For almost a century, 4-H Canada has helped young people develop the skills, confidence and experience needed to become leaders in agriculture and rural communities. The letters H, stand for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health indicating the holistic approach taken to help guide young people.
The organization has its roots in agriculture, but its focus today extends well beyond farming. Through its “Learn to Do by Doing” approach, 4-H members gain hands-on experience with livestock, crops, food production, environmental stewardship and other agricultural projects. 4H Canada CEO Chris Franc says there's much more to benefit Canadian
youth.
4-H also emphasizes skills that are increasingly important to modern farmers — including communication, leadership, decision-making, teamwork and problem-solving. Its national Careers on the Grow program provides youth with career exploration, mentorship, internships and other opportunities to prepare for the workplace. 4H member Victoria, who hails from British Columbia had no farming experience when she joined at the age of eight, but she quickly became involved in all the opportunities presented to her and said her 4H experiences have helped shape who she is today.
The organization continues to focus on sustainable agriculture and food security, challenging young members to develop practical solutions to issues facing the food system. Its Agri-Food Challenge, for example, gives 4-H members opportunities to put their ideas into action in their own communities. Beck, from Ontario, like Victoria had no agriculture experience when first joining 4H, but is proud of the activities and skills development the organization offers and how they help shape young lives.
4-H Canada says it has more than 17,000 members and nearly 7,000 leaders across the country, with local clubs providing the grassroots connection to agriculture and rural communities.
For young farmers, the contribution can extend beyond learning how to raise an animal or grow a crop. It can mean developing the confidence, connections and leadership skills needed to take on the challenges — and opportunities — of the next generation of Canadian agriculture. As fall agricultural fairs all have some type of 4H presence or demonstrations, fair-goers are urged to stop and learn from these next-generation leaders who've achieved so much from hands-on learning.
You can hear our complete conversation with Chris, Victoria and Beck below, and learn more at 4-h-canada.ca.
Story by Brian Turner
