Applications now open for TD 4-H agriculture scholarships

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Some Saskatchewan 4-H members could find themselves with a bit more cash in their pockets to kick-start their post-secondary educations.

TD Bank Financial Group and the Canadian 4-H Council recently announced that applications for the 2007 TD 4-H Agriculture Scholarships are now being accepted.

The scholarship program provides endowments of $2,000 to 10 students across the country who plan to attend a Canadian college or university for agriculture-related or agri-business studies.

In order to qualify, students must be active 4-H members at least 16 years of age in their final year of high school.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for our 4-H members in Saskatchewan, being that TD is offering scholarships to help further their educations in agriculture-related or agri-business studies,” said Allison Porter, Provincial Program Specialist with the Saskatchewan 4-H Council.

Porter says that 2007 is the seventh year that TD Bank Financial Group has been funding the scholarships, although the company has been supporting the 4-H movement for 52 years now.

“We know that 4-H members make significant contributions to agriculture in this country, and we are very pleased to give these students assistance in reaching their academic goals,” said Matthew Holden, the Manager of Agriculture Credit Products with TD Canada Trust.

Porter says this kind of acknowledgement of her organization’s work is much appreciated. “It’s important that a business like TD recognize the value in the 4-H program, that they’re investing in our youth and assisting our future leaders to further their educations,” she stated.

The scholarships are allocated along five geographic regions across Canada, with at least one student from each region receiving an award.

Saskatchewan falls into the Western Canada region, which includes the three prairie provinces, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. But the province has boasted multiple winners in some years. Porter noted that Saskatchewan 4-H members received three of the 10 scholarships offered in 2006.

Interested 4-H members are required to fill out an application form and submit it to the Canadian 4-H Council. Information and application packages are available online at www.4-h-canada.ca, or by calling the organization’s national headquarters at (613) 234-4448, extension 26.

The deadline for 2007 applications is October 4. The recipients will be announced in November.

The Canadian 4-H Council is a not-for-profit agency that co-ordinates all national 4-H activities in Canada. Founded in 1933, the council offers conferences, exchanges, scholarships and international travel opportunities to 4-H members and leaders across the country.

For more information, contact:
Allison Porter, Provincial Program Specialist
4-H Council of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 933-7348
Website: www.4-h.sk.ca