At home in Agriculture

Originally from Ontario, 19-year-old Tamara Snook moved to small town Oxford, Nova Scotia to fulfill her dream of working with animals. With the help of 4-H and Dalhousie’s Faculty of Agriculture, that's exactly what she's achieved.
 
Through 4-H, Tamara has pledged her head, heart, hands and health to bettering her club, her community, her country and her world.  

“4-H is a community and has given me family: a home away from home,” explains Tamara. “Someone is always there for you. They take care of you and look out for you… It’s also given me a huge sense of self-confidence.”
And it is this self-confidence that enabled Tamara to win the organization’s National Citizenship Award and to be nominated for Member of the Year for Cumberland County 4-H.

The National Citizenship award enables young members of 4-H, a national youth organization,  to learn about Canada and its history including governance, parliamentary procedures, citizenship and politics in a way that is fun, inspiring and memorable. Sixty members were selected across Canada for 2014, including Tamara.

“We were able to produce a mock debate in Parliament house in Prince Edward Island as part of the 150th anniversary of Confederation!” she says. “We learned so much.”  

The goal of 4-H is to develop citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills of youth through experiential learning programs and a positive youth development approach.

“4-h is such a good program and helps so many different people with so many different things – it becomes your life,” says Tamara.  “I’ve seen so many people grow from the program.” 

Discovering campus

Tamara is no exception.  She earned several industry scholarships including the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association scholarship, 4-H Council scholarships and an entrance scholarship from Dalhousie University upon enrolling in the Faculty of Agriculture in 2013 to study Animal Science.

“I’ve always loved this campus. I’ve attended 4-H weekend on this campus and have just always wanted to come here,” she says, explaining that she appreciates the campus’ close-knit community of like-minded students. “Everyone knows everyone and there are so many opportunities.”

Scott Reid, coach of the Dal AC Woodsmen team, saw Tamara competing in a 4-H woodsmen’s competition and asked her to try out for the Dalhousie team.  Now a second year veteran, Tamara is captain of the Woodsmen’s B Team, is employed part-time with the Safety & Security office and worked with Conference Services this past summer.  

Tamara combined her 4-H showmanship skills and her love for the Ag Campus during the livestock competition at last month’s College Royal. Tamara helped with showmanship and clipping of the animals in preparation for the livestock show. It was a busy weekend for her, with College Royal Livestock show, travelling with the Dal AC Woodsmen’s team, attending a 4-H banquet and studying for mid-terms.

But Tamara wouldn’t have it any other way.  “I plan to continue my membership in the 4-H program, eventually becoming a leader,” adding she plans to pursue a career in veterinary pathology or wildlife conservation.

Learn more about students like Tamara and the Faculty of Agriculture during Discovery Day 2014. Step onto our campus and learn to change the world! More information.