Producing cattle has changed a lot in the past few decades in Canada.

Organizations such as Alberta Beef Producers, the Canadian Cattle Association and the many purebred breed associations provide leadership and help guide where the industry is headed.

Professionals such as nutritionists, veterinarians and the pharmaceutical industry add to the production of wholesome, nutritious, affordable and safe beef in Canada.

4-H clubs and their members learn and act on the same methods and management strategies that have made producers successful in producing cattle.

As a former 4-H member myself, the motto of “Learn to do by doing” is never truer than in the organization’s beef projects.

The industry uses terms such as preconditioning, stress-free cattle handling, one health, antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic free and animal welfare, but they can be misconstrued and confusing to the general public.

I want to provide some clarity about where the cattle industry is progressing and how 4-H beef projects highlight this.

The sector has been able to produce more quality beef with less resources using improved genetics, crossbreeding and selection for traits such as calving ease, longevity, milking ability and carcass characteristics. This is an environmentally good story.

Increased feed efficiency has improved the feed-to-gain ratio to four pounds of feed for one pound of gain.

The largest cost in cattle production is feed, so any improvement is economically beneficial.

Balancing feed rations to maximize health and growth has also helped.

Of course, cattle raised for meat and growth are fed differently than the heifers and cows fed for reproduction.

Anything that affects health affects growth, which is why routine treatments are undertaken for internal and external parasites.

Many 4-H calves come from farm-raised stock, where true preconditioning is practiced, which means calves are immunized before weaning and then weaned with minimum stress.

Increased use of vaccines for respiratory disease and other common cattle diseases such as clostridial diseases are routinely practiced, which helps ensure minimal antibiotic use.

Please note that there are no antibiotic residues in meat.

The antibiotics and vaccines that producers use are approved for cattle and have recognized meat withdrawals, which producers closely follow.

Trying to raise cattle totally without antibiotics could become an animal welfare issue.

Much like people, if they have severe pneumonia and it is caused by a bacterium, we need to give antibiotics or they will die.

All medically important antimicrobials are under the supervision of veterinarians. This is to ensure producers know when to use antibiotics and which ones to use.

Dosage and withdrawals are also reviewed, as are vaccination protocols to help ensure healthy cattle are produced.

Cattle producers are fully educated as to what their cattle need and are very aware and follow animal welfare guidelines, including the beef code of practice.

If they do need to administer antimicrobials, they make sure to use the right drug for the right condition and at the right dose.

Veterinarians can always be asked about these decisions.

They are also on the lookout for antimicrobial resistance, which results in antibiotics that no longer work.

A lab test can be done to confirm if resistance has developed.

Human medicine does this routinely, and the development of easier and quicker tests will likely result in more testing to determine which antibiotic will work best.

Growth implants are used in 99 per cent of the cattle produced in Canada.

They are extremely safe and have been around for more than 50 years. Because the implant is placed in the ear, there is zero withdrawal for the meat.

We castrate calves in this country to prevent unwanted behaviour in intact bulls and a condition called dark cutters in the meat.

Growth implants simply replace some of the hormones lost from castration. This results in cattle that do better and have improved feed efficiency, which means meat can be produced more economically.

A tremendous amount of progress has been made in reducing and treating pain.

Veterinarians have at their disposal a vast array of NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to prescribe for painful conditions.

In most instances, painkillers are prescribed for disease or injury recovery, hard calving, lameness, castration and dehorning.

There may not always be economic gain, but it is simply the right thing to do, and recovery is quicker.

The beef code of practice, which we all live by, is based in large part on animal welfare. There are codes of practice for all the farm animal species in Canada, including bison, veal, and dairy cattle.

More advancement in products and earlier disease detection will help producers identify and treat sick cattle quicker.

Together with the medical profession, they are using all the advancements in cattle production to reduce antibiotic resistance so that medication use, when necessary, will have a better response in either veterinary or human medicine.

From handling cattle to loading and processing, producers are finding new techniques to reduce stress on cattle. Better handling facilities make processing a very efficient, worthwhile and safe event for cattle and farm workers.

Consumers should be very confident in the quality, safety and stress-free conditions in which cattle are raised.

Meat protein will continue to be in high demand, and the next generation of cattle producers, including former 4-H members, will help ensure this.

The cattle industry has great potential in the years ahead to help feed the world with this high-quality meat protein.

Cattle prices have never been higher, and I hope they bode well for the next generation of producers.

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The Manitoba Young Speakers for Agriculture event is scheduled to help kick off the three-day farm show — Canada’s largest such indoor event — in Brandon.

