In a joint release, the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan announced applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Saskatchewan Agriculture Student Scholarship Program.

"By supporting young people who are passionate about agriculture, we're building a strong foundation for the future of the industry in Canada," said Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. "These applicants will get a valuable experience by learning ways we can communicate how food is made."

"The strength of our industry is our people," Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said. "By creating opportunities for young men and women who are passionate about agriculture, we are strengthening the sector and ensuring future success for our province."

This year's theme is 'transparency.' Applicants of the scholarship are encouraged to explore what transparency is and how it is connected to the public's perception of modern agriculture. The scholarship encourages conversations about where our food comes from and how everyone along the value chain shares a role in communicating about food production.

"As a future farmer and rancher, the education I will receive through this scholarship will help me build my strengths as I work towards growing sustainable and reliable produce that I can be proud of," 2021 Agriculture Student Scholarship grand prize winner Jesse Patzer said.

Students are invited to submit a creative three-minute video or 1,000-word essay discussing transparency in agriculture. Scholarships will be awarded to students in Grade 12 and/or recent graduates entering agriculture-related post-secondary studies in 2022. One winning scholarship of $4,000 and three runner-up scholarships of $2,000 will be awarded.

The deadline for applications is March 1, 2022. For more information on the Saskatchewan Agriculture Student Scholarship Program, visit Saskatchewan.ca/ag-scholarship.

This award is funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen and grow Canada's agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors. This commitment includes $2 billion for programs cost-shared on a 60/40 basis by the federal and provincial/territorial governments that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.