On Thursday, February 27, 2020, the Rotary Club of Lethbridge East and Lethbridge Exhibition Park announced the two recipients of the $10,000 Ag Scholarships for 2020. This year's winners are Mallory Adams and Geni Witdouck. Mallory is studying agriculture at the University of Lethbridge and Geni is studying at the University of Saskatchewan. The two recipients of these awards gave powerful acceptance speeches that recapped their passion for agriculture and their academic, career and life journeys that led them to be named this years winners. No one in the Heritage Hall, sell out crowd of 204 had any doubt that these impressive women have been and will continue to be ambassadors for agriculture in Southern Alberta.
The entire evening was entertaining, stimulating and rewarding. The evening started with a reception with live music by The Bryant Watson Duo. Then, Lauren Machacek, last year's recipient of the $10,000 scholarship announced and introduced this year's winners: Mallory Adams and Geni Witdouck. After their very impressive acceptance speeches, everyone enjoyed the prime rib dinner. Following dinner, an original painting by Rotarian Lynn Gregson was auctioned off by the Perlich Brothers team. After a lot of bidding, the beautiful painting was purchased by Cor Van Raay.
Our speaker for the evening was Robert Saik. Robert took us through a his long, colourful and action packed career in agriculture. We were entertained and enlightened by Robert Saik's studies, stories and experiences in agriculture that included starting 15 companies. Robert started farming as a boy on a family farm at Innisfree, Alberta where their first tractor was a one cylinder Marshall. Robert arrived in Lethbridge from Phoenix just in time to speak to us after hosting the DOT Autonomous Farm Technology Field Day the day before. Robert Saik encouraged all the young people in the crowd to pursue a career in agriculture as the challenges and opportunities are exciting.
Presentation of the $10,000 Ag Scholarships to Geni Whitdouck and Mallory Adams.
L to R: Rudy Friesen (CEO Exhibition Park), Geni Witdouck, Fran Leggett (Rotary Club of Lethbridge East), Steve Leavitt (Rotary District 5360), Mallory Adams, Bev Lanz (Director Exhibition Park)
The original painting by Rotarian Lynn Gregson which sold by auction to Cor Van Raay.
Auctioneer Justin Perlich kept the sell out crowd in Heritage Hall bidding on the Lynn Gregson original.
Robert Saik was our guest speaker and he did a great job of inspiring the young adults in the crowd to consider a career in agriculture.
A great evening was had by all 208 in attendance. The Rotary Club of Lethbridge East and Lethbridge & District Exhibition Park would like to thank our generous sponsors and all who attended.
Sponsors were: Allied Marketing Group, University of Lethbridge, Dhillon School of Business, Rotarians for Agriculture, Viterra, Perlich Brothers, Country 95.5 and the Lethbridge Herald.
For further information about this scholarship please contact Andrew Bronson through this website.