Keltey Whelan’s busy summer schedule may soon be eclipsed by her busy fall schedule.
The 18-year-old, who lives on a ranch 15 kilometres east of Irricana, spent her summer loading up on scholarships, earned largely through the International Youth Livestock Show (IYLS) at the Calgary Stampede last month.
She earned $2,000 as one of 10 senior winners in the IYLS, which included a youth marketing competition, a multi-species judging competition, conformation, showmanship and show team judging, for exhibiting animals in three species classes: sheep, dairy, or beef.
Whelan, who attended Strathmore High School, also earned a $1,000 scholarship from RBC Dominion and $1,500 Rural Grade 12 art scholarship by placing third in the Western Art Show, both during the Stampede.
“That is a great amount of money to receive in just one week,” said Whelan, who is heading to the University of Lethbridge in September to begin pursuit of an Art Studio degree in the Fine Arts Department.
“All of these scholarships will really help out with my educational pursuits.”
Whelan is a fourth-generation cattle rancher and still helps with the day-to-day production of nearly 100 head of purebred Maine-Anjou and Maine Influence cattle, but has started to designate a more specific role in recent years.
“Although I take part in daily tasks on the ranch, my main responsibility is marketing our program,” she said.
“This includes everything from creating advertisements and promotional flyers, designing websites and showing our cattle. Marketing has become a passion of mine in the last few years.”
She has also been involved with 4-H for seven years and credits the multi-faceted organization with guiding her increased knowledge in a number of areas.
“I learned many things in 4-H that have helped me in my life,” Whelan said.
“I enjoy participating in marketing competitions at 4-H and junior cattle shows, as well as promoting my family’s ranch.”
Whelan’s activities outside of her upcoming foray into post-secondary include preparing for a business idea pitch at Farmfair International this November in Edmonton, where she could win $25,000, and her role as a judge at the National Western Stock Show in Denver in January.
Her business idea is based on incorporating graphic and web design into the agricultural industry.
“I hope that my university education can take me into a career in graphic design and social media in the agricultural industry,” Whelan said.
“It is my goal to promote my business and to work with other cattlemen in promotion of theirs, and to make a name for myself in this great industry.”
