YORKTON - How does farming stay connected with the next generation of Canadians – the source of workers and the consumers of tomorrow.
It’s hardly a new question in terms of agriculture, as more and more people live in urban settings and the numbers of farms shrink – reducing the natural connections of family and friends.
When I was a youngster, I grew up on a farm. My grandparents lived in the same yard for many years, and when they finally retired to town I’d spend some summer holiday time with them. All of the people in the neighbourhood had farming connections – most still had huge gardens which I always saw as a connection to those agrarian roots.
But, a lot has changed in the years since.
Gone for the most part are the section-sized farms where a few pigs, chickens and even a milk cow or two to ship cream from which were common in the 1960s.
People have moved to towns and cities, and frankly many have not looked back.
Walk into a school even in a moderate sized city such as Yorkton and there will be many young students who have not set foot on a working farm – their connection to what a cow is, or what wheat looks like largely limited to school tours to events such as Harvest Showdown or taking in the Pizza Farm initiative.
What was once learned as a result of helping a grandparent, or aunt or uncle collect eggs, feed the pigs, or haul grain to the elevator, is now left to the school classroom - no offence to teachers, but it’s not the same thing.
But, somewhere along the way in a youth’s life it is important they should learn something about farming and just how the farm sector produces our food.
That’s where Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM) is supposed to help as it encourages students to learn about and celebrate Canada's agriculture and food story.
This year, to kick-off the month Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced up to $415,000 in support for Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C).
In celebration of CALM, AITC-C is hosting the Great Canadian Farm Tour, a learning experience which gives students an opportunity to learn about Canada’s agriculture industry by interacting virtually with real farmers. The Great Canadian Farm Tour includes a virtual field trip with 11 live farm tours focusing on the diversity of commodities across Canada throughout the month of March.
Going virtual is important here as it opens the tour to just about any school interested in having students participate, and it allows limited funding to be used in production of the programming knowing it has a huge potential audience. As the release on the funding noted, “by connecting youth directly with farmers to learn how our food is produced and showcase the vital role that farmers play in our food system, the Government of Canada is helping to inspire and build the next generation of young farmers to ensure a strong, sustainable Canadian agriculture sector.”
It’s definitely a worthwhile initiative given the loss of those more direct ties to farming.
