The federal government will contribute more than $3 million to the Canadian 4-H Council over the next four years.
Ontario Conservative MP Pierre Lemieux, parliamentary secretary to agriculture minister Gerry Ritz, announced the funding at the council’s recent annual meeting in Prince Edward Island, and the news was a hit.
“It means a lot to our organization and to what we can do,” newly elected council president Judy Shaw said in a May 29 interview.
“The parliamentary secretary was given a standing ovation when he made the announcement. It was recognized as very significant.”
Read Also
Stock dogs show off herding skills at Ag in Motion
Stock dogs draw a crowd at Ag in Motion. Border collies and other herding breeds are well known for the work they do on the farm.
Lemieux said the money will flow through the five-year Growing Forward agriculture policy framework. He called it a “smart investment to help the Canadian 4-H Council continue its great work for agriculture.”
Shaw said the council, which also draws funds and support from private sponsors, has always received money from the federal government, but communications manager Ken Lancastle said the four-year commitment offers stability.
“It does allow us to plan ahead. It is a bit more than we have traditionally received from the government.”
A news release announcing the funding said the money will be used to fund national conferences, exchanges, scholarships and leadership development among young rural Canadians.
The government also noted that changes to federal legislation offering government guaranteed loans for the first time to young farmers trying to get started in the industry is a sign of federal support for young farmers and young people in agriculture.
“This money will be used to support both national 4-H work and provincial projects,” said Shaw, who is a government relations official with Syngenta Crop Protection Canada.
Approximately 27,000 young rural residents belong to 4-H clubs.
