Saskatchewan, May 2, 2013 - Today, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced $500,000 in funding over the next five years for the Youth Leadership and Mentorship Program. This program will provide support to help industry associations mentor young producers into future industry leaders.
“To keep Canadian agriculture innovative and vibrant, we need to make sure that we build on the knowledge base that’s currently out there," said Minister Ritz. "Our Government is proud to partner in these types of investments that will help young producers develop into the leaders of tomorrow." “The future success of Saskatchewan’s agriculture industry is in the hands of today’s young farmers and ranchers,” Stewart said. “This program will provide young producers who display leadership potential with the opportunity to learn from highly-regarded industry leaders.”
The program is designed to help young producers gain the leadership skills and provide the networking opportunities needed to become future industry leaders. No provincial program aimed at developing leadership capacity for all sectors of the agriculture industry existed until now.
Through the program, industry associations are eligible to receive up to $4,000 per mentorship, to a maximum of $20,000 per industry association. Eligible activities include travel expenses for industry events and meeting registration fees.
“A structured leadership and mentorship program is a new concept for the crops sector in Saskatchewan,” Executive Director for The Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission Shawna Mathieson, said. “This program will be vital in increasing the talent of our young producers and the agricultural sector as a whole.”
"This program will create opportunities for young people to become more involved in the agriculture industry." Chair of the Youth Advisory Committee, Derek Tallon said. "Building a network and having the guidance of current industry leaders is a benefit to young producers."
This new initiative addresses a recommendation from the Saskatchewan Agriculture Youth Advisory Committee to increase leadership skills and opportunities for our youth. The program is modeled after the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders Program administered by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
“You cannot measure the value of a good mentor when it comes to learning,” board member of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association Levi Hull,” said. “The livestock industry in Saskatchewan will be well-served by the addition of this program. It will complement the national Cattlemen’s Young Leader’s program and provide more opportunities for livestock producers to be mentored in the province.”
Funding for the Youth Leadership and Mentorship Program is provided under the federal-provincial Growing Forward 2 framework. For more information on the program visit the Saskatchewan Agriculture website at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/GrowingForward2.
For more information, contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Jeff English
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Cory Kolt
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2359
Email: cory.kolt@gov.sk.ca
