By Tina Brajic
CALEDONIA — Over 600 Grade 7-8 students from Brantford, Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk visited the Caledonia Fairgrounds on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 to participate in the area’s second annual AgScape thinkAG Career Competition.
AgScape is a charitable organization, partially funded by the governments of Canada and Ontario under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. It launched in 1991 and this is the eighth year for the competition. Its mission, as listed on their webpage, is to help make real-world connections “through experiential and science-based programs” to “empower Ontario youth and educators to understand their relationship to the agriculture and food system.”
AgScape partnered with Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB), Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Boards (BHNCDSB), the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie, and the Haldimand County Economic Development & Tourism department for this event. AgScape’s press release said the event gives students the opportunity “to explore diverse career pathways within Ontario’s innovative agriculture and agri-food sector … and gain insights into the wide range of career opportunities available within the sector.”
Students from seven GEDSB and five BHNCDSB school groups made their way through 10 interactive hands-on stations and activities. Not only did they showcase their agriculture and food knowledge, but they also demonstrated their communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. The stations were manned by industry representatives and students had the added bonus of being able to chat and interact with industry experts. Each class earned points for active participation at each of the stations and the winning class earned a prize of seeds, soil, growing trays, maple candies, and a board game.
Mira Lyonblum, Executive Director of AgScape, shared that she “really hopes that students take away that they don’t need to change the career that they are interested in, be it a lawyer, engineer, etc. … but to see how those skills can be used in the future to contribute to the local food system.”
Lyonblum also noted, “We survey students and educators who participate in thinkAG Career Competitions; 76% of students see how their skills and interests can be applied to a career in agriculture and food, and 80% of teachers indicated that these events increased their students’ awareness of careers in agriculture and food.”
Participating organizations included representatives from 4-H Ontario, AgScape, Beef Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, W.J. Heaslip Ltd., and Worm Wrangler.
Engagement and Communication Specialist Sheri Budhram was pleased watching the students “become aware of career opportunities in the agriculture and food sector and the endless possibilities.”
The experiential learning that was acquired at the thinkAg Career Competition will go a long way to ensure that the ‘seeds’ for the next generation of the agri-food sector workforce are planted early.
For more information about AgScape and the Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie visit agscape.ca and workforceplanningboard.org.
