Calgary (Rural Roots Canada) – Youth from across the province put agriculture front and centre at the Youth Agriculture Speaking Championships, put on by the Calgary Stampede in partnership with the Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture this past weekend.

The youth were competing for $15,000 in prizes as well as money to travel to Toronto to compete in the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Finals at the Royal Winter Fair in November.

The competitors delivered speeches on one of five agri-tech and agri-food related topics that were five to seven minutes in length.

The preliminary competition was held at Olds College and Stampede Park on July 11, with the top five from the Junior and Senior divisions from each preliminary moving on to the final on July 12th at the Calgary Stampede. 

Junior winner, Raelynn Sande from Olds, spoke on why it’s important to be teaching agriculture in schools. 

“I love public speaking. Even though it’s nerve-wracking, it’s really fun to do and challenge yourself,” says Sande.

“It is a really cool environment to be a part of and listen to all the other members speak and hear their knowledge and learn from them. It’s a really cool thing to be a part of.”

Sarah Strick, who finished first in the senior division, from Blackie, Alberta, says she hopes people take away one thing from her speech on the lessons learned in agriculture over the past 25 years.

“That young people really care about ag,” says Strick. “I think there’s a misconception that ag is mostly older people, but there’s a thriving younger generation who’s really interested and passionate about these topics,”

Sande and Strick will now travel to Toronto in November.