NISKU, Alta. – Organizers of a new Alberta farmer group believe a gap exists for young people between 4-H and existing farm organizations.
They hope their organization can provide camaraderie, education, fun and help to ensure government policies are designed with young farmers in mind, said Renee Beliveau at the founding meeting of the Alberta Young Farmers Forum.
“There’s a need for their own individual organization that is an outlet that they can use to share new technology and to make affiliations with the entire agriculture community. Why wait till you’re 35 to get involved in the industry,” said Beliveau, a 4-H intern who helped organize the founding meeting.
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Andrea Gamroth of Ardrossan, Alta., a University of Alberta student and the organization’s secretary, said there are professional organizations available once students enter the workplace, but nothing for young farmers.
“That’s a gap that would be good if it could be filled,” said Gamroth.
The meeting was held in conjunction with the Wild Rose Agricultural Producers two-day meeting.
For parts of the day a wall was pulled across the meeting room and the young farmers had their own speakers.
For other parts of the day, both the young farmers and those attending the Wild Rose meeting listened to the same speakers.
Mathew Matras, an Olds College student, said he came to the meeting because he wanted to learn more about international trade deals and how they may affect his future in the industry. There are few places he can learn about the information, he said.
Jillian Kaufmann of Lac La Biche, Alta., said it’s easy to become disheartened about the future of agriculture, but was inspired by the fiery speeches of Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Bob Friesen and Laurent Pellerin, leader of Quebec’s farmers group.
“It reminds you why you’re here and why you should continue to support it. It’s encouraging to hear such passionate speakers. You don’t hear speakers express opinions like that.”
SarahJane Stoop, a Lakeland College student, belonged to the Young Farmers club in Ireland for two years before coming to Canada. She would like to see the organizations get off the ground in Canada.
“It was really good. A lot of time was spent with friends,” said Stoop, who joined 4-H when her family moved to Canada, but didn’t find the same camaraderie as with the young farmers.
“It’s like a family. It’s a good thing to get started.”
Mark Richards, chair of the Canadian Young Farmers Federation, said $228,500 of federal government money will be used to help establish young farmer groups in all provinces.
The Canadian Young Farmers Federation was established in 1997 after an equivalent Quebec agricultural youth group was looking for similar organizations across the country.
The Alberta Young Farmers Forum would be a larger provincial chapter of the Canadian Young Farmers Federation.
“It’s a stepping stone to get young people involved in agriculture,” said Rick Stamp of Enchant, Alta., a former Outstanding Young Farmer who was asked to help co-ordinate the day’s events.
Rod Scarlett, executive director of the Wild Rose Agricultural Producers, said while his members don’t have a lot of extra money to support a fledgling organization, they are committed to giving the young farmers a guiding hand.
“We’ll be involved as much as that group wants us to be involved,” said Scarlett, who added that most people liked the idea of holding joint meetings between the two groups.
The joint meeting gives the youth access to speakers they wouldn’t normally hear and a look at policy discussions.
Scarlett also sees the group as a place where commodity groups and politicians can get feedback from young farmers. He hopes it will have a social value, too.
“I certainly don’t think it has to be a lobby type group. What we need is an information dissemination group and one where politicians and commodity groups can bounce ideas off of on their effect on the young farmer,” said Scarlett.
“We’re so worried about financial implications and economics, we’re overlooking the social side. It would be kind of nice for young farmers to do some social activities.”
Brad Dowell, an Olds College professor who came with students from Olds, told the group they should grab the chance to belong to an organization that will help their future.
“This is a great opportunity for you to start something and be in at the ground floor. This is going to be a new path.”
Brent McBean of Strathmore, Alta., also one of the organizers, said Canada is one of the few countries that don’t have a youth agricultural organization. With fewer young people farming, it’s important they connect on a social level and by getting together to help direct government agriculture policy.
“There’s more to farming than just production.”
