I was a 4-H kid as I was growing up.
I didn’t do beef club, although my family’s farm did run beef cattle. All my friends did activity club, so I did the same.
The environment was one of continually expanding exploration and skill acquisition, not surprising for an organization whose motto is “learn to do by doing.”
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It was through 4-H that I remember learning how to hammer a nail and not poison myself with my own cooking. By my later 4-H years, basic kitchen skills and babysitting shifted to things like advanced bread making, interior design and outdoor survival.
And, of course, there were the yearly communications events, which honed public speaking and presentation skills.
Somewhat to my regret now, I didn’t take advantage of as many regional opportunities through 4-H Manitoba and 4-H Canada as I could have. Still, like many former club members, the experience and skills I got through 4-H have stuck with me, and I have reaped the rewards as an adult.
That’s why the news that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is slicing its regular support of 4-H Canada is so disconcerting. As Geralyn Wichers reports, AAFC’s usual contribution is slipping by about 30 per cent.
Outside the funding reduction, 4-H Canada’s membership numbers post-pandemic should give pause. In 2019-20, there were more than 23,400 4-H members coast to coast. In the next year, with the country embroiled in lockdowns, that number plummeted to just under 16,990.
The organization is trying to claw back from that hit, topping more than 17,400 members as of the last annual report in 2022-23. But it’s hard to maintain growth when one of the major funders decides to slash their contribution.
Town or country, 4-H is important. Activity club projects like gardening connect even urban kids to food production and their own little slice of agriculture. In 2018-19 (the last year such a breakdown was published in 4-H Canada’s annual report) 62 per cent of club projects were oriented around sustainable agriculture and food security.
Last May, I wrote an editorial arguing that 4-H could form a bridge between teens and food systems, rather than relying on sometimes poorly funded home economics courses in school. This is even more relevant in rural areas, where a smaller student count makes home economics a logistical challenge.
In livestock clubs, 4-H has a business role, forming some of the first foundations for farm succession. Those animals connect kids to the daily workings of the operation and give them a sense of ownership in the farm, perhaps some of the first they have.
Programs like the 4-H Canada Science Fair connect the next generation with the future of farm practice. Year after year, the project lists include topics like managing ammonia in poultry operations or gauging carbon storage on pasture versus cropland. All of these are done by high school kids. There is also a mentorship aspect, which helps participants who go on to pursue a career in science and technology.
On a global scale, 4-H members are engaged in fascinating and forward-thinking projects that tackle agriculture technology, food security and sustainability.
A quick look at the sponsors for the provincial arms of 4-H indicates how important this organization is for agriculture. You’ve got producer groups. You’ve got seed and agri-chemical giants like BASF, Bayer and Syngenta. You’ve got massive firms like Richardson, Viterra and Cargill. You’ve got grocery retailers, various levels of government and community groups. You’ve got banks and credit unions, equipment manufacturers and post-secondary institutions.
Pretty much every corner of the agriculture and agri-food value chain recognizes the role, both historic and current, that 4-H plays.
The funding cut won’t impact local clubs just yet, the interim CEO of 4-H Canada told the Co-operator. Likewise, AAFC says there’s still support coming through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
I hope that’s true. I see first-hand how local clubs encourage personal growth, set the stage for the next generation of farmers and generally act as pillars of the community. It would be a shame to see any of that disappear.
