A first-year university student from Acme was the recipient of a $20,000 4-H scholarship last week.
Emmett Sawyer, 18, received the Leadership Excellence Award of Distinction for an essay on sustainable agriculture and food security for 4-H Canada. Sawyer, who began studying Agricultural Studies at the University of Lethbridge this year, was a member of the Swalwell 4-H Club and has been passionate about agriculture for most of his life.
“We’re pretty proud of that kid,” says his mother Tara. “All his 4-H speeches have been about highlighting agriculture and connecting with urban people. He’s quite passionate about trying to engage with people about agriculture, how it looks to people, and dispelling myths.”
Emmett says receiving the scholarship was a “huge honour” and he is grateful for 4-H Canada’s recognition.
“I think I’m still feeling that high of being happy and excited,” he says.
The Sawyers run a mixed cattle/grain operation near Acme and Emmett and his family have always been involved with rural farm life.
“I’ve always known agriculture was the direction I needed to go in, and 4-H helped me direct that path.”
In his first year of university, Emmett is developing an interest in the history of agriculture, and in the future hopes to run his own company and to pursue a career which influences governmental politics and policy.
“My interests lie in affecting policy changes, trying to talk to members of parliament, interacting with trade, and of course being inside of a company which contributes to something which helps farmers, whether that’s chemicals or fertilizers,” he says, adding he is launching a pod ast this week which focuses on connecting with urban people to discuss agricultural myths, the industry, and sharing “agricultural thoughts from the perspective of an 18-year-old farmboy.”
“The biggest thing is to reach out to that urban audience and talk about sustainable farming and talk about common myths people believe, whether that’s GMOs or hormones.”
On top of the hefty scholarship, Emmett will be provided an all-expenses paid trip to attend the 4-H Leadership Awards, receive mentorship from an expert in his field of study, and given the opportunity to be a 4-H LEAD spokesperson.
Emmett was previously named a Canadian Seed Trade Association Future Influencer in 2016 and was featured in a recent ad for Ag More Than Ever’s ‘Be Somebody’ campaign.
He was one of four recipients of the 2018 LEAD awards, with one other being from Alberta and the other two from Quebec and Newfoundland.
