News Farming Community
Governments invest more than $2.3M in 4-H Ontario

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $2.3 million over three years to support 4-H Ontario programming. This funding, provided through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), will allow 4-H Ontario to continue to engage youth interested in a career in the agriculture and agri-food industries.

4-H Ontario provides youth across the province with opportunities to participate in local and provincial initiatives that contribute to their growth and professional development, as well as teach transferrable leadership skills. This funding will continue the delivery of 4-H programming, create further learning opportunities for youth, and seek to expand the program’s engagement with Indigenous and marginalized communities.

“4-H Ontario is a valuable youth development, community-based program focusing on leadership and life skills that young people will benefit from their entire careers,” said Lisa Thompson, Ontario minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs. “This investment will ensure 4-H Ontario can continue building future community and business owners, foster greater appreciation and pride of our rural communities and agriculture and food sectors, while creating a learning environment outside of the classroom where 4-H members can learn by doing.”

Under the funding agreement, investments will be made in a variety of 4-H programming areas. These will include:

• Support for local initiatives to increase awareness of careers in agriculture;
• Provincial youth leadership development efforts;
• Engaging diverse communities, including underrepresented and Indigenous youth, about 4-H Ontario programs;
• Improving the capacity to train and onboard volunteer workers for the organization; and
• Developing and distributing curriculum resources.

This initiative continues a long-running tradition of government support for the organization. Approximately 6,000 currently enrolled youth will benefit from the funding.