The Sheila Stephen Memorial Scholarship

The Stephen family had a long history in the sheep industry in Canada. Sheila Stephen, daughter of long time sheep breeders Bill and Marian Stephen of Strathmore area, was killed in a tragic industrial accident in May of 1999.

The Memorial scholarship is for young sheep producers pursuing post secondary education.

Sheila’s grandfather Jock Stephen came to Canada from Scotland in 1921. In 1926 he secured a Shepherd position on the CPR farm in Tilley, Alberta. In 1935 the CPR moved his family to the CPR farm near Strathmore after they sold the Tilley farm to the Eastern Irrigation District. The farm was home to at least 100 ewes each of registered suffolk and registered hampshires.

Stud suffolk rams were imported from England and the hampshires from the USA. Their sheep travelled to many shows and sales. Each fall about 40 rams were sent to the Salt Lake ram sale in Odgen, utah (a prestigious sale in western North America) where they sold very well.

Jock was also successful at the Royal Winter Fair winning many classes.

In 1944, the CPR sold the livestock from the Strathmore farm. The purebred percheron horses, yorkshire pigs and holstein cattle were dispersed as well as other livestock and sheep. Harry Viner bought the sheep farm and the sheep. The sheep eventually were sold to Phil Rock of Rockville stock farm. (memories of Charlie Stephen Aug 2011).

Jock’s son Bill Stephen followed his father’s footsteps and after marrying Marian they became well known for their solid, sturdy and dependable lines of north country cheviots and suffolks. They were also successful in the various shows in Canada. Bill was also asked to judge various shows in western Canada.

Sheila, Bill and Marian’s daughter, learned showmanship and other shepherding skills from her parents and was preparing to take a more active role in the farm when her tragic accident ended her life in 1999.

When Sheila died, the need to emphasize youth in agriculture became apparent. The Alberta Sheep Breeders Association took donations in her memory and the “Sheila Stephen memorial scholarship” was started.

2022 Scholarship Recipients

Mia Westergaard

Mia is currently enrolled at The Kings University College where she is studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with a minor in Kinesiology.

She has solely grown her purebred North Country Cheviot Flock and wants to continue promoting youth involvement in the sheep industry. In the future she will continue to promote agriculture and sheep through teaching.

Alexandria Stein

Alexandria is currently enrolled at the University of Alberta where she is studying for her Bachelor of Science with a major in Neuroscience.

Alexandria says " I grew up in rural Alberta, and have spent my entire life around agriculture and livestock, and I especially enjoy being involved with sheep. Because of my love for my community, and my hopes to one day do some farming of my own, the choice to take neuroscience might not be especially obvious. I chose this field, not only because of my interest in the psychological sciences, but also because of the increasing mental health concerns arising in farming communities. The Centre for Sucide Prevention lists a number of factors which correlate an occupation with higher suicide rates. Some of these factors include high workplace stress, low wages, job insecurity/inconsistent work schedules, easy access to lethal means, and isolation, all of which typically applies to farmers. There are also concerns that farmers may be reluctant to reach out for mental health support due to stigma, or be unable to access support in remote rural environments. It is my hope to serve the agricultural community through a career in psychology, and I hope that my lived experience within agriculture will give me a deeper perspective on what approaches would work best to reach the people that need mental health support the most. "

How to Apply

Application Deadline for 2023 Scholarship is September 30, 2023

To apply for the ASBA Scholarship:

1) Apply online

2) Fill out the application form as requested below.

3) Submit the completed application form, and attach a recent digital photo (at least 2 MB). and a recent transcript.

The Alberta Sheep Breeders' Association would like to acknowledge the generous sponsors who make the ASBA Memorial Scholarship possible.

The ASBA Memorial Scholarship maintains its fund through the proceeds of the Silent auction held biannually at the ASBA Symposium. Items for the auction are generously donated by industry members and producers. t is through the auction of the donated items that the Memorial Scholarship Fund is maintained and the awards are presented.

If you would like to make a donation to the Memorial Scholarship Silent Auction please contact the ASBA office either by e-mail at office@albertasheepbreeders.ca or by phone at 866-967-4337.

Sheila Stephen Memorial Scholarship Application

2023 Memorial Application Form

1. Applicant, parent or grandparent must be a current member.

2. Applicant must be enrolled in a college, university or apprenticeship program and provide proof of enrollment.

3. Past recipients are not eligible to apply.

4. Application must be received by September 30, 2023

$575 Scholarship

Good Shepherd Nomination Form

The nomination forms will be forwarded to the Committee for consideration.

The "Good Shepherd Award" is intended to recognize sheep producers who have made valuable contributions to the sheep industry in Alberta.

Criteria for eligibility:

 That the nominees have been registered purebred producers in the past.
 That they have made a significant contribution to the Alberta purebred sheep industry
 Past involvement on the ASBA Board can be a consideration but it is not a requirement.

Alberta Sheep Breeders' Association

1-866-967-4337

The Good Shepherd Award

The "Good Shepherd Award" is intended to recognize sheep producers who have made valuable contributions to the sheep industry in Alberta. To nominate someone, please fill out the application below.

