A H漫画 student who became the first Maritimer to win a major national award recognizing his skills as a young Angus cattle producer describes his success as huge honour that illustrates the region's values the sector.聽
鈥淚 think I proved that although we don't have the same herd sizes as the western provinces our youth are just as capable,鈥� said first-year student Austin Potts, who is studying farm business management at the Faculty of Agriculture.
鈥淚 believe winning the award shows other junior members in the Maritimes that we too can be just as good as the rest of the country.鈥�
I proved that although we don't have the same herd sizes as the western provinces our youth are just as capable.
Austin chose Dal for both practical and personal reasons. Growing up in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), he had heard about it through the close-knit Maritime agriculture community and was especially inspired by his mother, Jill Potts (Stewart), who completed her Agricultural Business Diploma in 1999.聽
With Truro located close to the Island, the Faculty of Agriculture offered Austin an appealing post-secondary option that kept him connected to home while pursuing an education.
Heritage in Angus breeding
Austin鈥檚 passion lies with the Angus breed of cattle. His great-grandfather was one of the first beef producers in P.E.I. to introduce Angus genetics into his herd and the commitment to the breed has continued through his grandfather and mother. He grew up on Potts Farms, a commercial and purebred cow-calf beef farm in Bonshaw, P.E.I.
鈥淎ngus is the most popular breed in Canada because of the high-marbling beef they produce and the strong consumer recognition associated with Certified Angus Beef,鈥� Austin explained.聽
He said consumers often associate the word 鈥淎ngus鈥� with quality and that the breed鈥檚 strong maternal traits and milk production make them efficient and practical for producers.
In 2015, Austin established his own purebred Angus herd, Argyle Hill Cattle Company, after receiving his first purebred female from his grandfather. Since then, he has steadily grown his herd by incorporating quality genetics and exhibiting cattle throughout the Maritimes, Ontario, and Quebec.
Growing skills - and his herd
Austin received $5,000 in winnings and was able to purchase a heifer out of Ontario, and travel to Alberta to compete at the Angus Junior National Show last summer.聽
鈥淏eing a good stockman in my opinion means being heavily involved with your cattle as well as in the beef industry in general,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淟earning your animals鈥� pedigrees, making breeding decisions to further enhance your herd鈥檚 genetics, promoting your operation and cattle to the public, having knowledge of nutrition and aiming to produce reputable, superior quality cattle.鈥�
Looking ahead, Austin plans to complete his diploma and either return home to farm full-time with his father while continuing to grow their Angus herd or pursue a career within the agriculture industry on the Island.