Lethbridge (Rural Roots Canada) – Nearly 80 young women from across southern Alberta gathered at Lethbridge Polytechnic for Harvesting Ambitions: Young Women in Agriculture, a hands-on career exploration event showcasing the diverse opportunities in agriculture.

The full-day program, organized by Southern Alberta Collegiate Institute, featured interactive workshops and panel discussions with women leaders in the industry. The students explored everything from plant chemistry and entomology to entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Teacher Lori Adamson says it was an eye-opening experience for the students. “A lot of the comments were about how they didn’t know business and finance could be part of agriculture or that scientists had a role in agriculture, so we opened their eyes to some different fields within agriculture,” says Adamson. “Our goal is to show these young women the value of a career in agriculture. Whether you’re interested in plant chemistry, environmental sciences or running the business side of an operation, agriculture has something for everyone.”

Teacher Peter Gallagher agrees, saying the event aimed to inspire young women to see agriculture as a vibrant and rewarding field. “We’re really trying to get the kids to see what possibilities their future holds in terms of career opportunities in agriculture.”

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Kaylee Day Chief, director of sales with AdvancedAg and a featured panel member, says there’s never been a better time for women to lead in agriculture.

“In my role, I see firsthand how women are driving innovation and sustainability in the industry,” she says. “Events like Harvesting Ambitions are vital in inspiring young women to step into this space and transform the future of agriculture.”

The Harvesting Ambitions event is part of the school’s ongoing efforts to provide middle-school students with hands-on career experiences in agriculture, trades, and healthcare.