‘Continue that legacy’: Esterhazy student scores agricultural scholarship

WATCH: A young woman from Esterhazy has won the 2025 agriculture student scholarship grand prize. Fruzsina De Cloedt reports.

Climbing through a rusty old gate on her family’s farm near Esterhazy is Abbey Norek - a fourth-generation farmer who tends to 11 calves as a hobby.

The animals stare intently as Norek approaches. Tending to the calves takes up around two hours per day. Norek manages the small herd while also helping around the farm and attending school.

Despite her busy schedule, she was able to submit an entry to Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Student Scholarship – later winning the grand-prize.

“I made a video about the disconnect between urban and rural populations,” Norek explained. “As a farming population gets older, and more people move to the cities. There’s no longer passed down stories as much as there used to be.”

Norek argues that the disconnect is leading to misinformation about farm life and agriculture through social media. Her great-grandparents settled on the land her family currently farms.

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She says misinformation and fearmongering should be tackled through education and advocacy. Norek shared her school garden as an example, saying the project helps students and staff learn about horticulture and agriculture.

“We’re very excited about [the school garden] and things like that, which bring the community together and also foster a learning environment,” she said. “[These] are very important moving forward in not only Saskatchewan, but across Canada and across the world.”

It’s a sentiment Minister of Agriculture Daryl Harrison agrees with. He was sure note that the scholarship exists due to the government’s belief that agriculture education begins in the classroom.

“The scholarships are available to anyone, anywhere and it is about them learning and applying their trade and research,” he explained while speaking to reporters on May 12.

This fall, Norek will begin her studies at the University of Saskatchewan, where her siblings are currently studying.

It’s her dream to get a dual degree in agronomy and agribusiness, following her parents’ footsteps. She says the scholarship will be a great help in realizing this dream.

“I’m very, very grateful that I was born into this family because I have the opportunity to continue that legacy and become a farmer and hopefully do amazing things, just like [my parents] did.” She quickly corrected herself, adding that “they’re still doing amazing things, but just like they did when they were my age.”

Norek and the other recipients of the Agriculture Student Scholarship represent the next generation of farmers, notably the first generation to grow up with sophisticated technology.

Minister Harrison said the government has noticed a shift in the topics submitted each year – noting that they are increasingly becoming more tech-focused.

One thing is for sure – many eyes will be on students like Norek, as they’re sure to take the reins and carry on Saskatchewan’s legacy as a global leader in agriculture.