There are now more golf courses than dairy farms in Halton County, home to the president of the Canadian 4-H Council.
Bertram Stewart says where cattle used to graze north of Toronto, people now play. As the nature of rural life changes, whether in Stewart’s Ontario or in the West, so must the 92-year-old 4-H movement, he added.
The organization had 30,376 members in 2004, but to keep those numbers, 4-H plans to reach out to urban children as well as rural.
“Our No. 1 priority as a national organization is to increase member enrolment,” he said in a News release
Read Also
Intergenerational rollover rules can help succession plans
One of the most significant concerns in succession planning for farmers is the tax bill that can come with passing the farm to the next generation.
news.
“Our research indicates there is a population of rural youth out there that for one reason or another has yet to tap into the 4-H program. We will reach those youth by investing in exciting new awareness campaigns. We also see a terrific opportunity to introduce the positive benefits of 4-H to young families moving out of the city to live in small towns and suburbs.”
The national council’s board of directors ratified a strategic plan at its May 29 meeting that includes expanded membership, increased focus on fund development, program excellence, operational integrity and enhanced awareness of 4-H.
“It became apparent to us that the competition is greater within youth organizations,” Stewart said.
The group will pay particular attention to 13 to 15 year olds.
“They get different friends. We have some dropouts who come back after a year because they miss us.”
However, attracting a new age group means trying different programs. Stewart noted that 25 years ago the dairy club was the largest in his county. Today, photography is the biggest and rabbits are also popular.
Training the leaders
The membership drive will also include training programs to improve the skills of volunteer leaders, most of whom are former 4-H members.
As well, 4-H will continue to focus on sponsors by working to keep the usual donors such as banks and the agricultural industry while also finding new nontraditional business donors.
Stewart said a year ago when he was searching for prizes for a 4-H event he phoned an appliance company and the owner said she had been a 4-H member and would be glad to help out.
“That’s how the thing spreads,” said Stewart, who joined 4-H at age 12 and spent his career working with dairy cattle.
