Young agricultural experts from the Ottawa Valley will get the chance to see farming from a whole new perspective.
The Renfrew County 4-H club’s Ag Rangers will head to Saskatchewan this summer, representing Ontario as part of 4-H Canada’s exchange program. Club leader Kimberly Lehman considers it an opportunity to both gain and share their knowledge as part of the program’s mission to give youth hands-on learning opportunities tailored to their environment.
It’s an exciting development for local Ag Rangers, some of whom will be travelling a long distance without family for the first time. However, the trip comes with some sacrifices, as their week-long excursion will come during a busy time for local agricultural demonstrations and showcases.
While what the local contingent will learn during their time out west remains a mystery, Lehman says she and her co-leader have been hard at work putting together a week exploring our local water system and how it impacts the agriculture industry and local lifestyles.
She was also thrilled to learn that many of the group coming in from Saskatchewan are plenty of cattle farmers, allowing the Ag Rangers to also incorporate another pillar of the local agricultural scene into their learning.
The 4-H Club is holding regular fundraising events to help cover the lodging costs associated with the exchange trip.
(written by Kasey Egan)
