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Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson announcing new funding for 4-H Alberta. Photo is taken from a You Tube video posted by the province.
Agriculture

Province announces funding for Alberta 4-H programs

Nov 26, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Three 4-H Alberta programs are splitting over $730,000 in joint funding from the provincial and federal governments.

The money going to the Intro to 4-H, Agriculture and Mental Health Workshop, and the Senior Spring Symposium will be spread over five years.

Intro to 4-H is meant to build connections between city and country kids, along with local farmers and ranchers.

The safety and mental health program will focus on these areas by incorporating things like equine therapy in what advocates call “a new hands-on learning opportunity for rural and urban youth.”

The symposium is meant to address stigmas around mental health while also expanding mental health education for young people in agriculture.

The money is being provided through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

“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,” says 4-H Alberta CEO Kurt Kinnear in a release form the province.