WHY IT MATTERS: Manitoba’s farm sector is in the final countdown to Manitoba Ag Days, scheduled to take over Brandon’s Keystone Centre Jan. 20-22, 2026.

Manitoba Young Speakers for Agriculture participants will be the first at the podium Jan. 20 in the MNP Theatre, part of the farm show’s packed speaking lineup. For those not at the show Jan. 20, speeches can be livestreamed.

The program is new to the Ag Days schedule, although it has run before in the province.

“It is a competition that has taken place in the past. It just hasn’t been done for several years, and this is the first time these partnership organizations have joined forces to launch it back in Manitoba,” said Hannah Minshull, who sits on the board of directors for Manitoba Ag Days and is chair of the program subcommittee.

The program is part of the Canadian Young Speakers For Agriculture.

“What got us thinking about it is Alberta is doing it, and they have sort of aligned their competition with the Calgary Stampede,” she said.

With Manitoba Ag Days being the province’s largest agriculture event, organizers thought the farm show would make a similarly good local jumping-off point.

Partner organizations helping to put on the event include Ag in the Classroom Manitoba, Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba 4-H Council, the University of Manitoba and Assiniboine College.

Competition details

Competitors are between 11-24 years old, split into two categories; junior (ages 11-15) and senior (ages 16-24). Participants prepare a five-to-seven-minute speech on one of five approved topics. Those topics included artificial intelligence, Canadian agriculture competitiveness, lessons learned in the past 25 years, myths about Canadian agriculture and how to increase awareness of the diverse opportunities available in the agriculture and agri-food sectors.

Junior preliminary speeches were held Jan. 6, while senior preliminaries took place Jan. 8. Those speeches were done on Zoom, since competitors hail from all over Manitoba. Having a virtual event also allowed people from across the province to tune in. The top four juniors and seniors from the preliminary round were chosen to present at the final event at Ag Days.

“With the age group from 11 to 24, we’ve got students, young adults and work (aged). Both events happened in the evening just to accommodate schedules,” Minshull said.

Some contestants came through the 4-H public speaking program.

“That was an opportunity to partner with 4-H Manitoba and have the competition shared among their clubs, but it was spread more broadly than that, with all our partners,” said Minshull, adding, “We really had a fairly broad representation of participants from across Manitoba.”

Youth voices in agriculture

The judges, who came from partner organizations, as well as other fields such as medical and education, said they were blown away by the calibre of speeches, as well as the preparation, research and overall sense of knowledge and passion demonstrated by the young speakers.

“We’ve got kids to young adults, and they did their research and they’ve come with fresh perspectives and ideas. Lots of people said they were making notes themselves, just listening in,” Minshull said.

Hitting the big leagues

Winners of both the junior and senior category will present at the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture national event in Toronto. The national event will feature during the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair, Nov. 5-16, 2026.

Manitoba winners can also look forward to a cash prize. First place in both the senior and junior categories comes with a $1,000 payday. Second place will win $800, third will win $500 and fourth will win $200.

“The two that place first in the two age brackets will also win a $1,500 bursary to help with expenses to get to the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair,” said Minshull.

Fit for Ag Days

Minshull said the Manitoba Young Speakers for Agriculture competition is a perfect fit for Manitoba Ag Days.

“It fits well with our mission,” she said. “We have a strong focus on connecting with the industry; connecting, educating, networking. That is all very important to us. We’ve had a long-standing partnership with Ag in the Classroom Manitoba, because we do understand that education is key, and communication is part of that. It’s a great partnership of groups with like minds and similar goals that came around the table to make this happen.”

Minshull encouraged everyone to tune into the competition.

“They’ve got a lot of interesting things to say. They’re giving themselves a voice in a way that I think our producers could relate to. When you look at the topic selections, these are relevant discussion points in the ag industry right now. Lots of interesting perspectives and ideas will be thrown around that morning,” said Minshull.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the audience to make the connection with young people,” she added.

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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.” 

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.

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The national organization said its most recent round of funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada totals $1.7 million over three years. In the past, it has received about $1 million per year, said interim CEO Hugh Maynard by email.

Project-related funding, which rose significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, has also returned to pre-pandemic levels, Maynard added.

“This will not have an immediate impact on 4-H Canada programming, much of which was already well into planning when we learned of the funding changes,” he said.

National programming is also a small portion of overall club activity across Canada. Traditionally, 4-H Canada has passed funds from AAFC to provincial organizations. Since the parent organization was only notified of reduced funding in October, it requested and was granted a one-time contribution of $216,000 for its provincial branches.

