For more than 100 years, 4-H Alberta has been teaching the province’s youth valuable skills in agriculture and beyond, helping them learn hands-on skills, developing leadership and creating a sense of belonging. New support will help 4-H Alberta bridge the gap between urban and rural kids and develop safety and mental health programming.
Through Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) funding, the governments of Canada and Alberta are investing more than $731,000 over five years for three 4-H Alberta programs. The Intro to 4-H program, the Agriculture Safety and Mental Health Workshop and the Senior Spring Symposium will benefit from the funding.
“4-H has been supporting young people in agriculture for over a century. Through this shared investment in 4-H Alberta, I’m so pleased to support their efforts to build connections between urban and rural kids, develop safety and mental health programming, and guide our agriculture sector into the future.”
“4-H Alberta has a long, proud legacy of teaching kids skills they’ll use throughout their entire lives, from livestock care to public speaking and career development. We are proud to support this great organization and help introduce even more youth to valuable 4-H programming.”
About the programs
The Intro to 4-H program offers experience-based learning opportunities that build connections between urban and rural youth and local farmers and ranchers.
The Agriculture Safety and Mental Health Workshop is a new program that incorporates farm safety and mental health through experiential programs like equine therapy in a new hands-on learning opportunity for rural and urban youth.
The Spring Senior Symposium will expand on mental health education for youth in agriculture and address the stigma associated with mental health challenges in farming communities.
“For more than 100 years, 4-H Alberta has been dedicated to empowering youth with skills and experiences that last a lifetime, deeply rooted in agriculture and community. This new grant allows us to expand on that legacy – bridging urban and rural perspectives, sharing time-tested skills and inspiring the next generation of leaders in Alberta's agriculture sector.”
Sustainable CAP
The grant is funded through Sustainable CAP’s Resiliency and Public Trust initiative.
Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency in Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and $2.5 billion that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
Quick facts
- The total Sustainable CAP funding for this project is $731,162.27.
- In 2020, Alberta’s government committed to an annual operating grant for 4-H Alberta of $1 million per year for 10 years.