How the 4-H Movement Stayed Digitally Connected in a Physically Distanced World

The world has seen unprecedented change over the past few years. In the wake of a global pandemic - people, businesses, and ways of life had to adjust to match the pace and the needs of “the new normal”. Vast amounts of new technology and software tools were deployed worldwide to allow organizations and governing bodies to continue to do their work: provide for the needs of their employees, customers, members, and people.

4-H did the same.

Early in the pandemic, the 4-H community quickly pivoted to take events online, diversify programs into new models with downloadable or at-home kits, and increased webinars and virtual activities to keep members, leaders, and industry stakeholders engaged. “We wanted to make sure our members across the country felt connected while giving them consistent access to our programs and services,” said Shannon Benner, CEO of 4-H Canada. “The world may have been at a standstill, but the lives of our members continued. With these programs and virtual events, we were able to ensure that 4-H’ers could continue to learn, grow, and prepare themselves for their lives and careers ahead.” From coast-to-coast, 4-H organizations and leaders stepped up to keep 4-H youth engaged during a time when they needed it the most. Here’s just a few examples of what the 4-H community developed to better serve our members during COVID-19, and to help keep them connected to our critical skill- and career-building programs:

The Waterloo 4-H Association’s International Lunch Club let 4-H’ers get out of lock-down and (virtually) travel the world during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo Credit: Courtesy of 4-H Waterloo Association

International Lunch Club Dines Their Way Around the World

While the COVID-19 pandemic may have made physical travel tough, leaders of the Waterloo 4-H Association’s International Lunch Club decided to travel the globe - while enjoying unique meals to boot! During one memorable meeting, the club spent a Saturday morning with 4-H alum, Rebecca Grose, who currently resides in South Africa. With help from Rebecca, participants were taken step-by-step through the recipe for a common South African dish, babotie and golden rice. John Drummond - an alum, Past President of the 4-H Ontario Board of Directors, and 2013 4-H National Volunteer Leader of the Year - along with his fellow Waterloo and Wellington volunteers, planned and executed virtual meetings, often with over 100 youth and volunteers in attendance.

“It’s so different engaging with young people online than it is in person,” said John. “When you have a club with 103 members, moving to smaller breakout rooms for roll call and business makes it easier for members to talk and tell their stories. [Additionally], the fact that we provide hands-on activities helps engage everyone.” Having tried several other virtual clubs since the pandemic began, the Waterloo 4-H Association eventually perfected the online club experience. John explained, “The comments and attention that past clubs [like Pizza Project, Breadventure, and a Holiday Cooking Project], received were wonderful, and I know it helped encourage members to join. But beyond that, the idea that we’d visit a different country each meeting and experience their food culture in a ‘cook along with me’ format had

to sound like a lot of fun to young people looking for something to break up the tedium of online schooling.” This form of learning did not come without its challenges, including the limitations of rural internet. However, with their ‘Learn To Do By Doing’ motto always present, they were able to persevere. Seeing the positive impact on the youth in the Waterloo International Lunch Club during this unprecedented time makes it obvious that the rewards far outweigh any challenges. The youth and volunteers made sure to share photos of their finished product from each meeting through email or on social media and have been clear about their enthusiasm to keep going in the virtual format. Most importantly, many 4-H families have been given a unique chance to try new and different meals from all over the world that they’ve made together. “It’s got to be a big source of pride for a young member to know that they’ve just cooked a great meal for their family, who have really enjoyed it,” concluded John. With the world slowly opening back up and in-person activities returning, no further virtual food-related meetings are scheduled for the time being, but John noted that a new iteration of the club is in the works. “We haven’t set a topic for the fall yet, but it’ll be something fun and spectacular,” he assured.

Not only did the International Lunch Club members get to connect with their peers and learn about food in different countries, they also got to prepare and enjoy a wide range of unique meals to share with their families. Photo Credit: Courtesy of 4-H Waterloo Association

4-H at Home Reaches Nearly 6,000 Canadian Youth

Since launching in 2020, the 4-H at Home Outreach Initiatives have empowered over 5,900 youth to enjoy hands-on activities any time, from anywhere, while making meaningful contributions to their communities, country, and the world. In 2021, 4-H Canada expanded access beyond 4-H members and clubs to encourage all families and educational organizations across the country to enjoy the activities in group settings, or from the comfort of home. Each Initiative gives youth the chance to explore the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 goals that encourage global citizens of all ages to help address critical issues like poverty, health, education, and the environment. Housed at 4-h-canada.ca/4-h-at-home and available for digital download to complete activities any time, from anywhere - the Outreach Initiatives are the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with the youth in your life!

Farming. It’s the biggest job on earth.

Together, we’re helping future generations take it on.

At BASF, we share a passion with those who want to make a difference in communities across our country. That’s why we’re proud to partner with 4-H Canada, investing in programs that enable today’s youth leaders to take on the issues that matter most to them. By empowering the next generation of agricultural experts, we’re helping to ensure the success of our industry today and well into the future. Visit agsolutions.ca to learn more.

Record-Breaking Year for Leadership Awards

If anything, hosting the 2022 4-H Canada Leadership Awards virtually only increased connection from coast-to-coast-to-coast, bringing the 4-H community together to celebrate outstanding achievements of youth, leaders, supporters, and alumni. Hosted by Canadian icon, Peter Mansbridge, the event set a new fundraising record, bringing in over $58,000 for the Canadian 4-H Foundation to support the long-term success of 4-H in Canada.

LET’S KEEP THE FUNDRAISING RECORDS GOING!

Keep your eye on 4-h-canada.ca/4hawards for details on the 2023 4-H Canada Leadership Awards!

The 2022 4-H Canada Leadership Awards brought the 4-H community from across Canada together virtually, raising critical funds for the 4-H movement, while putting the spotlight on prestigious national award recipients through inspirational storytelling. For a full list of recipients, visit 4-h-canada.ca/4hawards.

Supporting Leaders’ Passion for Lifelong Learning

4-H youth are renowned for continually developing and refining their knowledge and skills, but let’s not forget that 4-H leaders are lifelong learners too!

To support leaders’ passion for continuous learning and evolution of skills and knowledge to mentor and empower today’s youth, 4-H Canada has a series of Leaders Learn Webinars. Covering topics from mental health in agriculture to cultivating body inclusion to bias awareness, the webinars have supported leaders in developing crucial skills and gaining confidence and experience in key areas. 4-H Canada will continue to build out the Leaders Learn Webinar resources, bringing even more industry-leading experts to the table. Keep your eye on 4-h-canada.ca/leaderslearn for upcoming opportunities.