4-H Canada also has an application pending with Employment and Social Development Canada to fund various programs, which would include money for provincial groups.

“We are optimistic that the traditional support provided by 4-H Canada to the provinces will continue,” Maynard said.

Meanwhile, 4-H Canada has laid off seven staff members. Maynard said staffing varies yearly, and recent reductions were partly due to projects ending.
In a statement, AAFC said 4-H Canada’s application exceeded the maximum yearly funding amount. That, plus a high volume of other applications, caused it to prioritize “projects that most closely align with program criteria.”

“Support for 4-H Canada continues under the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s ACP Program, with details for new support currently being finalized,” the federal government said.

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Shelby Longworth, the provincial programs manager for 4-H Saskatchewan, said the group of older teens wanted to attend for a diverse look at the present and future of agriculture in Canada.

“It’s a way to engage them so they can see some hands-on activities, hands-on demos and get a good picture of what’s going on when they’re choosing their careers,” said Longworth.

But it was mainly for fun.

“They volunteered to check out the show with their 4-H friends and have fun. That’s the thing with 4-H: we want them to have fun.”

Among the visitors was Austin Olsen, 18, of Tisdale. He was impressed with the diversity of the three-day Ag in Motion show, particularly the big iron.

“I like equipment. I plan to be an ag tech in the future. It’s what I’m going to school for. I wanted to see the equipment I’m going to be working on in the future.”

A member of the Tisdale 4-H Beef Club, Olsen is already making strides in his career.

“I’ve got an apprenticeship with Brandt Agriculture. They’ve seen my work and they like it. The technicians said I can work here and still go to school, so it’s a really good deal.”

Olsen, who grew up on his parents’ mixed cattle and grain operation, said adapting to new technology will be the biggest challenge in agriculture in the future.

“It’s going to be hard for people to adjust to autonomous tractors and everybody being on their farms,” he said.

“For years it’s all been hands-on. You turn the wrench to fix (something) instead of going on the computer to fix your tractor. (There will be) more depending on other people and not just yourself – more agronomists and soil samplers and other specialists helping you along the way.”

Kadence Johnson, 19, has been a 4-H horse club member for eight years. Now entering her second year at the University of Saskatchewan, Johnson has found a new 4-H application: the Next Step Club, a 4-H club for post-secondary students wishing to learn adult skills.

“We do financial planning, leadership work and community service as well as look for career placement opportunities,” said Johnson, whose goal is to become an occupational therapist.

The club has also offered opportunities for camaraderie in an unfamiliar situation.

“University is a scary transition. It’s so comforting to have this group of people I know, people I’ve grown up with in 4-H.”

— Jeff Melchior reports for Alberta Farmer Express from Edmonton.

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By the time the calf hit the ground in the arena of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, the spectacle had drawn quite a crowd.

The birth was everything the beef producer would want to avoid — it was a hard pull, the calf contorted into the wrong position. The veterinarian on hand had a hard time repositioning the head or finding the front hoofs. The chains, once the hoofs were found, kept slipping.

Despite the difficulty, Dr. Everett More was calm as he explained each step in the process to the audience, even calling several children watching to assist.

There was no actual risk after all. The calf, and the cow, were fake.

Why it matters: A calving simulator can give future cattle producers experience on what to do when things go wrong, before they face it in the farmyard.

The demonstration was a chance for the Manitoba 4-H Council to show off “Clover,” a life-size calving simulator. Clover’s plastic and rubber body, modelled and painted after a Hereford cow, includes a mock uterus, birthing canal and realistically sized calf model.

The provincial 4-H council officially unveiled Clover during Brandon’s Royal Manitoba Winter Fair at the end of March. The simulator was the highlight of the council’s booth, with regular demonstrations throughout the week-long event.

For many in the audience, it was the first exposure to calving, Manitoba 4-H Council executive director Shannon Carvey said.

“The safe thing about the model is that they can just sort of get in there and help and I think it’s probably just been a great little experience for them… it’s so lifelike,” she said.

The latest tool in the council’s beef programming and ag education tool box, Clover began as a teaching resource for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. The Manitoba 4-H Council acquired Clover. The model was purchased with help from the Manitoba Beef Producers, Manitoba Ag Days, MBFI, Crop Connect, Co-ops and $5,000 worth of provincial funding.

“This actually is exactly what they use at the veterinary college to teach students how to calve cows,” said More, a retired veterinarian — and the day’s calving demonstrator at the 4-H booth.

