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Nolan Allardyce and Noelle Adams graduated from different Brantford high schools but they have a lot in common, including career choices.
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Both are 21 and enrolled in agricultural-related programs at the University of Guelph.
And both have been named 2021 winners of Brant County Federation of Agriculture scholarships of $1,500 each, which aim to help local post-secondary students pursue careers in agriculture.
Allardyce is a graduate of Assumption College School, while Adams graduated from North Park Collegiate.
“It’s really exciting and I want to thank the federation for choosing me for this scholarship,” Allardyce said. “I would also like the thank my family and those in my community who introduced me to the agriculture industry at such a young age and have kept me involved to this day.”
The son of Glenn and Tammy, Allardyce has been a Brant 4-H Association member for the past 11 years. He spent many summers working on area dairy farms, milking cows and feeding calves, among other duties.
More recently, Allardyce had a summer job in the Woodstock office of Farm Credit Canada. He continues to work with the organization part-time while completing his university education.
Allardyce is in his final year of a bachelor of commerce program with a major in food and agricultural business.
“There are a lot of job opportunities in the agri-business,” he said. “There are jobs in marketing, as well as nutrition and in other areas.
“I’m looking to be involved in finance and lending.”
Allardyce’s father attended the University of Guelph, as did his late grandfather, Harvie. His sister, Serena, was awarded a federation scholarship in 2019.
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Adams, who is enrolled in the bachelor of science agricultural honors program at Guelph, is following her parents, Brad and Heather, who are graduates of the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph.
Adams is the fifth generation of her family to have grown up on LynTrail Farm, located on Lynden Road. In 2018, the family renovated a barn and the farm is now a popular wedding venue.
“I’ve never actually farmed, but I’ve been exposed to many aspects of agriculture my whole life and my time at Guelph is adding to that knowledge,” Adams said.
She noted that for eight years she worked for the Pate family at Brantwood Farms on Powerline Road.
“It was a great hands-on experience and I’m really thankful for their support.”
She also has worked with an agronomist at an area farm and at the Brantford municipal airport.
“I had, at one time, thought about becoming a pilot,” said Adams, who is in the third year of a four-year program. “But I decided against it and returned to agriculture.
“After I leave university, I want to be an agronomist.”
An agronomist studies the growing and harvesting of crops.
She noted that there are a lot of interesting jobs available in agri-business.
“We have job fairs at the school and I’ve never had a problem finding work,” she said. “That holds true for my classmates as well.
“Thanks to all of the support I’ve had over the years, I can look forward to the future.”
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