Young farmer eager to keep agriculture alive for her generation

Pratik Bhattarai,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Chloe Loane wants to keep her family’s tradition of beef farming alive.

The 20-year-old said she grew up on a farm and around a community full of farmers.

“Both of my parents are farmers, so from an early age it was pushed into my head that I had to continue with farming,” Ms Loane said.

She said she normally helps at the farm and her favourite part about beef farming is working with newborn and baby calves.

“They’re pretty cute and I really enjoy working with them,” she said.

Currently, the Prince Edward Island resident is an animal science student. She just received her diploma from Lakeland College in Alberta and is going to Dalhousie University to finish her degree.

She said she is interested in the genetics side of animals.

“I enjoy learning about different categories of genetics, which result in different traits in animals,” she said.

Ms. Loane was one of eight youths to receive McDonald’s Canada Future of Agriculture 4-H Scholarship.

She was grateful and pleasantly surprised to be chosen for the scholarship.

She is also the president of Maritime Junior Angus Association and the Maritime director for the Canadian Junior Angus Board.

These organizations help young farmers to attend field days, learn about genetics, reproduction, attend events and possibilities to get scholarships, Ms Loane added.

“Right now, I am hoping to finish my degree in the next two years,” she said.

Some of the goals she hopes to achieve are becoming a lab technician and working with genetics. She would also like to have her own farm and continue working with cattle.

She has been seeing agriculture getting more recognition in schools and hopes to see more young people start pursuing it.

“If you are passionate about it and want to keep doing it then try to take any opportunity available,” Ms Loane said.

She encouraged young people to get involved in agriculture associations and events where they can apply for grants and scholarships.

“Even if it seems hard, stay focused and keep educating yourself,” she added.

She wants to see people being proud of agriculture and keep it alive.

“I would like to thank our community in Kings County, for all the hard work, especially during the harvest season.”

Pratik Bhattarai,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Eastern Graphic