Wellington County Junior Farmers: ‘building communities, building leaders’

A local youth group aims to inspire a new generation of farmers in Wellington County.  

Wellington County Junior Farmers (WCJF) is an agricultural collective intended to create future leaders through self help, personal growth, community betterment, networking, volunteer opportunities and socialization.

“You can learn about and create community awareness when it comes to agriculture and farming. This is a big part of what we do and what we are about. We highlight what farmers do today," said WCJF vice-president Amelia Judge.

“Currently, we have six members, but we are always looking for more."

The group of local volunteers, between the ages of 15 to 29, invites more young farmers to help build rural leaders in Wellington County.

Planning is in the works for upcoming events including the annual community supper, Pumpkin Pajama Rama, trivia and game nights, roadside cleanup, and a book club.

Unlike other programs like 4-H, WCJF is run for youth by youth, to help develop leadership skills as well as networking opportunities for youth.

Established in the 1960s, WCJF offer opportunities to meet new people, explore the local area, exchange ideas, debate important issues and develop lifelong friends.

“Whatever you put into it, you get out of it,” Judge said.

With more than 40 per cent of farm operators set to retire in the next decade, a recent report suggests Canada will be short 24,000 general farm, nursery and greenhouse operators by 2033.

The aim for WCJF is to provide the younger generation with a voice in the industry as well as in their communities so they can one day be future leaders, while maintaining a connection with their roots.

Although a farmer herself, Judge, 28, says members don’t have to have a farming background to join WCJF.

“On my farm, we have dairy, beef, cash crops and a few other animals too. Not everyone in our group is from a farm. It’s just a great time with friends that have similar interests,” Judge said.

Judge began her new role as WCJF vice-president last month.

“I was president last year. I have been with WCJF since 2017, and with junior farmers,as a whole since 2013. For me, this has given me confidence within these leadership roles,” she said.

“You learn resourcefulness by working with community partners. It helps make you to become more comfortable with talking to different people.”

Junior Farmers' Association of Ontario (JFAO) serves as the governing body for the many clubs throughout Ontario.

“There are different levels including regional, and provincial. If you just want to be involved with Wellington junior farmers, you can do that. If you want to be part of the provincial executive, you can do that too. If you want to go to provincial events, you can. You can just make your own junior farmer career out of it.”

WCJR takes part in a variety of service projects to help meet the needs of the community. 

“We like to volunteer. We help park cars at the Drayton Fair. We help out at the Harrison Fair, normally in the agriculture awareness tent. In Elora next month, we will be at the Pizza Perfect event where Grade 3 students as they walk through all the stages of making pizza. They learn about agriculture that way. They see how tomato sauce is made, and they also get to plant tomatoes,” Judge said.

“Last fall, we held a roast beef community supper. Provincially, there are also a variety of events including the Winter Games. A team from every county in Ontario comes out and competes in a variety of sports including soccer, badminton and floor hockey."

The club also offers international travel opportunities with an exchange program that takes members around the world each year and brings guests into members’ homes.

"I took part in 2019. Two of us from Wellington went to Wales. It was alot of fun. We toured around for two weeks and stayed with different hosts. We saw their farms, where they lived, and they took us to their young farmer club events," Judge said.

WCJF meets on the second Tuesday of every month, in Drayton and occasionally, in Elora.

For more information, visit here or the Wellington County Junior Farmers Facebook page.