Manitoba Simmental Association Announces 2022 Scholarship Recipients

The Manitoba Simmental Association is pleased to be able to award three 2022 MSA Scholarships to deserving applicants! Congratulations to Sam de Rocquigny, Cade Cruickshanks, and Megan Beswitherick. Each of these individuals will receive a cheque for $1,000 to put towards their post-secondary education expenses. Due to the support of our members in our various fundraising efforts over the years, the MSA is able to give up to three $1000.00 scholarships each year. Each applicant must be a MSA member and/or child of a MSA member and is judged on their application and interview process by our scholarship committee.

Sam de Rocquigny hails from Haywood, MB and is the son of long-time Simmental breeders Pam and Norbert de Rocquigny of Bert’s NR Simmentals. Sam is currently enrolled in the Diploma of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba and will graduate from the program in the spring of 2024.

Sam has been involved with his family farm from a young age and his duties and responsibilities have constantly increased throughout the years. He is involved with every aspect of the operation, from feeding cattle, to seeding and fencing and everything in between. Sam enjoys helping show cattle with his family throughout the province and is involved in the Pembina Triangle Simmental Assoc. and the Premium Beef sales, through which they market some of their purebred females and bulls.

Sam has been very active in his school and community. He was a 10-year member of his local beef 4-H club, having held many executive positions such as president, vice-president, treasurer, and club reporter. He was also awarded the 2018 Most Valuable Member from the club. In addition to his 4-H involvement, Sam was very involved in his school, playing soccer and badminton as well as various intramurals. He was the 2022 Grad President as well as the 2022 Co-Valedictorian for the St. Claude School Complex. Another of his personal accomplishments is to have been twice part of the Team Manitoba Broomball team that participated in the National Championships, having most recently been the assistant captain of that team. Sam continues to be active by playing on an intramural hockey team at the university as well as playing broomball whenever time allows.

Sam plans to return to the farm at Haywood, where they have recently increased their purebred herd. He hopes to make it more profitable and efficient through all that he learn in his courses and from his professors at the University of Manitoba.