Aside from a realistic mimic to calving, without any of the real-world risks in play with live animals, the simulator’s value lies in the ability to set up different scenarios, he noted. Clover could easily simulate birth complications, hard pulls and other essential skills for those veterinary students without the stakes of animal health, and on demand.

It’s a benefit that the Manitoba 4-H Council hopes its own members will now derive.

Carvey said the purchase was actually made prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the council was unable to utilize it until now, due to public health measures. The simulator has spent the time at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives (MBFI), an applied research and ag education site north of Brandon near Brookdale.

On display

Clover will remain at MBFI indefinitely, Carvey said, but unlike those first months, this time Clover will not be idle.

While the simulator will not be hitting the road to visit any 4-H clubs, Carvey noted that veterinarians will be called in to hold workshops at the Brookdale site, using the simulator.

“There’s going to be a couple of different ways we’re going to use her,” she said. “We’re going to be able to use her for our beef kids in the 4-H program to teach about calving and how to get a leg that’s back and how to put the chains on properly, basically be able to pull a calf on their own if they needed to.”

MBFI staff have also expressed interest in using Clover for outreach to the urban population, such as with school groups or other events.

“She would be able to provide an opportunity for those kids to see how a baby calf is born and the life cycle of a cow,” Carvey said. “So she’s going to be a huge educational tool for us.”

The simulator will be a standing feature at MBFI’s Learning Centre, Carvey said. The centre was constructed in 2018 to expand the farm’s capacity for farmer-oriented extension, ag education and public outreach.

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Sandra Duchak was no exception when she started volunteering with the Gainsborough 4-H club 42 years ago.

Before long all four of her kids were in the club, and all of them had communications projects to do. She had to up her game pretty quickly.

Today, besides being head leader of the Gainsborough club in the Portage la Prairie area, she chairs regional 4-H speaking events — and, based on the enthusiasm with which she speaks about it, loves helping kids find their voice.

“It makes a big difference in the lives of everyone who has the opportunity to do public speaking,” she told the Co-operator.

For her 42 years of service with the club, Duchak received 4-H Canada’s National Volunteer Leader of the Year Award for 2022.

Chipping in

Duchak, who co-owned a dairy farm for 20 years, has a background in agriculture but never had the chance to be a 4-H kid herself.

“I didn’t have that opportunity, but I love 4-H,” she said.

When her eldest turned eight and became eligible to join 4-H, Duchak accompanied her and chipped in with other parents to keep the Gainsborough club running.

The next year she stepped in to the role of project leader, helping kids learn skills like cooking, sewing and woodworking.

Today she leads the Gainsborough club. She also served as area council treasurer for 10 years, and has been the Portage 4-H bursary fund treasurer for 17 years. She’s also in her fourth year on the Manitoba 4-H Council board of directors.

And of course, she also co-ordinates regional communications events where kids compete in various categories, giving speeches and visual presentations.

In the Gainsborough club, every kid is encouraged to speak — even if it’s about their stuffed toy or pet.

“We encourage them to speak about something they enjoy,” she said. “It’s nothing to have four or five (boys) speak about snowmobiling or something like that.”

Older club members often delve into politics and current events, Duchak said.

“Those senior members are such intelligent people,” she said. “They just blow your mind when they start speaking.”

Club’s evolution

After 42 years, Duchak has had the chance to see multiple generations come through the club.

“It’s kind of cool,” she said. “It’s just kind of nice to tie it all together.”

Her oldest daughter has joined her as a 4-H leader. She was a head leader for 15 years and is now the area’s club co-ordinator.

The club has also become more diverse as new families immigrate to the area. This gives them new opportunities for learning, Duchak said. For instance, one newcomer girl’s mother came and taught a cooking class, showing them how to cook a dish from that culture.

“It was awesome,” Duchak said.

Kids also present more diverse projects. If they can’t find a project like cooking, sewing, etc., that interests them, they can do a “self-determined” project.

“You learn so much from these members,” Duchak said.

There’s more technology, particularly because of the pandemic, she added. The kids are also more scientific.

Compassion, generosity

“We are proud to recognize Sandra Duchak as 4-H Canada’s National Volunteer Leader of the Year,” said 4-H Canada CEO, Shannon Benner, in a Feb. 14 news release. “Sandra’s passion and commitment to the 4-H community is exceptional. It is inspiring to see the positive impact she has had at all levels of the 4-H movement over the last four decades, and we couldn’t be happier to honour her hard work and dedication.”

Duchak is known for her compassion and generosity to her community, the release said.

