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Grazing in the Alberta Foothills

This is the final installment of four articles that describe the experiences of students working through their first summer in the FMT program, in the Agricultural Internship course for the 2019 season.

In Black Diamond (AB), Annakah Drew and fellow FMT student Mariel Lamarche interned at Grazed Right Ranch, owned by Ben and Stephanie Campbell. The Campbells raise 220 grass-fed yearlings, 300 laying hens and 16 pigs on 1500 acres, offering consumers a variety of locally-raised eggs, beef and pork products.

The work experience was part of a 13-week long Agricultural Internship course that takes places between first and second year of the FMT program. Students are encouraged to intern on farms or with agri-businesses that are outside of their home region. Some students, like Drew and Lamarche, travel further afield for their stages.

FMT students Annakah Drew (left) and Mariel Lamarche (right) spent the summer completing their Agricultural Internship course at Grazed Right Ranch in Black Diamond, AB. Here they stand with some of the cattle on pasture.
Image by Caroline Begg.
Since starting in May, Drew has learned the ins and outs of ranching, including vaccinating, fencing, driving cattle between fields, checking for sick or injured animals on pasture, and caring for the chickens and pigs. She has also improved her tractor and trailer driving skills.

“I have gotten to try so many new things and experience new experiences. It is very interesting to see how different operations work out here compared to back home, as well as the similarities,” she observed. “I have also learned how much I can actually accomplish by myself. I have gained a lot of confidence when it comes to using machinery and equipment, as well as driving a truck with a trailer hooked on.”

“Everything that I have gotten to do and see is better than expected and really makes me excited for the future and to see where, and how I will find a place in this industry.”

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