RIDGETOWN — The Class of 2023 graduated last month from the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown campus, including 112 graduates with an associate diploma in agriculture, the largest single discipline on campus. That’s up from the 51 agricultural diploma graduates of 2022 but down from the 126 graduates of 2018 and 157 of 2019.
Victoria Wilson, graduate of the agricultural program, delivered remarks and congratulations on behalf of her fellow “aggies” at the June 9 ceremony.
Wilson recalled a line from a lecture delivered by one of her professors, Dr. Dave Hooker: “‘The most dangerous thought a person can have is to keep doing things the way they have always been done. Just because they have always been done that way.’” The quote stuck with her and “motivates me to improve,” said Wilson, who works at an Exter-area grain-handling business. “As I leave Ridgetown campus, I will truly miss the passionate atmosphere … where everyone is excited about the same things we have learned from each other.”
The commencement also graduated 140 students from several other programs offered at the campus. Rather than a single valedictorian (often an aggie), the format was changed a couple of years ago to hear a few words from top graduates in each program.
“Please remember two things: Work isn’t everything, and you will never have more energy, enthusiasm, hair or brain cells than you do today,” dairy herdsperson apprenticeship program graduate Kaitlyn DeBoer said on behalf of her group. “Yes it is important to work hard, but you should also enjoy life.”
MEET 4 RIDGETOWN GRADS FROM EASTERN ONTARIO
Ceilidh MacRae
Ceilidh MacRae, 23, Finch, Ont.
Associate diploma in agriculture
Background: Her maternal grandparents were dairy farmers and cash croppers, but MacRae found her own path into agriculture. After high school, she studied psychology for three years at St. Lawrence College. During this time, she got involved with 4-H and worked summers at Avonmore Berry Farm. “That kind of sparked my interest and then I switched over” to the agriculture program at Ridgetown.
Achievements: Graduated with distinction (80 % or higher cumulative mark). Served in the student ambassador program, promoting the campus to visiting high schoolers.
College highlight: She points to the friendly and supportive atmosphere at the campus. “It still felt like home. Everyone knew you by name. You would go to class and my professors were super friendly. They were always around to help, so that really made it a lot easier to be so far from home…. There was never a dumb question.”
Future: Looks forward to handling her own client list at Embrun Co-op.
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Hayley Ashton
Hayley Ashton, 20, Port Perry, Ont.
Associate diploma in agriculture
Background: Grew up on a Durham Region dairy farm; a longtime 4-H participant.
Achievements: Graduated with distinction. She was also awarded two scholarships to study at Ridgetown.
College highlight: The student ambassador program “was one of my favourite things. I also really enjoyed learning about dairy cows. Our teacher, Tracy, was really awesome. And I liked meeting people from all across Ontario.”
Future: Continue working on her family’s dairy farm, Kefay Farms, at Port Perry.
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Caitlin Begg
Caitlin Begg, 21, Winchester, Ont.
Associate diploma in Agriculture
Background: Black Angus beef farm. The operation has 30 head, 10 of which she owns. She was involved with 4-H and showed beef cattle. She has worked on a local dairy farm since 2015.
College highlight: “I met lots of great people in the same industry as me, and I got to meet some really good professors who really helped me learn,” she says, mentioning her crop instructors in particular, “because I usually deal with animals, so it was nice to learn more about agronomy.”
“It was really hands on … I enjoyed that,” she says. “It was lots of fun.”
Future: To expand the family beef herd.
Summer plans: Working at her dairy farm job and showing some of her cattle in open shows at local fairs.
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Caroline Lafrance
Caroline Lafrance, 19, Crysler, Ont.
Associate diploma in Agriculture
Background: Cash-crop farm. Her father also runs the Harvex Agromart retail outlet in her home village. “I also worked on a dairy farm a little bit.”
Achievements: She received a $500 scholarship, the William and Stan Olson Young Agriculturalist Award, as a graduating student who plans to work in crop production, crop inputs, or crop research.
College highlight: “I think meeting a bunch of new people at Ridgetown was great. And the amazing teachers and research facilities.”
Future: This fall she’s heading to Olds College of Agriculture and Technology in Alberta to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science Agribusiness degree. Her first two years at Ridgetown count towards that program.
Summer plans: She’s working her second summer with NK Seeds as an intern. “I cover Eastern Ontario, all the way to Port Hope.” She looks forward to catching up with friends.”
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MEET 5 RIDGETOWN GRADS FROM WESTERN ONTARIO
Kara de Vries
Kara de Vries, 19, Drayton, Ont.
Associate Diploma in Agriculture
Background: third generation in family-run farrow-to-finish pig operation
Achievements: Graduated with distinction and earned scholarships to study at Ridgetown. She also created an Instagram platform for the campus’s Christian fellowship ‘God on Tap Club.’
