Saskatchewan 4-H Council Adjusts to Rural-Urban Reality

source: Farm and Food Report

As Saskatchewan 4-H Council Members prepare to attend their Annual Meeting in Saskatoon on April 9 and 10, veteran members of the 87 year-old organization reflect on its contribution to community leadership.

AnnMarie Nielsen Griffin speaks on behalf of the Saskatchewan 4-H Council.

“I am one of those parents who was a 4-H member as a child and who is involved as an adult,” she says. “When I look at the results of our Measures of Success National Alumni Survey, which shows that 78 per cent of our alumni are of the opinion that the 4-H program had a big impact or some impact on their citizen engagement activities — defined as participation in community organizations — I say to myself, we must be doing something right.”

The IpsosReid survey paints a favourable portrait of 4-H contributions. In fact, 87 per cent of those alumni polled would recommend 4-H to young people. The survey points out that the 4-H brand has a lot of equity; and that among those who had lived the 4-H brand, there was a high degree of value, trust and relevancy in the brand.

The Learn to Do by Doing approach favoured in the 4-H likely impacted on poll results. They suggest that the leadership and communication skills; the teamwork; the self confidence and self esteem young people develop while in the program contribute to their personal or career experience later in life.

“Opinion leaders feel that developing these skills is not only relevant today, it is relevant for the future,” says Nielsen Griffin. “With this in mind, we’ve had to adjust to the reality of Saskatchewan demographic trends. It has been a challenge because, while our focus is on agriculture, urban areas are also expressing interest in 4-H activities. What has happened in our province is that rural populations are not simply disappearing; they move to the cities. As this occurs, the new urbanites take with them the rural values they were raised with, and they want their kids to inherit them.”

The 4-H Council is addressing this need. For instance, one of the 4-H clubs in Saskatoon works proactively to establish linkages between rural and urban worlds, in order to bridge the gaps that may exist.

“Agriculture is not just about farms. It also encompasses science, veterinary medicine and research activities, often conducted in urban settings. The skills our 4-H youths are exposed to touch on a number of themes that are relevant today. Learning how to communicate is one of these classic transferable skills — how to formulate their thoughts will be useful to them, regardless of whether or not our youths undertake a career in agriculture. This is what our 4-H speaking programs help do.”

Throughout this evolution, the Saskatchewan 4-H Council still remains true to its roots in the way it delivers its general livestock programs. Whether it is through a lead shank on a halter or from the saddle, learning to build a relationship with an equine partner can help develop invaluable life skills.

“Ultimately,” explains Nielsen Griffin, “our goal is to produce responsible citizens, regardless of where they live. We want them to come out as strong community leaders. It is just a question of the means we use. You need a hook. In 4-H, it tends to be agriculture because of our roots.”

4-H began as Boys and Girls Clubs that aimed to introduce better agricultural practices. It was about training new generations of crop growers. Cattle activities were later introduced, and then horsemanship was brought into the mix. The popularity of crop-based activities waned over the years, but it seems now that they are re-emerging as a field of interest.

“The roots of the 4-H run deeper than one might think sometimes. Agriculture is a vast, complex, textured world with which many young people have affinities. If you have population with a rich knowledge-base in agriculture, the hook can be the project that allows you to reach further, to bring in the fulfillment that fuels the passion needed today to pursue a career in agriculture. If that happens, it is a bonus that brings smiles all around.”

For more information on the Saskatchewan 4-H Annual Meeting, call (306) 933-7727 or visit:
http://www.4-h.sk.ca

For more information, contact:

AnnMarie Nielsen Griffin
Saskatchewan 4-H Council
(306) 933-7727

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