Farmers wanted.
That’s the message Kaley Segboer gave to as many farmers as possible who passed the Ag for Life booth at Ag Expo in Lethbridge Feb. 25-27.
The non-profit Ag for Life is dedicated to building a greater understanding about agriculture. Toward that end, it needs farmers to share their time through several school-based programs.
“We have two programs right now that are really in need of some volunteers with that agricultural expertise,” said Segboer, who is the marketing and communications co-ordinator for the initiative.
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“That includes farmers themselves and producers, but sometimes it’s also the advisers, the specialists, everyone that’s in that whole agriculture community.”
The Agriculture in the Classroom program needs farmers especially in the Calgary and Edmonton areas, but also across Alberta, said Segboer.
The task involves visiting a classroom and telling young students about the farm and then answering questions. It is a commitment of about four hours, including training and travel. Co-ordinators provide that training and additional guidance.
They might even resort to bribing children with candy to get their attention for the presentation, joked Segboer.
The other need is for farmer volunteers to help with farm safety days, also offered at schools across the province. That requires a three-hour commitment and discussion about various aspects of farm safety.
“It’s such a great message coming from the farmers themselves. …The students listen way better to them than to any one of us staff that are at the events.”
More information is available from Segboer at 1-888-931-2951.
Further details about Ag for Life can be found at agricultureforlife.ca.
Contact barb.glen@producer.com