This has included donating hand-knitted blankets, sweaters and mittens to Central Plains Cancer Care and served on the board of directors for a women’s shelter in Portage.

Duchak, who described herself as “semi-retired,” has volunteered at curling championships and on committees at McKenzie United Church. She also works part time as a bookkeeper.

Despite all that, Duchak says she has no intention of leaving 4-H any time soon.

“It keeps you young. It keeps you involved with the members of the community,” she said. “A 4-H club is just like one big family.

“It gives (kids) self-confidence and makes them reliable, respectable people,” she added.

As Volunteer of the Year, Duchak will receive a cash prize and a chance to travel to the 2022 4-H Leadership Summit in Halifax.

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“4-H members of today are tomorrow’s future leaders,” said Candace Tolton, president of 4-H Manitoba, in a news release.

“We are proud to support our members to enable them to take a future leadership role in agriculture, environmental sustainability and their community as a whole,” she added.

Marika Dewar-Norosky of Newdale, Cameron Giannotti of Neepawa, Sarah Johnson of Dugald, and Rayna Topham of Minnedosa received the scholarships toward their post-secondary education.

Last November, the province announced it would place $1 million into an endowment fund which 4-H and the Brandon Area Community Foundation would use to establish a scholarship program, starting in 2021. This became the Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship.

“I would like to congratulate the scholarship recipients and wish them the best in all their future endeavours. Agriculture is a challenging and rewarding pursuit, and the 4-H program does a wonderful job of preparing the youth of today for whatever the future has in store for them,” said Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development Ralph Eichler in the news release.

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“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.

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.

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The annual Leadership Excellence Awards of Distinction (LEAD), presented Monday during the 4-H Leadership Awards event in Ottawa, aim to recognize 4-H participants who, according to the organization, “demonstrate 4-H values in the way they live their lives” and honours youth who have become exceptional leaders through the program.

This year’s four winners were each given a $20,000 scholarship.

Josiah Lodewyk of the Niagara 4-H Goat Club is studying systems design engineering at the University of Waterloo with the goal of becoming an agricultural engineer.

“It’s an incredible honour; growing up with 4-H you really realize how much effort and time the volunteers put in to make it possible,” he said. The award “enables me to give back to my community and club through my education and pursue my studies in science and technology.”

Award winners were also paired with a specialized mentor who can help guide the students.

“The future is always a little bit foggy and just knowing there is someone who has already travelled that road, who has similar passions like entrepreneurship and engineering like myself, knowing she has advice for me and can give me some counsel and guidance to reach those goals that I really want to reach,” said Lodewyk.

Doug Sroka from the Maidstone Gully Multiple 4-H Club is hoping to become a clinical psychologist as he pursues his studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

The organization “is a really big thing in my family. My grandma served as the president of 4-H Canada, she served with 4-H Saskatchewan and my mom has been involved with 4-H as well, and all of her siblings – my siblings have all been part of 4-H so this is a really big deal for me,” he said.

“Lots of people perceive 4-H as just being a farming-type club. But it’s trying to shift towards an emphasis on youth development and providing opportunities for youth across the world. So for me, that’s kind of more my avenue within 4-H.”

Riley Callahan from the River Valley 4-H Club is hoping to become an engineer with a focus on the environment and water as he studies at the University of New Brunswick at Fredericton.

He was thankful for the honour as well as the financial award.

The money “allows me to focus more on my studies and not have to worry about not being able to pay my tuition or having to pay off a student loan at the end of the day, so that’s really one of the best benefits and why I’m so honoured to have this award,” he said.

Growing up, Callahan occasionally lost faith in 4-H over his 11 years in the club, but was encouraged to stay involved by his leaders.

“I can clearly see the goal and the mission of 4-H clearly and how this is developing young kids into great leaders for the future,” he said.

University of Saskatchewan student Courtney Taylor, who participated in several 4-H clubs in Alberta, most recently the Warner Beef 4-H Club, was also an award recipient.

Shannon Benner, CEO of 4-H Canada, said the award recognizes the work of the students, but also gives them an opportunity to tell their 4-H story and the impact it can have in communities.

“There’s no better time than now for 4-H. Whether it’s looking at the effects of climate change, to some of the staggering numbers around young people in Canada, to feeding nine billion people by 2050, you know, the time is now,” she said.

“We need to make sure every young person in Canada is thriving, not just surviving, but thriving. And you know, there’s no reason why we can’t do that here and 4-H has got a big role to play there.”

— D.C. Fraser reports for Glacier FarmMedia from Ottawa.

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