Name:
Sydney Budgeon
Where
are you from: I grew up on a mixed farm just north of Crossfield,
Alberta; the farm is worked by both my grandfather and father who run primarily
a grain operation, but have intermittently kept a small feedlot as well.
In December, I returned home back to the farm after travelling and living in
Edmonton for the past five years.
Schooling:
I studied at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and I graduated this past
June with a Bachelor of Arts in English and History. I focused much of
my degree on Western Canadian history, particularly rural history and
Aboriginal history. During my degree I was accepted to study at the U of
A’s satellite campus in Cortona, Italy, and also to intern at the Smithsonian
Institute in Washington D.C. through the Alberta-Smithsonian Internship
Program. Both experiences were truly incredible and life-changing.
Organizations: I am a 4-H
alumni, having belonged to the Rosebud 4-H Sheep Club and Crossfield-Madden 4-H
Beef Club while I was growing up. One of my favourite projects was a
sweet-tempered Black Angus steer named Baht. Organizations I have worked
for in the past include the Musée Héritage Museum in St. Albert, Alberta where
I worked as the Lead Interpreter at their Grain Elevator site, giving tours of
the historic grain elevators and teaching children about both historical and
modern agriculture. I’ve always really enjoyed teaching and bringing the
rural perspective to the urban. I’ve also worked as a
research assistant to Dr. Sarah Carter who is producing a book about female
homesteaders in Saskatchewan that will hopefully be coming out shortly.
Role
at the Angus Office: I am working at CAA as the Special Projects
Coordinator in a temporary internship position. I have applied to study
in Amsterdam in the fall for a Master’s degree, so I’m really enjoying the time
I have here in Alberta to get back to my roots and spend time in a more rural
environment again.
Hobbies:
I am absolutely passionate about creative writing, mostly short fiction
and non-fiction. While studying in Edmonton, much of my work was
published through a friend’s magazine The Glass Buffalo. In 2013 I
was awarded the Amber Bowerman Travel Writing Award by the Writer’s Guild of
Alberta for a piece about traveling in Italy. Additionally, right now I
am very focused on learning a second language, practicing both Italian and
Danish. This summer I will be traveling to Denmark to meet for the first
relatives on my mother’s side, and I am very determined to be able to speak at
least some Danish when I get there.
Posted by Karla Ness Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca
