Olds College Student Wins Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization Scholarship

Ecological Sustainability

Olds College Student Wins Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization Scholarship

Abigail Taylor, a third-year Olds College student enrolled in the Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) Agribusiness degree, has always been interested in the agriculture industry and food production. In 2020, Taylor left her hometown in Ontario to work on a farm in Quebec to gain more experience in the industry. During her work experience, Taylor worked on a female-run farm which she found extremely inspiring as she had never worked for a woman who was the primary producer of their own farm and food.

“Working for a female farmer changed my perspective on my future, and for the first time, I truly felt that my dream of running my own farm was achievable,” says Taylor.

After her work experience, Taylor was inspired and motivated to follow in her mentor’s footsteps. She spent the next summer starting her own farm and business called Dawn Farm.

Currently, Taylor raises chickens, turkeys and beef cattle at Dawn Farm and sells free-range eggs, whole bird chickens and turkeys, grass-finished beef, and organ meats for raw dog food. With the farm-to-plate mentality, Dawn Farm sells products directly to consumers from the farm. Taylor is extremely passionate about providing healthy meats and produce to the local community.

Taylor received this year’s Canadian Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) Scholarship of $2,500. To receive this award, the winner must have completed at least two years of higher education in Entrepreneurship or Business, maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA, and have an active business. The WEDO Scholarship aims to support and ignite future women innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide. In addition, Taylor was invited to attend and speak at the WEDO Virtual Day and was inspired by all of the female entrepreneurs.

“I am grateful for the WEDO scholarship to help pay my tuition, thus allowing me to save money for buying cattle this spring and growing my farm,” says Taylor. “As I grow my business, I hope that I will be a role model for other young women, and eventually hire them to work for my farm.”

Taylor went into the Agribusiness program at Olds College to gain business expertise in the agriculture industry to help her growing business and farming operation. With a motivation to learn, Taylor has spent her weekends touring beef farms, and attending cattle auctions and cattle shows to learn as much as she can about the beef industry.

“Growing up in the agriculture industry, I have always cared deeply about the Earth and environment.” Taylor adds, “As a child, I read books about ecological farms selling directly to consumers. Ever since then, I wanted to start my own farm so I could produce food in a way that improved the land.”

“I am passionate about being a steward of the land, providing food for my local community, and connecting people with their food,” Taylor says. “Dawn Farm allows me to chase all of these passions while building a career.”

A long-term goal of Taylor’s is to become an agricultural educator using her farm. She enjoys giving customers tours around Dawn Farm and teaching them about where their food comes from. In the future, she hopes to host workshops, student field trips and schedule group farm tours to educate people about agriculture. With Dawn Farm, Taylor aims to be a part of the solution in bridging the gap between farmers and consumers.

After graduation, Taylor has big plans for Dawn Farm and her career. She plans to continue expanding Dawn Farms while working in partnership with her family’s farm. She hopes to join her local agriculture federation and continue to be involved in her community. Taylor also plans to spend four months working on a regenerative ranch in Georgia, U.S.A.