(TORONTO, ON) - Speakers from Ontario took top prizes in the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture (CYSA)’s 25th annual competition, held at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Among 26 registrants from six provinces, Cindy Schickedanz (OAC 2009) of Stouffville, Ontario, won the senior category, with Duncan Archer of Brant County, Ontario, capturing the junior award.

Schickedanz delivered an enthusiastic speech on the topic The Unsung Heroes of Agriculture. She is a third-year University of Guelph animal science student. "It's the heart and dedication that farmers put into producing food that truly earns them the honour of being heroes of agriculture,” Schickedanz said in her speech. “It's like the Ontario Grain and Oilseed campaign says "Farmer's Feed Cities;" we would truly be lost without them and that's why my hats off to them. To me they are the true heroes of agriculture."

Junior champion Duncan Archer, chose Why I Want A Career In Agriculture for his topic. In his speech he emphatically noted that “A career in agriculture should interest every kid who wants to be at the forefront of finding new ways to do things, who wants to maximize the use of computer technology and who wants to challenge conventional thinking.”

For their victories, Schickedanz and Archer both received a cash prize, a framed print from John Deere Limited, and will have their names engraved on CYSA plaques.

First senior runner-up was Laura Szigatti of Simcoe, Ontario, followed by second runner-up Rosie Templeton of Coaldale, Alberta. The other senior finalists were Erin Harris of Lister, British Columbia, Kristy Waalderbos of Amherst, Nova Scotia and Christine Zettler of Teeswater, Ontario. Each finalist received a cash award and a book on the subject of communication from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

In the junior competition, the first runner-up was Athira Abraham of Scarborough, Ontario, followed by Haley Mullen of Toronto, Ontario. They also received a cash award and an educational book.

This year’s sponsors were the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, 4-H Ontario, AgCareers.com, Aumell Agri Consulting, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Young Farmers Forum, City of Guelph, Farm Credit Canada, GayLea Food Co-Operative Limited, Hampton Inn & Suites, John Deere Limited, Gordon P. Maxwell, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Potato Growers of Alberta, Royal Bank of Canada, and Syngenta Crop Protection Canada Inc. Numerous other sponsors participated at the provincial and regional levels to help mitigate travel costs for out-of-province participants.

Planning for the 2010 competition has already started. Check the website for details at www.cysa-joca.ca.

To book a speaking engagement with one of the winning speakers, or for more information, contact CYSA Chairman Ted Young at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 519.824.9253.

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