Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan Renew Commitment to Develop Young Agriculture Leaders in Saskatchewan

Released on December 9, 2020

The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are announcing $200,000 in renewed funding for the Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program (Next Gen), a Saskatchewan initiative delivered by Canadian Western Agribition (CWA).  The funding will take the program into 2023, allowing for two additional cycles of mentorship matches.

“Canada’s young agricultural professionals and producers are key to the future success of our sector,” said federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.  “Our government is working hard to ensure our youth have access to the necessary training and opportunities that will allow them to develop their skills to become leaders in the agriculture industry.  By ensuring they are equipped for the future, we can build a stronger, more prosperous agriculture industry in Saskatchewan and across the country.”

The objective of the program is to develop young leaders and prepare them to take on active roles in industry leadership, governance and efforts to build public trust.  The program does this by pairing each successful applicant with an established member of the agriculture industry.  It serves as an important part of our efforts to increase engagement between experienced professionals and the next generation of industry leaders.  This renewed funding will allow 16 new mentees to enter the program over the next two years.

“The agriculture sector is an important driver of economic activity in our province,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said.  “This program offers mentees new opportunities for knowledge sharing and network expansion while ensuring they have the resources they need to contribute to our thriving industry.”

Next Gen is funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $388 million investment in strategic initiatives for Saskatchewan agriculture by the federal and provincial governments.

“It’s exciting to watch the Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship program grow as it has over the last two years,” CWA President Chris Lees said.  “To see what the mentees are getting out of the program and the connections they’re making is something CWA is proud to be a part of.”

This year, eight applicants will be selected and paired with a mentor for an 18-month mentorship experience beginning in February 2021.  Applicants should have clear developmental goals and exhibit strong leadership potential.  More information about the program is available online at www.saskatchewan.ca/CAP.

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