4-Minutes with 4-H Video Series: By Youth, For Youth

From staying involved with local clubs to helping develop 4-H Canada’s national programming, the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is the voice for 4-H youth across the country. One of their most exciting projects over the past year has been the 4-Minutes with 4-H video series. Since 2020, 4-H Canada and BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions have been teaming up to create the 4-Minutes with 4-H video series, hosting engaging conversations on important topics from mental health, career development, and public trust in agriculture to leadership skills and development . With YAC members leading the interviews, these conversations focus on a youth perspective, while also incorporating valuable insight from experienced industry professionals . In one of the most impactful videos to date, YAC representative Matt Boutilier from Nova Scotia virtually sat down with 4-H Canada CEO, Shannon Benner, and BASF Customer Solutions Manager, Justin Gayliard, to discuss diversity and inclusion in agriculture . The episode provides valuable insights into how organizations like BASF and 4-H Canada are thinking about the importance of diversity and inclusion when it comes to attracting a new generation of youth to agriculture . “Being in the industry for over 20 years now, when I first started, it was more about trying to get female representation within agriculture,” said Justin Gayliard, BASF Customer Solutions Manager . “As time has evolved, we’ve been focused more on expanding that out across different folks coming into the organization, making sure we’re recognizing different types of ethnicities and more invisible minorities, such as LGBT, and bringing them into the community . Because everybody – no matter the difference – has value that they can bring, and we are really making sure that we listen to that value, and we welcome that into our organizations and into agriculture . ” Through initiatives like 4-Minutes with 4-H, YAC members can participate in and guide engaging discussions, become more informed on important topics, and share their perspectives as youth navigating these matters in today’s society . 4-H Canada and BASF are looking forward to continuing these essential, youth-led conversations with new episodes of the series coming this fall . Matt remarked that it’s great to see how BASF and 4-H are working to better the agriculture industry . “The 4-Minutes with 4-H video series initiates conversations that may not be prioritized in routine discussion, while also focusing on viewpoints that youth find important,” he explained . “Having meaningful exchanges with individuals who hold first-hand experiences in agriculture, mental health, the workforce, or leadership, provides viewers with perspectives that they may not have considered previously and ‘insider information’ that can positively influence their future actions . To be successful in any industry, it’s imperative that an individual recognizes the diversity of mindsets present . ”

ALL 10 EPISODES ARE AVAILABLE AT YOUTUBE. COM/4HCANADA WITH A BRAND NEW ROUND OF 4-MINUTES WITH 4-H COMING THIS FALL.

If you have a subject you’d like to see tackled, let us know! Share your ideas with us by email at communications@4-hcanada.ca.

To date, YAC members have taken on topics from Careers in Agriculture to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the 4-Minutes with 4-H video series, with more to come this fall.