Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
September 26, 2002
OAC to sponsor first youth leadership conference
Motivation, creativity and networking will be the focus of the first Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) youth leadership conference this fall at the University of Guelph.
Students from all OAC campuses -- Ridgetown, Alfred, Kemptville and Guelph -- are invited to attend the conference Oct. 18-19. It is designed to bring together Ontario’s agricultural students and equip participants with the tools they need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing agricultural industry, particularly in food, rural communities, environment and production agriculture.
“Employers have been saying that leadership qualities are the most important skills to develop while in school,” said conference co-organizer Kelli Sisler. “We’re giving students an opportunity to gain those skills.”
Conflict resolution, effective meetings, fundraising, effective advertising, service learning and transitional leadership will be the topics addressed by guest speakers from the agricultural community and elsewhere. “Young leaders will have the opportunity to create a province-wide network to discuss challenges and develop some solutions,” Sisler said.
To help students from all OAC campuses attend the conference, a $500 per-campus grant has been established to defer travel and accommodation costs. Deadlines for applications is Oct. 4. Applications are available from the OAC website at www.oac.uoguelph.ca. Cost is $10. For more information, contact Matt Thurston at mthursto@uoguelph.ca or Sisler 824-4120, Ext. 4549.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 3338.
