The Province of Manitoba announced a $300,000 commitment to 4-H Manitoba over the next three years, to continue the great work that they do with our young individuals and experienced individuals, says Ag Minister Ron Kostyshyn. "Because they're the ones with the knowledge, and they want to share their knowledge with the young 4-H'ers of the world."
The 4-H program raises participation and the morale of young people in the Ag sector, now at a time when it can look bleak in certain areas. As our 4-H youth members become leaders in agriculture in our province Minister Kostyshyn says it's important that our youth first have a keen interest in agriculture, and they do.
"Actually, I think we're going through some innovative times, whether it's directly agriculture or opportunity," shares Kostyshyn. "I personally think that in agriculture, we need to start diversifying our opportunities of agriculture products that we grow in this province."
"And I stress the words 'added value' opportunities of business development," he continues, "and we need to have the young, generational experienced individuals stay in our province and take advantage as we move forward in this new model of opportunity of business development, increasing revenue and building new opportunities in medium sized communities, and small town communities because there are no barriers of opportunity of business development through the agriculture commodities."
Minister Kostyshyn says the $300,000 commitment from the provincial government is an investment to the future of our next generation of Ag leaders.
"Being a producer for 40 years of my life, nothing more would be rewarding than to see people in small communities have an opportunity to grow because population makes business investment worthwhile in the long run. So, we need the population base in order to have business growth," he explains.
"And it could be in any small communities throughout the province of Manitoba because when you start to do the financial spreadsheet, maybe it's cheaper to do it in a smaller community. Real estate is cheaper, maybe labor opportunities. If there's someone that's choosing to move to another province, but they can get a job in an added value opportunity. I think we're in a new vision area of creating jobs and creating added value and the Province of Manitoba through agriculture commodities."
Manitoba 4-H has been in mentoring young people in a wide variety of activities, being leaders in youth development for now 112 years. With its start being in the rural community of Roland, MB 4-H programs are found worldwide, mentoring children and young people in many different areas of interest. In fact, in Manitoba there are over 90 interesting hands-on projects like beef, photography, outdoor living, machines, crafts and more.
What 4-H does right is mentor kids in their own communities through a vast network of volunteers.
"It's a different form of an education, but it's a form of education to build personality, character and to build opportunities of going out and being themselves, and you know the school academic programs is great, but this is another form of education," shares Minister Kostyshyn. "You're being tutored by someone from your local community or not far away, no less having relatives or parents involved in the 4H movement, that one solidifies the opportunity, right?"