NISKU, Alta. – If a new young farmers organization can become established in Alberta, it would be a benefit to agriculture in the province, says a University of Alberta professor who belonged to a similar organization when he was growing up in England.
“I make no secret of the fact I owe more to that young farmers club than I do to high school,” said Mick Price. He belonged to the Herefordshire Federation of Young Farmers Club in England from 1958-64.
“I’m absolutely convinced if it were to exist (in Alberta) it would be to the benefit of agriculture,” said Price, who spoke at a joint meeting of the founding convention of the Alberta Young Farmers Forum and the Wild Rose Agricultural Producers annual meeting.
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“We were farmers who were young. We went to these things to learn more about our trade and we went to make contact with other young farmers,” he said.
“A lot of it was just fellowship.” He said the meetings always adjourned to the local pub.
There are still 700 Young Farmers Clubs throughout England and Wales, with 20,000 members, still with the aim of supporting young people in agriculture and in rural areas.
The young farmers clubs are autonomous. Each club established its own rules, ran its own meetings and set its own schedule. Clubs could also be involved at competitions and events at the county and national level.
Price said when he was a member, the group went on field trips to other farms, learned how to rebuild engines, adjust a plow, judge cattle, shear sheep, make rustic furniture and conduct a meeting. There were always competitions like public speaking, debating, livestock judging, darts and snooker.
In 1960, Price represented England in Holland at an international competition where he had to hang a gate, judge livestock and make a chicken manger.
He did well in livestock judging, but came “stone last” in manger building.
Because the young farmers were in charge of their club, Price said he learned responsibility.
“What I really gained was a sense of responsibility in leadership for running those meetings. You learned responsibility when nobody picks up the pieces, when you’ve got to be faced with the consequences. That’s a life skill.”
Price said the great strength of college and universities is the networks that students develop. It was the same with the young farmers clubs. He’s still in contact with many of the members he met at the club 50 years ago.
“At the end of the day the thing I got from the young farmers movement was confidence to know I’m no worse than the other people.”