College highlight: She cites the overall classroom learning experience and the knowledge passed on by her teachers. “A highlight of this semester was watching Dr. Paul Luimes directing a sheep so that we were able to see what the inside of a rumen looks like,” she adds. Another big highlight was her involvement with the Christian fellowship run by Chaplain Pastor Doug Rowl. “It is a great place for all students to speak their minds and learn about what the Bible has to teach us. There is a place and something to learn for everyone in Ridgetown.”
Future: She works part time on the family farm and in the parts department at Premier Equipment. “I also hope to work on my drone and other farm photography business as well as using my knowledge of the pork industry to help out with industry outreach such as working the Ontario Pork booth at events like the Royal,” she says. She intends to keep on advocating for agriculture on social media. “This helps me connect with consumers and other farmers to share our family farm’s story and create transparency with the public.”
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Nicole Hiddema
Nicole Hiddema, 20, Drayton, Ont.
Associate Diploma in Agriculture
Background: Raised on her parents’ broiler and cash-crop farm.
Achievements: Graduated with distinction and received the academic proficiency award for the highest average mark among the agriculture graduates. She was a member of the students’ council executive team. She served with recruitment ambassadors and peer helpers programs on campus.
College highlight: “I really enjoyed getting to build relationships with the staff and professors. I found they were all very encouraging and I appreciated the challenges the professors presented,” she says. One such challenge was a business competition, called ‘Project SOY Plus’, which pitted Hiddema against University of Guelph bachelor degree students. A professor invited her into the competition and she won first prize of $2,500.
Summer plans: Works at Harriston Agromart on contract until end of November and hopes to find an agricultural position after that. “I like to keep an open mind, whether livestock or crops, but feel like I have a good base knowledge of crops now with my past few years as a crop scout.” She’s getting married in August to a farmer from Howick Township.
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Nathan Versteeg
Nathan Versteeg, 20, Clifford, Ont.
Associate Diploma in Agriculture
Background: Raised on family beef farm with cow-calf and cash-crop operations. Worked the last five years for a custom hay-harvesting business.
Achievements: Graduated with distinction and had the second highest overall mark among agricultural graduates.
College highlight: “The biggest thing for me was meeting people from across the province and seeing and learning about different ways of doing things. Most of the things I learned at Ridgetown I can take home and try on the farm. It was just a good time overall. I really enjoyed my classes and enjoyed talking to everybody.”
Summer plans: Working as an equipment operator with Atwood Farm Supply and still helping out after hours at his other long-time job baling straw and hay. Versteeg looks forward to harvesting his own crop of corn on 42 acres of land he’s rented for himself this season. “It’s a start,” he says.
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Ainsley LeBlanc
Ainsley LeBlanc, 20, Stratford, Ont.
Associate Diploma in Agriculture
Background: Grew up on a layer-poulet and cash-cropping farm, which has expanded to broilers. She was involved in her local 4-H beef club from a young age. She didn’t want to pursue agriculture as a career in high school. She applied to a pre-health program but nixed that idea after touring Ridgetown campus in Grade 12. “They totally sold me on the program and the industry itself. I always loved living on the farm and was interested in farming but hadn’t thought of making a career of it until then.”
Achievements: Graduated with distinction and received the Academic/Leadership award for having a minimum average of 80 % while participating in extracurricular activities. She volunteered with the Peer Helper Program. She also earned the Agri-Food Industry Award for high grades and a plan to pursue an agricultural career.
College highlight: “The teachers,” she says. “There’s a couple I really clicked with, and their knowledge is just so plentiful. I learned things I never thought I would…. And they’re all really personable and want to see you succeed.” She met some of her best friends at Ridgetown.
Summer plans: Working for Grain Farmers of Ontario as a communications intern on a one-year contract. She’s accompanying GFO’s educational ‘Grain Discovery Zone’ trailer as it travels around to different fairs and events around the province this summer. “My job is to educate communities about grain farming in Ontario,” she says, explaining that this includes hot topics like GMO’s and gluten. She’ll be on the road every weekend from mid-July through Thanksgiving but expects to spend some downtime at the family cottage in Parry Sound. In the fall, she switches from general public outreach to more of a focus on farmers.
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Patrick Duffin
Patrick Duffin, 21, Thorndale, Ont.
Associate Diploma in Agriculture
Background: Grew up on a 7-generation family farm featuring a commercial grain elevator, laying hens, pullets and just over 1,0000 acres of cash crop.
Achievements: Student council president during his second year. “It taught me a lot that applying yourself can get you places,” he says.
College highlight: Student council and friendships made at Ridgetown. “I went to school with a guy from Zimbabwe. Another guy had a dairy farm just outside Vancouver, and another guy was from Nova Scotia. It’s people you wouldn’t meet on an everyday basis, but you have that connection.”
Summer plans: Duffin will have a hand in preparing for this fall’s Thorndale fair as a member of the organizing agricultural society. He oversees the field-crop competition at the fair.
Future: Working on the family farm full-time. He’s considering enrolling in the advanced agriculture leadership program (through the Rural Ontario Institute). “My uncle did it when he finished university.” He’s also looking at getting involved with the Middlesex junior farmers.
