Student engagement was high at the Future of Food Conference in Ottawa, as youth turned out to hear panellists and keynote speeches by stakeholders from across the agriculture value chain. Several student groups from Queen’s, McGill and the University of Ottawa heard about sustainability, innovation and politics in agriculture at the February event. Why it […] Read more
Tag Archives youth in agriculture
Food conference sees high student engagement
4-H, post-secondary programs, tech innovation among draws for youth
Ridgetown grad’s gap year takes winding farm road
Abbey Taylor worked at various farm jobs while crossing Canada
Belmont-area Ridgetown College grad Abbey Taylor recently returned from several months working her way from farm to farm across Canada, learning about a wide range of products and production strategies. She was inspired, in part, by a podcast created for the Canadian Gap Year Association. Taylor most recently returned to Ontario after leaving a position […] Read more
Urban farm fills niche while mentoring marginalized youth
The farm owner didn’t see herself reflected in agriculture and set out to change that
As a new urban farmer, Cheyenne Sundance is intent on growing more than just fresh produce. Sundance, who is mixed-race Black-identifying, saw a void in access to two things in her local farmer’s market – year-round fresh greens and diversity. So she decided to fill them both. Why it matters: Agriculture has not been a […] Read more
Ottawa announces funds to attract youth in agriculture
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau recently announced a new investment of up to $3.75 million designed to help bring youth into the agriculture industry. The Youth Employment and Skills Program will provide funding to employers in agriculture to hire Canadian youth, ages 15 to 30. It aims to create opportunities for Canadian youth, […] Read more
Ontario boy wins Young Speaker for Ag junior title
Nate Caughill, of Melancthon, Ont. won the junior title at the recent Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition at the Royal Winter Fair. Casey Riddle, of Elmira, Ont., was the second runner-up in the senior category. The senior champion was Emmett Sawyer of Acme, Alta. The 34th edition of CYSA welcomed 29 competitors, aged 11 […] Read more
Millennials talk about the draw of country living
A group of youth see community and connection as a key to keeping them in rural areas
There’s lots that’s attractive in rural communities for young people say those who have grown up rural and either stayed or returned. The problem is many young people just don’t know what they have. When Katelyn Moore left for agriculture college, she didn’t expect to be returning home to farm, but now she’s farming full […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
