Before we get too far into the school year, we wanted to introduce you to the executive members of DASA, the Dalhousie Agricultural Students’ Association. Between organizing events to enhance the student life experience on the Agricultural Campus and acting as an advocate and voice for AC students at Dal, the DASA team keeps itself busy in Truro. So who are these familiar faces and what do they want to accomplish this year?
Berdien Bakker, VP Administration
Age: 19
Major: Animal Science
Hometown: Killoween, N.B.
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What’s your main goal for your portfolio this year?
To ensure every student’s voice is heard and represented throughout the year and work to keep the campus inclusive, and the atmosphere uplifting and fun. I also hope to promote student involvement in volunteer work within the community and provide students with numerous opportunities to enhance their resumes and applications.
What’s Dal AC’s best-kept secret?
It’s a secret…
What do you never leave home without?
My cellphone.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, reading, playing badminton, and hanging out with friends.
What’s your hidden talent?
Procrastination
What talent would you like to have?
To be able to sing!
Most interesting/memorable/favourite place you’ve visited?
The Netherlands
Most interesting/memorable person you’ve met?
My great-grandfather
Favourite band/musician?
Luke Bryan
Favourite class at Dal?
Animal Agriculture 2005
Favourite food?
Chicken burgers
Favourite movie?
Secondhand Lions
Favourite TV show?
Arrow
Favourite website/Tumblr?
Facebook and Imgfave
Favourite fictional character?
Fred Weasley
Person you admire the most?
Nelson Mandela
Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
Jennifer Aniston
Who would actually play you in a movie about your life?
Jennifer Lawrence
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Oprah Winfrey, Luke Bryan, Shania Twain, and J. K. Rowling.
Your dream job?
Veterinarian
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Harris Bakker, VP External Affairs
Age:Ěý 21
Major:Ěý B.Sc. Plant Science
Hometown:Ěý Killoween, N.B.
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What’s your main goal for your portfolio this year?
A very competitive House Challenge season.
What’s Dal AC’s best-kept secret?
I can’t tell you.
What do you never leave home without?
Pants
What do you do in your spare time?
Chill, play some guitar, maybe have a coffee.
What’s your hidden talent?
It’s hidden, I don’t know.
What talent would you like to have?
Legendary guitar skillz.
Most interesting/memorable/favourite place you’ve visited?
That’s a good question…
Most interesting/memorable person you’ve met?
Temple Grandin
Favourite band/musician?
Travis Tritt
Favourite class at Dal?
Farm Woodlot Management
Favourite food?
Potatoes
Favourite movie?
Lawless was pretty good.
Favourite TV show?
Top Gear UK
Favourite website/Tumblr?
Kijiji classifieds
Favourite fictional character?
Iron Man
Person you admire the most?
Is very admirable.
Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
Kevin Costner
Who would actually play you in a movie about your life?
Rowan Atkinson
Your four dream dinner party guests?
It wouldn’t matter. As long as the food is good.
Your dream job?
That’s easy: potato farmer.
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Alana Bent, VP Internal Affairs
Age: 19
Major: Animal Science
Hometown: Middleton, N.S.
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What’s your main goal for your portfolio this year?
To have a stronger connection with the clubs and committees here so that students can see what we have to offer at this campus.
What’s Dal AC’s best-kept secret?
The Nutella in Beaver.
What do you never leave home without?
My Crocs
What do you do in your spare time?
Read, be active.
What’s your hidden talent?
I can play the saxophone.
What talent would you like to have?
To be able to draw.
Most interesting/memorable/favourite place you’ve visited?
A bison farm in Alberta.
Most interesting/memorable person you’ve met?
Ellen Sharp
Favourite band/musician?
Toby Keith
Favourite class at Dal?
Forages
Favourite food?
Creme Eggs (I don’t know if this really counts)
Favourite movie?
Lilo and Stitch
Favourite TV show?
Teen Mom 2
Favourite website/Tumblr?
Favourite fictional character?
Olaf from Frozen
Person you admire the most?
My mother
Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
Queen Latifah
Who would actually play you in a movie about your life?
Melissa McCarthy
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Drake, Reba McEntire, Melissa McCarthy, Alexander Keith
Your dream job?
Farmer
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Emily Davis, VP Finance
Age: 20
Major: Environmental Science
Hometown: Oxford, N.S.
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What’s your main goal for your portfolio this year?
To meet more students here on campus and to also do the best job in managing the books for all student activities!
What’s Dal AC’s best-kept secret?
Our awesome food in Jenkins Hall.
What do you never leave home without?
My bottle of water and my iPhone.
What do you do in your spare time?
I like to go for walks/runs and to read books.
What’s your hidden talent?
I can read anything very quickly.
What talent would you like to have?
To be an excellent cook and/or baker.
Most interesting/memorable/favourite place you’ve visited?
Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. The beaches were amazing!
Most interesting/memorable person you’ve met?
When I was a little one, hockey legend Gordie Howe held me in his arms. Looking back that was a pretty memorable moment even though I didn’t know it at the time.
Favourite band/musician?
Lady Antebellum
Favourite class at Dal?
Mammalian Physiology
Favourite food?
BBQ steak
Favourite movie?
Water for Elephants
Favourite TV show?
Say Yes to the Dress
Favourite website/Tumblr?
Favourite fictional character?
Stewie Griffin from Family Guy
Person you admire the most?
My mom. She is my biggest supporter and surprises me all of the time with cool ideas, thoughts and plans for the future.
Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
Kristen Bell
Who would actually play you in a movie about your life?
My sister! She and I look a lot alike.
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Shania Twain, Barack Obama, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyonce.
Your dream job?
Any position on a university campus.
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Robyn McCallum, President
Age: Top secret
Major: Plant and Environmental Sciences (Master of Science program)
Hometown: Tabusintac, N.B.
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What’s your main goal for your portfolio this year?
For students to feel that DASA offers a rich student experience outside of the classroom but also offers valuable programming. I’m super excited that we’re bringing in Elaine Froese, a renowned farm family coach, to our campus.
What’s Dal AC’s best-kept secret?
So many…the trail behind campus, cool plants in greenhouses, banana muffins from Chartwells…
What do you never leave home without?
Phone and dog if I can.
What do you do in your spare time?
Farm, show draft horses and swim.
What’s your hidden talent?
Piano
What talent would you like to have?
I would love to not have to hide my singing in the car.
Most interesting/memorable/favourite place you’ve visited?
I went to Arizona in August to catch bees. It was hot.
Most interesting/memorable person you’ve met?
Terry Griswold, my favorite bee scientist! We shared sunscreen one day.
Favourite band/musician?
Luke Bryan, Shania Twain
Favourite class at Dal?
Small Fruits with Kris Pruski and Forages with Nancy McLean. Although any class with Tarjei Tennessen is bound to be a hoot.
Favourite food?
Brown bread
Favourite movie?
Hunger Games
Favourite TV show?
Heartland or Sons of Anarchy. Talk about extremes!
Favourite website/Tumblr?
Can I say app and choose Snapchat?
Favourite fictional character?
Does anyone remember Amelia Bedelia?
Person you admire the most?
I’m lucky to have many wonderful role models in my life.
Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
Amber Marshall
Who would actually play you in a movie about your life?
Anne Hathaway
Your four dream dinner party guests?
Four random people off the street and I would talk their ear off about agriculture and how important and sexy farming is. And I wouldn’t let them leave until they agreed to buy local and be nice to farmers.
Your dream job?
Farmer and general outdoors researcher.