Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

GEORGETOWN ROYALTY, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND--(Marketwire - May 22, 2009) - The Government of Canada is investing in young farmers and the future of Canadian agriculture. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture Pierre Lemieux announced today an investment of more than $3 million in the Canadian 4-H Council over a four-year period under Growing Forward, the new national agricultural policy framework aimed at building a profitable sector for all farmers across the country.

"For nearly 100 years, 4-H has been helping young people develop the skills they need to enter the agricultural field," said Mr. Lemieux on behalf of Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "I'm proud to be part of a Conservative Government that makes smart investments to help the Canadian 4-H Council continue its great work for agriculture."

The Canadian 4-H Council has a proven track record of attracting prospective new entrants to the agriculture and agri-food sector and of developing their farm management skills. About 30,000 young Canadians belong to 4-H clubs across the country, learning a wide variety of skills through hands-on projects. The Canadian 4-H Council co-ordinates all national 4-H affairs, including national and international conferences, exchanges, scholarships, and leadership development.

"The Canadian 4-H was extremely pleased to hear of the Government of Canada's investment in 4-H," said Judy Shaw, newly elected president of the Canadian 4-H Council. "The announcement highlights the Government's commitment to the future of Canadian youth. This funding is invaluable in providing excellent national programming to help Canadian youth succeed in their endeavours."

To learn more about the Canadian 4-H Council, please visit www.4-h-canada.ca.