Looking back, moving forward | Two million Canadians have been touched by 4-H movement
WINNIPEG — 4-H Canada is calling on its past members to help promote the rural youth group as it begins its second century.
The group celebrated 100 years at its annual conference May 29-June 1, with a gala attended by 450 people and a visit to the birthplace of 4-H at Roland, Man.
Rob Black, former Canadian 4-H Council president and chair of the 100th anniversary committee, said 4-H’s strength is its long history.
“Not too many can say they made it to 100,” he said.
“Another strength is our family culture. This is a big family,” Black said of 26,000 members, 8,500 members and 40,000 projects.
Read Also
Stock dogs show off herding skills at Ag in Motion
Stock dogs draw a crowd at Ag in Motion. Border collies and other herding breeds are well known for the work they do on the farm.
Black called on former members to serve as ambassadors and help raise the profile of the program.
“Two million or more folks have been impacted by 4-H over the last 100 years. That’s absolutely an opportunity,” said Black. “Our alumni are a tremendous opportunity.”
“If we talk to, connect with and re-engage a percentage of those two million, just think of what we could do,” he said.
Students Valerie Stone and Breanne Durie, 4-H Youth Advisory Committee members, are part of the 4-H legacy.
Stone said the group has helped her achieve goals at university and fostered leadership and communication skills.
“I know what 4-H has given to me and I want to give it to others,” she said. “I want to use it to make an impact on other people.”
Durie, who represents YAC on 4-H Canada’s board, wants to ensure members ideas are heard and that 4-H continues.
“It’s been such a successful program for us and given us so many opportunities, it’s the least we can do to ensure the program remains there and becomes a better and stronger program for youth. We all know what a difference it makes,” she said.
Valerie Pearson, president of the Canadian 4-H Council, said the group celebrated its past but must now look forward and not rest on its laurels.
“Because you have history and tradition, you may want to hold on and not move forward but to continue to grow, you always have to try to improve, look at what you’ve done and new opportunities for the future,” she said.
That could include reaching out to more urban youth as farm numbers and rural populations continue to decline.
“4-H will always be connected to agriculture,” said Pearson, noting the projects are a window into farming, even if devoted to hobbies of chocolate making and woodworking. 4-H encompasses leadership skills, public speaking, self-confidence, values, honesty, integrity and personal development.
“There’s more than folks in agriculture who need that and want that.”
“We know where the trends are going with the rural population. We have no choice but to go out of traditional agriculture,” she said.
Shannon Benner, 4-H Canada’s new chief executive officer, is less certain about an enhanced urban focus.
“There’s a lot of opportunities in the rural to grow our programs first,” she said.
“Do one thing really well and get it to a point where we’re very competent,” she said.
Benner, who noted there were triple the number of members in the 1970s compared to current figures, said the group’s goals are to retain current members, add new memberships and increase funding.
“It has a long rich history and we need the financial basis on which to do it for years to come,” she said.
That includes fostering current donors’ support and finding new money from government and corporations.
“Old members could be ambassadors for what we do, spokespeople,” Benner said. “There’s an opportunity to engage our members and have them help us. There’s a huge wealth of generations, legacies.”
Benner noted the gala was a good beginning.
“This is the catalyst for looking ahead to the next 100 and making sure they’re done with excellence,” said Benner.
The group’s 100 year initiatives include a food bank drive that has already collected 17,000 of the 26,000 pounds of food targeted. That represents one pound of food collected by every 4-Her.