Shepherds Honoured in the Past

1992 Chester Fowler

1993 Jack Francis

1994 Helen Annis

1997 Ross Mouser

1997 Joyce McCart

1997 Bill and Marian Stephen

1999 Gordon Fulton

1999 Mike Rieberger

1999 Lana Cadsand

2001 Peggy Newman

2005 Gerry Schneider

2009 Clarence and Karen Jones

2009 John and Edith Williams

2013 Alan and Liz Breakey

2013 John and Nel Haarman

2013 Sue Hosford

2015 Gwen Hopkins

2017 Glen and Kathy Parker

2019 Dr Ileana Wenger & Dan Sinclair, Dr Chris Clark, Roger Albers

Shepherds Past Memorial

This memorial came into being as a way to recognize and honor those who have made a contribution to the Canadian sheep industry.

Canadian Co-operative Woolgrowers in Lethbridge has agreed to donate wall space in their store to hang the board.

If there is a past producer who you feel has made a contribution to the Canadian sheep industry or who has positively influenced or helped you personally you are welcome to include them in this memorial.

To have someone’s name added simply fill out the form and send it to Warren or Norine along with $10.00 to cover the cost of having their name put on the board.

Please forward your request to:

SECOND CHANCE LIVESTOCK COMPANY

Warren & Norine Moore Box 203, Stavely, Alberta T0L 1Z0

Phone: (403) 549-2464 FAX: (403) 549-2465 email: wnsheep@cciwireless.ca

Make your cheque payable to: Warren and Norine Moore

2021 Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to Rebekah Nikkel

After completing my post-secondary education, I hope to become a lawyer whose main focus revolves around agriculture and differ levels within the food production industry. As well as practicing law, I hope to work in policy and sociology research field that relates to agriculture and connected industries. Prior to attending law school, I will pursue a master’s in economics, focusing on externalities placed on producers through industry commodity chains. I would like to focus my future master thesis on the change from Alberta being a large lambing producing province to the smaller flock numbers seen today.

My approach will be how this change in numbers coincided with the move towards a monopolized or singular packing plant industry. For my future education and career goals, I would like to apply the life experience that I have collected through being raised on and an active participant on my family’s farm, to policy, law, and research that will help address areas that negatively affect producers and will allow for greater opportunity of individual and industry growth, trade, and stronger political representation. ~ Rebekah

2019 Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to Abigail Nikkel

I have always taken pride in being a part of the agriculture industry. From the beginning

farming has been my passion and I have spent much time learning and improving skills.

Whether the skills be in soil health or livestock evaluation, I am committed to furthering my understanding of agriculture.

My time on the ASBA board has demonstrated to me how important it is to have passionate, well informed, and hard-working people involved in the agriculture industry.

Working with induvials like this has inspired me to set myself up to be that type of person. For me, the first step to achieving this is through education. I am currently a fulltime student at NAIT, enrolled in Business Administration. My goal is to finish my diploma program and continue NAIT’s degree program in Business Administration with a focus in management. This program is very important to me, as it will be an asset in all future endeavors, including agriculture.

In the future I see myself continuing as a sheep breeder. One of my goals is to manage

sheep in a way that benefits the environment. As a small ruminant, sheep have a mostly

untapped ability to improve soil health and sequester carbon. I want to explore and take advantage of this opportunity and to help promote those benefits and inform consumers about the positive side of agriculture, especially regarding the meat industry. I will promote the industry by staying active in agricultural organizations.

Receiving the Sheila Stephen Memorial Scholarship would help me in my lifelong learning endeavours. ~ Abby

2018 Scholarship Recipient

Congratulations to Garret Crawford

"My name is Garret Crawford, I grew up in the town of Didsbury but we farm west of Carstairs. We have a mixed farming operation consisting of cattle and sheep. My mom has purebred Charollais sheep and a commercial flock and I have my own purebred Romanov flock of sheep. I have been active in 4-H for 10 years, where I’ve shown cattle and sheep. My real passion is with the sheep and I really enjoyed showing the sheep at the 2017 Canadian Sheep Classic for my family and Half Diamond Farms. I’m presently attending college out at Three Hills Alberta where I’m taking the EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) program. I would like to thank the ASBA for picking me to receive this scholarship which will help me accomplish my schooling." Garret

The Sheila Stephen Memorial Scholarship

2022 Scholarship Recipients

Mia Westergaard

Alexandria Stein

How to Apply

Sheila Stephen Memorial Scholarship Application

Sheila Stephen Memorial Scholarship Application

2023 Memorial Application Form

$575 Scholarship

Apply Now

Other Scholarships

Good Shepherd Nomination Form

Good Shepherd Nomination Form

The nomination forms will be forwarded to the Committee for consideration.

Alberta Sheep Breeders' Association

Good Shepherd Award Nomination Form

The Good Shepherd Award

Shepherds Past Memorial

Applications and Forms

2021 Scholarship Recipient

2019 Scholarship Recipient

2018 Scholarship Recipient

ASBA Scholarship Recipients

Donate to the Scholarship Fund