William Pallister is the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Gold Medal and the University Gold Medal in Agricultural and Food Sciences. He recently graduated from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Science at the University of Manitoba with a degree in Agro-business and a GPA of 4.42 out of 4.5.

Pallister explains the awards.

"So the Lieutenant Governor General's Medal is a medal presented by an awards committee as an outstanding overall student, like, in qualities other than just academic performance. Whereas the University Gold Medal is the highest standing out of all the graduating students in the whole faculty. So that would include agronomy students, ag-biz students, human nutritional science students in the under-grad program."

He shares how he feels to have won the awards.

"Well it's a great feeling to get it. It's a source of pride for me. But it wasn't a goal that I set out to get or anything. It was a surprise to get it but obviously it was a great feeling and it was a great way to cap off my awesome experience at university."

He notes while university was a great experience, he's looking to starting the next chapter in his life.

Pallister, who grew up on a farm near Portage la Prairie, says he chose a future in agriculture because he has been farming for his whole life. He adds he's the fifth generation farmer on the family farm.