Emma Puckering is an OAC alumna (BSc. ABIO 2018) and current vet student at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). Like all U of G students, Emma has been adjusting to a new routine as classes shift to online, but she is happy to have her two dogs, Lady and Ireland, at home to help with study breaks! We recently connected with her to find out how she’s doing.
Brian Little (ADA ’67, B.Sc.Agr. ’72, M.Sc. ’78) retired 10 years ago from his role of National Manager, Agricultural and Agricultural Business with RBC. Brian had a 30-year career in agricultural banking and finance and an extensive volunteer resume. He’s dedicated countless hours to serve his alma mater, industry and community. We recently chatted with him on the phone to see how he is doing during these uncertain times. In his typical fashion, he also had some thoughtful advice to share.
*** Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing a series of Q&As featuring OAC community members to showcase how people are coping with our uncertain - but collective - state. We’re hoping these will help connect and support our community (in a small way) during these isolating and challenging times. Look after yourself and those around you. ***
Alyssa Gingras is a two-time OAC alumna (BSc. ENVB 2017, MES 2018) and a sales agronomist with Sharpe Farm Supplies. Although her day-to-day work is not significantly affected by the changes brought by COVID-19, she still adjusting to a new routine. We recently connected with her to find out how she’s doing.
*** Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing a series of Q&As featuring OAC community members to showcase how people are coping with our uncertain - but collective - state. We’re hoping these will help connect and support our community (in a small way) during these isolating and challenging times. Look after yourself and those around you. ***
Meagan Griffiths
Precision Agronomist CCA-ON, 4R NMS, FS PARTNERS
B.Sc. (Agr.) Crop, Horticultural and Turfgrass Sciences, 2012; M.Sc. Plant Agriculture, 2014
Meagan Griffiths works in precision agriculture. It’s not a career she planned on pursuing, but she’s found a fit for her interests and skillset in this dynamic part of the sector. She shares more about her current role and tips for current students who are staring off their careers.
Shannon Labelle recently graduated in October 2019 with an M.Sc. in Rural Planning and Development, but she landed her dream job four months before graduation! She recently sat down with us to chat about her role, Indigenous planning and her transition into the workplace.
Christopher Naese graduated with a B.Sc. Agr. in Dairy Science in ’85. He was one of rare co-op students at the time, but his work experience helped him land a job that set him on a prosperous and exciting career trajectory. Today he’s the Vice President of Business Development for Florida Food Products and took some time to share insights on food industry business trends.
So what do you want to do after school?” It’s a question that every university student is asked, and probably more times than they’d like.
For Ashley Knapton, B.Sc. (Agr.) ’13, the answer was simple: become a dairy classifier.
Classifiers, an unbiased thirdparty group of trained people, score dairy cows based on industry-outlined criteria. They travel from farm to farm to evaluate the physical structure of the cow. It’s a service that helps producers make informed decisions and is often used as a pride point for dairy breeders.
When I returned home to Eastern Ontario after completing my first year at U of G, I was so excited to share the stories of my experiences at Guelph. One day, I told a farmer about my friend Clayton McWilliams, whom I had met at Guelph. The farmer immediately asked if Clayton was related to Wyatt McWilliams. I didn’t know. Wyatt was a new name to me. But it was clear that Wyatt was a well-known person in agriculture, and his story was one I wanted to hear.
So, I began asking questions. And the more I learned about Wyatt, the more I wanted to know.