The Eagle Hills Multiple 4-H Club as shown in 2019 with the Light Horse program. (Eagle Hills Multiple 4-H Club/Facebook)

By Angela Brown

Continued support

4-H Saskatchewan sees funding boost; Eagle Hills Club planning ahead

Jun 20, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Saskatchewan 4-H clubs are among those receiving more support with the latest announcement from the province and federal government.

The 4-H Saskatchewan organization, Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan (AITC-SK), and Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan will receive a total of $1.5 million over two years in renewed funding to develop the next generation of agriculture leaders and help the public appreciate how the agriculture industry brings fresh food to their tables.

Cera Youngson, the executive director for 4-H Saskatchewan, told battlefordsNOW the 4-H program has a long history and connection to rural communities and agriculture.

“We are really proud of our alumni who have gone on to build careers in agriculture and beyond,” she said. “Not all of our projects are connected to agriculture, but leadership is central to the 4-H program, and building communication skills. Those are things that help members go on to pursue careers in lots of different fields and support their communities.”

The 4-H Saskatchewan organization has about 165 4-H clubs running in communities across the province. The program offers more than 50 project options available.

MVP Finalist

North Stars' Bell joins rarefied air with CJHL nomination

3h ago

Home Run Start

18U Beavers take eight straight to open season

7h ago

RCMP investigation

Wade Frenchman, charged with three murders, waiting for psych assessment

7h ago

Eagle Hills Multiple 4-H Club serving the Battlefords area has about 30 members.

General Leader Erin Cooper credits the program for encouraging children and youth to develop skills and confidence in a variety of areas.

“Our program is focused on getting kids to problem solve, [work on] critical thinking, learning to work together to find a solution, how to debate issues within the club, and take on leadership roles,” she told battlefordsNOW. “Our club is run by the kids, so all the leadership roles are held by our members. They are the ones that are making decisions, not the parents.”

In addition to the light horse training program, Eagle Hills members can take part in developing canine agility courses and training exercises, work on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and robotics projects, or learn archery, to name a few options.

Cooper said while COVID-19 restrictions curtailed some of the club’s activities this year, she is looking forward to next year when members can take part in regional, provincial, and even national events again.

Cameron Choquette, 4-H Saskatchewan’s council president, said in a statement the 4-H organization is “proud to deliver leadership programming that develops young people in our communities.”

In the two-year federal and provincial funding agreements announced, Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan will receive $610,000 in total, while 4-H Saskatchewan will get $600,000, and Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan will be given $300,000.

“Our relationship with these groups stems from a shared commitment to building public trust in our agriculture industry,” Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said in a release. “These efforts to build meaningful connections with consumers, share agricultural resources with classrooms, and prepare the next generation of agriculture leaders is essential to our thriving industry.”

The funding support is part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3 billion investment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments to help boost Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors. This commitment includes $2 billion for programs cost-shared by the federal and provincial/territorial governments designed and delivered by provinces and territories. The Province of Saskatchewan is providing more than $155 million of this funding.

Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow