A new Nova Scotia Youth Council for Agriculture was established consisting representatives from farms, agricultural businesses, and other groups and communities.
The Federal Department of Agriculture initially formed the Canadian Agriculture Youth Council in 2020 to create a nationwide dialogue on food-related challenges and opportunities for young people.
According to Statistics Canada, 6.3% of Nova Scotia farmers are under the age of 35.
On May 19th, the new council held their first meeting aiming to advise the Minister on advancing agriculture and agri-food production as viable career and businesses opportunities for young people.
“I look forward to the conversations I will be having with these representatives about the government’s programs, policies and initiatives that will serve a new generation of agricultural producers and business owners,” states Greg Morrow, Nova Scotia Minister of Agriculture.
The Nova Scotia Youth Council for Agriculture includes:
- Rebecca Archibald, Colchester County – Nova Scotia Young Farmers
- James Gerrits, Kings County – producer representative
- Wyatt Oulton, Hants County – producer representative
- Nichole van Dyk, Queens County – agri-business representative
- Courtney Schmidt, Inverness County – agri-business representative
- Michael Ewert, Kings County – agri-business representative
- Lauren Peters, Colchester County – Nova Scotia’s representative on the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council
- Madiya Patriquin, Cumberland County – Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture
- Sara Henderson, Pictou, County – 4-H Youth Ambassador representative
- Jonathan Millen, Colchester County – Outstanding Youth Leader in Agriculture
- Brandon Millen, Colchester County – Outstanding Youth Leader in Agriculture
- Teighlor Wilmot, Colchester County – Mi’kmaw community representative
- Elisabet Astakie – African Nova Scotian representative
- Brieanne Downey – African Nova Scotian representative
“We want to build a future for more young Nova Scotians actively contributing to, and benefiting from, the agriculture industry,” adds Morrow.