Emily Hickson, a 16-year-old from Brandon, one of the three recipients of the 2008 Grant Moffat Herdbuilder Award.
Carter Ferguson, a 16-year-old from Carroll; Emily Hickson, a 16-year-old from Brandon, and Shania Jack a 12-year-old from Portage La Prairie were the three recipients of the 2008 Grant Moffat Herdbuilder Award. This is the second year three youth have been awarded up to $2 000 toward the purchase of a heifer selected from a Manitoba Purebred Association sale.
Grant Moffat went missing in August, 2006. The funds generously donated by cattlemen, friends and relatives across the country were offered as a reward for tips leading to his whereabouts. After a year, a committee handling the funds made a decision to channel the money to Manitoba youth for the purpose of starting their own purebred herd.
Grant invested a lot of time and energy to actively help youth get started in the business, and this seemed to be the most fitting way to utilize the funds. Over forty applicants submitted essays which made the selection exceptionally difficult. The participants were evaluated on desire, need and previous expression of interest in the industry.
Carter Ferguson purchased a Charolais Heifer, Emily Hickson purchased a Simmental Heifer and Shania Jack purchased a Limousin Heifer. Carter has worked with Grant in the past as Grant has always been generous with his time with the youth on the show road. Emily and Shania have benefited from Grant’s clinics that were offered to many 4-H clubs in Manitoba.
The Grant Moffat Herdbuilder Awards will be presented again in 2009, with the application deadline being September 1st. For application and donation information, please visit www.grantmoffat.com.
