CALGARY — Young Canadians are not yet ready to be society’s power brokers, but they want to have their voices heard by decision-makers, say teen 4-H members. Andrea Soesbergen, a university student in Montreal, and Casey Morey of Rochester, Alta., say 4-H Canada gives them that chance as Youth Advisory Committee members sitting on the […] Read more
Stories by Karen Morrison
International 4-H meeting planned for ’17
CALGARY — More than 500 international youth delegates will gather in Ottawa in July, 2017, at the Global 4-H Network Summit to learn more about each other’s programs. Jennifer Christie, summit chair, said the meetings will focus on 4-H Canada’s priorities of leadership and resource development and programming. “The goal is to raise awareness of […] Read more
New programs, events increase membership in Manitoba
CALGARY — Retooling, resurrecting and ramping up new projects are behind improvements in 4-H membership in Manitoba, said Clayton Robins, 4-H Manitoba’s executive director. The organization grew to 2,319 from 2,196 over the last year. “Retention is contributing to that number as much as growth,” he said, crediting innovative approaches and keen leaders embracing new […] Read more
4-H reaches kids outside agriculture
CALGARY —B.C. 4-H numbers grew by 12 percent this year, mirroring smaller increases in the program in Manitoba, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. Delegates cited increases stemming from six- and seven-year-olds and aboriginals joining, leaders using innovative formats and the recent launch of the new 4-H logo. “Some provinces have really upped their numbers, some […] Read more
Bachelor farmer maintains family tradition
Health concerns have forced Delwyn Jansen to slow down this spring, but he can’t ignore the farming call altogether
LEROY, Sask. — Delwyn Jansen thinks curling saved his life. The east-central Saskatchewan farmer suffered a stroke in February and points to playing dozens of games each winter for keeping him physically fit. “I’m active, it’s to my benefit,” said the 63-year old. The health scare has forced changes in his farm life. “No more […] Read moreHealth issues sow seed for organic products
WATSON, Sask. — A battle with breast cancer in 2010 led a Sask-atchewan entrepreneur on a mission to find nut and gluten free organic food. The search led to the creation of the Canadian Organic Spice and Herb Co. and grew to include oats this spring under its retail label, Splendor Garden. Colleen Haussecker, who […] Read more
Father planted seed of farming early in life
The Davis family juggled their agricultural life by pursuing multiple careers in Alberta and Saskatchewan
WISETON, Sask. — Ed Davis was only seven years old when his father, Cal, cut the first furrow in the field and had him smell the dirt. “That was like the seed of farming put into me,” he said. “I’ll never forget. Every year, I think of that.” This month, Davis will seed 1,120 acres […] Read more
City preserves the past for the future
Humboldt’s 100-year-old water tower represents the struggle to obtain a good water supply on the Prairies
HUMBOLDT, Sask. — Volunteers scaled ladders and catwalks in cramped darkened spaces to renovate Humboldt’s derelict water tower in 1998. At the top, Norm Duerr, Hubert Possberg, Ed Brockmeyer and Matt Breker found pigeon droppings half a metre deep on the floor above the water tank. “It was quite a terrible job,” said Duerr. They […] Read more
Growers take pulses to next level
HUGHTON, Sask. — Farmers were desperate to make a dollar, quotas were tight and grain was not worth much when the holy grail of lentils appeared on the prairie horizon. “It was easy to convince people to get into it,” said Bill Copeland, who offered his farm near Hughton, Sask., for lentil and also barley […] Read more
Economist takes pulses to the table
HUGHTON, Sask. — Alma Copeland often tested lentil recipes on the workers at her family’s seed cleaning business. It was also common for her to take a lentil dish to a speaking engagement or social gathering to educate others about the once little know crop. Today, pulses are common on restaurant menus, said Copeland, who […] Read more
