pursuing a Master's Degree in Animal Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He says that the 2012 ILC Student Program is definitely going to be a highlight of his year, in which he learned much more than what the agenda contained.
• Hazell Johnston, Australia, currently studies Animal Science at the University of Guelph. Her passion for the beef industry has increased after attending the ILC Program, giving her the desire to be more involved in the Australia beef industry.
• Jessica Dowe, Canada, completed her Animal Science degree and hopes to either continue her studies in the Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine program, or to seek employment within the beef industry. She looks forward to applying her increased understanding of the global industry to helping maintain a sustainable beef industry in Atlantic Canada and to one day become a skilled, competent veterinarian within the ag sector.
• Bryan Bernhard, USA, received his Masters of Science and is currently working on his PhD in Ruminant Nutrition Emphasis at the Oklahoma State University. Highlights of ILC for him include: exposure to the Canadian cattle industry, exposure to graduate students and industry contacts from around the world and the collection of speakers during the ILC Program.
• Phyllis MacCullum, is completing a Bachelor of Arts in Agricultural Studies at the University of Lethbridge with a business focus. She thought the networking opportunities were endless and conversations were always relevant. She says that many people expressed job opportunities within their company and in the future these just might become a reality for her.

How can you participate?

STEP 1

Download Guidelines for 2013 ILC Calgary Student Application (.docx)

STEP 2

Complete Student Application Form (.docx)
Download and complete this form if you'd like to fill it out by hand and fax or mail it in.

Complete Student Application Form (.docx)
Download and complete this form if you'd like to fill it in digitally and send it by email.