Being a summer student for Agriculture in the Classroom-Manitoba has been an amazing experience. The work I did aligned perfectly with what excites me most about agriculture, which is learning about sustainable agriculture and food systems. Working with AITC-M has also enhanced my knowledge and overall appreciation for Manitoba agriculture.

This past year, I completed my fourth year in Agroecology at the University of Manitoba. I chose to go into Agroecology because I am intrigued by sustainability, food, and the dynamics of ecosystems. I am a systems thinker and enjoy learning about the various processes involved in producing food. 

This, in fact, is what drew me into working for Agriculture in the Classroom. Teaching students about agriculture and food systems is very important: it fosters educated and empowered consumers who can think critically about the food they eat and where it comes from. In return, this creates an appreciation and respect for Canadian agriculture.

Over the past few months, it has been so refreshing to work with an organization committed to agricultural literacy. It has been a pleasure applying my schooling and knowledge in such a meaningful way.

For example, I helped facilitate Journey 2050. This program teaches students about sustainable agriculture, careers, and more. It gave me the opportunity to teach and connect with various high school students across Manitoba. This was a fantastic experience and showed me that there is a need more than ever for agricultural education.

In July, I had the privilege of attending an open house at Halarda Farms. It was amazing to see so many people come out to support and learn about Manitoba agriculture. It is also very admirable that Halarda Farms was willing to open their facility to the public to encourage transparency and education in the industry.

Food is one thing we all have in common. Everyone must eat, yet so many of us are disconnected from agriculture and the production of our food. It is inspiring to experience an organization such as AITC-M that is dedicated to bridging that gap.