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 imeck@farmmedia.com

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

The AWC WEST 2026 Student Application deadline is February 15, 2026. Space is limited, applications will be accepted on a first-come basis. Thank you to our students—we can’t wait to meet you at the conference!

Applicants

Angela Afia Pokuaa

University of Manitoba, Second Year, MSc Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics

I grew up with my grandparents in a small rural town in Ghana, where I developed a strong interest in farming and the meat sector. I completed my B.Sc. in Agribusiness at the University of Cape Coast with First Class Honors, represented my department in an AGSTUD Boot Camp agricultural student competition and placed first among 26 universities. During my undergraduate studies, I served as Vice President of the Agribusiness Students Association in University of Cape Coast. I also completed an internship with Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative Union, rotating through Fairtrade auditing, IT department, the child labor unit, and risk supervision to better understand how certification, compliance, and information systems support smallholder farmers, and later worked as a Teaching Assistant in my department.

I am now a master’s student in Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics at the University of Manitoba. My thesis focuses on price discovery in Canadian cattle auction markets and applies hedonic pricing models and quantitative methods to feeder cattle auction data. Through this work I have developed skills in R, Stata, Python, Excel, and other Microsoft Office tools, and I have continued to stay engaged with the community by volunteering with Manitoba Harvest in 2024.

I am interested in attending the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference because it connects directly to both my academic work and my long term goals of contributing to livestock markets and eventually leading in agribusiness and education. Growing up with my grandparents in rural Ghana, I saw how much farmers depend on fair markets, and that experience, together with my current master’s research on price discovery in Canadian cattle auction markets, has motivated me to focus on how better information and risk management tools can improve outcomes for producers.

AWC would allow me to learn from women who are already leading in areas such as meat processing, ag finance, market analysis, and policy, and to ask practical questions about how they navigated their careers and built organizations that serve farmers.

Attending AWC would help me translate my technical skills in data analysis and hedonic modelling into insights that are useful for producers and industry partners and would also support my long-term dream of building a meat business that connects producers to fair and transparent markets. I hope to use the contacts and ideas from the conference to refine my thesis, improve how I communicate economic results to non-technical audiences, and share what I learn with other students and young women who are considering careers in agribusiness and agricultural economics.

Ashlyn Gnyp

University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture and Bioresources, Second Year, Agribusiness Diploma

I was born and raised on my family’s farm outside of Rhein Saskatchewan, we are a cow/calf and grain operation. I have always had more interest in the grain and crop side however I do have a soft spot for the calving season. Growing up I was often playing sports, helping on the farm or participating in the local 4-H club. I have always had a love and passion for agriculture with my main focus being agronomy. I am currently in my last term of the agribusiness diploma at the University of Saskatchewan, and I am also enrolled in Olds College continuing education Weed identification course. In the near future I also plan towards getting my agronomy certificate from Olds College. Some of my favourite classes and biggest interests in the agriculture world are: plant and soil science as well as agriculture policies and how all policies and government actions can affect agriculture.

The past two summers I was a summer student at Richardson Pioneer in Yorkton Saskatchewan, I spent my summers blending fertilizer, scouting, and working in the chemical shed. These work terms taught me lots and made me realize that I love agronomy and want to learn more about that side of the business, I also have an interest in the grain buying and marketing side of agriculture. Once I graduate I am starting as an Agribusiness Assistant at Richardson Pioneer in Yorkton, this is a development program where I will work in and learn about all aspects of the business which will help me decide where I want to be and work in the agriculture sector.

Attending AWC would be an amazing experience for me, that would be difficult to top. Throughout my studies I have met many females both students and professors/instructors who have changed my way of thinking and made my view on agriculture even better. Being able to network, listen to and talk with other women in the field will be very beneficial as having other students and women in the field support is very important.

Attending a conference run by and for women in a field that is historically a male dominated industry would be very valuable. Attending this conference would give me the opportunity to meet people and learn from others who have already done what I want to do.

Throughout my studies I have learnt a lot of beneficial information. However, gaining real life knowledge from talking with other women who are studying agriculture and work in the field would be things that I could never learn in any classroom or from a textbook. Attending this Conference I would gain important skills and knowledge that will help me succeed both as I finish my schooling and as I plan to start my career in the agriculture industry.