youth Interest from endowment to provide post-secondary scholarships and bursaries to past and present club members
A provincial endowment of $1 million will provide post-secondary scholarships to 4-H members, past and present, Ag Minister Blaine Pedersen announced November 4.
“4-H is near and dear to my heart, the premier’s heart, and many of my colleagues in the legislature have been through the 4-H program,” Pedersen said on a call with media.
“It is such a good program, you know, develops leadership and communication skills, and learning to work together. They’re our community leaders of the future.”
The funds will be placed into an endowment fund with the Brandon Area Community Foundation, and the Manitoba 4-H council will use interest off the fund to give scholarships. This will amount to $42,000 per year, the province said in a news release.
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Pedersen said the fund would compound over time, allowing for more scholarships.
The organization already has experience awarding scholarships and knows best how to distribute the funds, Pedersen said.
The Manitoba 4-H council already awards 19 scholarships totalling $23,000 annually, said Dawn Krinke, executive director of the Manitoba 4-H council.
“What new opportunities the anticipated $42,000 a year will create have yet to be decided,” she said, adding that details of how many scholarships, and their dollar amounts had not been decided.
The international youth and volunteer organization got its Canadian start in Manitoba in 1913.
Pedersen also declared November 2020 “4-H month.” Pedersen also took part in 4-H’s “Show your 4-H Colours” day, November 4. He took to Twitter to post a photo of himself in a green, 4-H T-shirt as did Ralph Eichler, minister of economic development and training.
