EDMONTON (Rural Roots Canada) — Karsten Grabler from Cherhill, Alberta and Garret Rice from Carbon, Alberta, have been named the 2025 recipients of the Seed Smart Agriculture Scholarship, a prestigious award from the Alberta Seed Processors (ASP) recognizing academic excellence and leadership in agriculture.

Grabler, a student in the Animal Science Technology program majoring in Beef at Lakeland College in Vermilion, expressed his gratitude for the award. “I’m very fortunate and as well as glad to have won this,” he said. “It will greatly benefit my further studies within this current program, as well as if I go on to further studies as well.”

Grabler, who grew up on his family farm in Cherhill, says agriculture has always been a part of his life. “Yeah, very much from a young age,” he recalled. “I always remember following my dad around the farm, being right beside his side. If he did something, I was right there beside him.”

Rice, another promising leader in Alberta’s agriculture sector, is a second-year Ag Production student at Olds College.

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Established in 2017, the Seed Smart Scholarship recognizes the academic and personal achievements of young leaders in agriculture. Recipients are chosen for their commitment to public service, strong academic performance, and future aspirations in the agriculture value chain.

“The Seed Smart scholarship program aims to empower the next generation of agricultural leaders,” said ASP General Manager Monica Klaas. “Young people are essential to the continued success of Alberta and Canada’s agriculture sector. This is an important investment in the education of future agricultural leaders, rural communities, and the agriculture sector.”