By Dori Modney

Successful Canadian Agricultural Youth Group seeks new members

Feb 23, 2022 | 3:48 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — The Canadian Agricultural Youth Council, motivated by the success of its first group of young people who made up the Council, is looking to build on that success.

At Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) Future of Food Conference, in celebration of Canada’s Agriculture Day, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie Claude-Bibeau, announced the application launch for a second group to join the Youth Council.

“I would like to build on the success of the first cohort of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council and renew some of its membership while maintaining the same vibrancy and spirit that I enjoyed so much. I am impressed and inspired by the commitment and deep thinking of these young leaders who aspire to create an increasingly innovative and sustainable agricultural industry.”

The Council is made up of young individuals who are engaged and passionate about the future of agriculture and the agri-food. It provides a forum for the younger generation to present fresh ideas within the industry and offers an active role in decisions that will shape their future.

In just a short time, the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council has provided valuable feedback on issues impacting the sector, such as sustainable agriculture, understanding the challenges around the urban-rural divide, and how best to attract young people to the sector, which is particularly important during a time of labour shortages. The Council’s recommendations have also helped develop Canada’s new Agri-Communication initiative, which is designed to help consumers better understand how their food is produced, while providing the sector to with greater understanding of consumer expectations.

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The Youth Council meets regularly with Minister Bibeau, as well as departmental officials, to discuss the issues that matter the most to young people working in the agriculture and agri-food sectors and to advise on agriculture-related policies and programs.

Formed in July of 2020, the Youth Council is a group of 25 young, non-partisan volunteers, chosen from more than 800 applications received, representing a diverse mix of subsectors from across the agriculture and agri-food sector, as well as from every province and territory.

Young Canadians aged 18 to 30, who work in or study agriculture and the agri-food value chain, who are interested in shaping the future of the sector, are encouraged to apply here. The application deadline is March 22, 2022.

The application process includes a series of questions on each candidate’s experience in the agriculture and agri-food sector, a short essay on a significant issue facing youth in the sector, and how they proposed to address it.

The second cohort’s 18-month term begins in the summer of 2022 and will be made up of new and returning members. It’s expected that up to 14 new members will replace roughly half of the current membership, and be joined by a selection of returning members from the first Cohort, to form Cohort 2 of the Council, with a maximum number of 25 members.

Those interested can learn more on the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council website.

To apply for membership in the second cohort, check out the application form.

Co-Chair of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council, Jerry Bos, has certainly found value in taking part in the group.

“As co-chair of the Council as well as a farmer, I saw the meaningful progress we made during the first term of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council. The future of the sector depends on a strong flow of ideas – both ways – between young people and those who develop government policy and programming.”