Top Crop Manager

News
4-H Canada and CN partner to advance youth leadership

Nov. 25, 2015, Regina, SK - 4-H Canada and CN have announced a unique partnership to advance youth leadership and promote farm safety in rural Canada.

Made possible through a commitment from CN of $600,000, the new annual 4-H Canada Leadership Excellence Awards of Distinction (L.E.A.D.) recognize exceptional 4-H senior youth members and showcase their accomplishments in the area of leadership excellence. The CN commitment also allows 4-H Canada to establish a 4-H Farm Safety Fund that will support 4-H clubs, districts, regions and provincial organizations across Canada with farm and community safety initiatives.

Four recipients of the inaugural 4-H Canada L.E.A.D. scholarships were revealed today at the Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Sask. The recipients are outstanding 4-H'ers who epitomize 4-H youth empowerment, and who demonstrate personal and community impact, and leadership excellence in each of 4-H Canada's four Leadership Development Pillars:

  • Cameron Choquette (Saskatchewan) - Community Engagement & Communications
  • Meghan McGillivray (British Columbia) - the Environment & Healthy Living
  • Louise Pickard (New Brunswick) - Science & Technology
  • Austin Pizzey (Manitoba) - Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security

L.E.A.D. recipients will each benefit from four-year scholarships in the amount of $5,000 per year toward their post-secondary studies. They also will be matched with a mentor who plays a leadership role in their industry and community. This mentorship relationship is an important component of the award program and will help the L.E.A.D. recipients as they forge their careers. Recent studies have estimated that from 2013 to 2022 there will be almost 74,000 job openings in Canadian agriculture, but only 49,000 projected job seekers. This represents a huge opportunity for the country's youth and it starts with mentorship opportunities and skills transfer.

November 25, 2015  By Top Crop Manager


Advertisement

Stories continue below