A look at the impact of the Canadian Agri-Business Education Foundation.
For more than a decade, the Canadian Agri-Business Education Foundation (CABEF) has been nurturing the next generation of agricultural leaders through scholarship programs and a large network of industry support. What began as a simple question – “Why aren’t we offering scholarships in Canada?” – has blossomed into a thriving charitable foundation with a significant impact on agricultural education across the country.
Since beginning its fundraising efforts in 2011, CABEF has raised a total of $638,468 to support agricultural education in Canada. The organization has granted 70 scholarships to deserving students across Canada, in an effort to tackle a pressing issue facing the agri-food industry – the labour shortage.
With the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council forecasting the domestic labour gap within the sector to reach 101,100 by 2030, CABEF’s mission to fund the next generation of the ag industry is more important than ever. Here’s a glimpse of CABEF’s impact to date, and a preview of what’s to come from the foundation.
The early years
Inspired by scholarship programs offered by the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) in the United States, Larry Hertz, then-publisher of The Western Producer, approached Mary Thornley, executive director of the Canadian Agri-Food Marketers Alliance, with a bold idea.
“Larry came to me with the idea of providing scholarships to Canadian students who were pursuing an agricultural education,” Thornley recalls of the initial conversations between herself and Hertz, Rod Delahey and Justin Funk in 2009.
What followed was a three-year journey to establish CABEF as a registered charity. The first board meeting was held in May 2010, and after navigating the complex regulatory requirements, CABEF finally obtained charitable status with the Canada Revenue Agency on March 20, 2013 – a day Thornley says will “be forever ingrained on my mind.”
CABEF awarded its first six scholarships in 2014, marking the beginning of its mission to support agricultural education across Canada. Today, the foundation awards seven scholarships, valued at $2,500 each, annually to full-time students enrolled in agricultural programs at Canadian universities, colleges, and trade institutions.
An inclusive approach to agricultural education, recognizing that not all agricultural career paths follow traditional learning routes, positions CABEF as a unique funder amongst the landscape of agricultural scholarships.
“CABEF is not just focused on core agriculture, but ag and agri-food,” comments Amanda Woodrow, account director with AdFarm, who served on the CABEF board from 2016 to 2022. “We’ve broadened the definition to reflect the reality of what agriculture and agri-food means in our country.”
“We have expanded to include apprenticeships and trades as well,” Thornley notes. “Not everybody goes the university or college route, so I’m really pleased with how CABEF acknowledges that everybody should have the opportunity to receive some financial support to continue their education, whatever that path looks like.”
In 2018, CABEF took an innovative step by inviting a previous scholarship recipient to join its Board of Directors – a practice that continues today.
“This gave us direct insight into what works best for students,” explains Thornley, sharing how the approach reflects the organization’s commitment to staying relevant and responsive to student needs, while providing valuable professional development opportunities for scholarship recipients. “It’s also a great opportunity for students to be more connected to key players in the industry and experience being on a board of directors. It looks great on their resume.”
“Past recipients have attended events like the Best of CAMA gala to share what the scholarship has meant to them, and it’s so impactful to hear the stories of these impressive young people,” adds Becky Parker, industry relations manager at Farm Credit Canada and chairperson of CABEF.
Fundraising success and long-term support
CABEF’s ability to award scholarships relies on the generous support of the agricultural industry. The foundation operates with minimal overhead costs and is driven by a 100-per-cent volunteer board of directors, ensuring that donations directly benefit students. By supporting CABEF financially, contributors are investing in the future of Canada’s agricultural industry.
The foundation’s primary fundraising events occur at CAMA’s national events, particularly the Best of CAMA awards gala. Popular initiatives include the Wall of Wine and Distillers Dozen, where donors contribute $100 for a chance to win premium beverages, and a live auction featuring packages donated by media partners. The 2024 fundraising event was particularly successful, raising an impressive $62,200 – the highest amount in the foundation’s history.
In 2024, the foundation launched the Champions of CABEF campaign, a large-scale fundraising initiative with a goal of raising $250,000 and establishing an endowment fund that would provide a sustainable source of scholarship funding for years to come.
“We know agriculture is going to go on forever and we know we’re always going to need good people. The Champions of CABEF is a great way for the industry to support our initiative of providing these scholarships for many years to come,” Parker says.
“This is a critical time in our organization’s history, and we need the agri-food industry’s support to make our vision a reality,” Thornley adds. “We’d like to expand the number of scholarships offered and potentially offer to post-graduate students as well.”
A call to action
There are numerous ways to support the future of Canadian agriculture. Industry professionals can help spread the word about scholarships to eligible students, support the Champions of CABEF initiative, purchase Wall of Wine or Distillers Dozen tickets, or even join the board.
“We’re always looking for new board members,” Thornley notes. “Succession of our board members is important, as is expanding the reach and the connections of board members within the industry.”
As CABEF continues to grow and evolve, its commitment to nurturing the next generation of agricultural leaders remains steadfast. Through scholarships, industry connections, and professional development opportunities, CABEF is helping to ensure a bright future for Canadian agriculture.
For more information about CABEF or to become a Champion of CABEF, contact Mary Thornley at [email protected].