4-H Alberta, a century-old organization dedicated to youth development in agriculture and leadership, will receive over $731,000 in new funding over five years.
The funding, provided through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), will enhance youth programming that bridges the urban-rural divide and supports safety and mental health initiatives.
With this investment, the governments of Canada and Alberta are backing three key programs: the Intro to 4-H program, the Agriculture Safety and Mental Health Workshop, and the Senior Spring Symposium.
The Intro to 4-H program, one of the initiatives to receive funding, offers hands-on learning opportunities that bring together urban and rural youth. The program also connects them with local farmers and ranchers, fostering understanding and skills related to agriculture.
Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay emphasized the importance of this support.
"4-H has been supporting young people in agriculture for over a century. Through this shared investment in 4-H Alberta, I’m 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."
A new initiative, the Agriculture Safety and Mental Health Workshop, will use experiential learning, including equine therapy, to teach farm safety and address mental health concerns among rural and urban youth.
Alberta's Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, RJ Sigurdson, highlighted 4-H Alberta's long-standing role in youth development.
"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."
The new funding also supports the Senior Spring Symposium, which aims to enhance mental health education for youth in agriculture, specifically targeting the stigma surrounding mental health challenges in farming communities.
The grant is part of the Resiliency and Public Trust initiative under Sustainable CAP—a $3.5-billion investment from federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen Canada's agriculture sector. The five-year program includes $1 billion in federal programs and $2.5 billion in initiatives cost-shared with provinces and territories.
Kurt Kinnear, CEO of 4-H Alberta, also expressed enthusiasm for the new funding.
"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."
Alberta’s provincial government has also committed to an annual $1 million operating grant for 4-H Alberta, set to continue until 2030.
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