Farmers are jack of all trades and this week they will take on yet another trade — teaching in schools from Alberta to Newfoundland.
Hundreds of farmers and representatives from Canada’s agriculture industry will take part in the inaugural Canadian Agriculture Literacy Week from Feb. 26 to March 3. The program is intended to connect Canadian students with the people who produce their food.
“In Canada, most families are two or three generations away from the farm. Canadian Agricultural Literacy Week provides an opportunity to help all young Manitobans understand the importance and value of agriculture,” said Johanne Ross, executive director of the Manitoba Agriculture in the Classroom program.
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“As consumers, our personal connection with agriculture can affect our food product selection.”
Agricultural Literacy Week will take place at 20 schools in Manitoba and at more than 300 schools in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, thanks to funding from Farm Credit Canada and a collaborative effort from provincial Agriculture in the Classroom organizations.
Producers and industry representatives will read to students, show videos about food production and answer questions about agriculture.
Literacy week also offers a peek at the abundant job possibilities in agriculture, said James Perkins, interim executive director of Saskatchewan Agriculture in the Classroom.
“Saskatchewan is a world leader in agricultural research,” he said. “By meeting producers, students will see the enthusiasm, energy, and career opportunities in the agricultural sector.”
For more information, visit www.aitc.ca.
