Agriculture university and college students come together with sponsors at AWC!

Two things make the AWC Student program successful:

  1. Students who are excited about starting their career path with a blast of inspiration, some great direction, and a network of leaders at their fingertips.
  2. Industry leaders who will join us in sponsoring and supporting these students and future leaders, giving them the opportunity to attend AWC and reap the benefits.

AWC matches students from agricultural degree and diploma programs across Canada with companies looking to invest in future leaders!

Would you like to sponsor a student to attend AWC?

Leading associations and agribusiness can take pride in supporting these young women and making this opportunity possible. That is what AWC has in store for you.

Call us at 403-686-8407 or email iris@irismeck.com

Are you a student that would like to apply for Sponsorship?

The AWC EAST 2025 Student Application deadline is September 30, 2025. Thank you to our students—we can’t wait to meet you at the conference!

Applicants and Sponsors

Prerana Upretee

University of Saskatchewan, Third Year, Masters of Science in Plant Science

I am Prerana Upretee from Kathmandu, Nepal. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Bangladesh in 2021. After graduation, I returned to Nepal and worked as an intern at Nakkhu Seeds, a private agricultural company. I gained hands-on experience in plant breeding, farm supervision, seed packaging, and retail operations during my time there.

Following this, I moved to Canada to pursue a Master’s in Plant Science at the University of Saskatchewan. My research assesses critical factors affecting the winter survival of fall dormant-seeded selected spring crop species (lentils, field peas, wheat, canola, carinata, mustard, and coriander) in the Canadian Prairies. Along with my academic work, I also had the opportunity to work as a Research Assistant at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Saskatoon.
As I approach graduation, I am eager to transition from academia to industry and apply my knowledge and skills.

I’m excited to attend the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference as it will allow me to network with and learn from women making a difference in the agricultural industry, something I haven’t had the opportunity to do before. I am excited to hear their tales, learn about their professional trajectories, and get ideas for my journey. I will be able to network with professionals and fellow students who have similar agricultural interests, meet role models, and share ideas at this conference. As I move from academia to the working world, I’m keen to learn more about the current issues and trends in the industry.

Overall, I believe this experience will help me grow personally and professionally, and give me the confidence to take the following steps toward becoming a leader in agriculture.