At Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan, we’re sometimes asked how we work together with other organizations in our province, like Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan or 4-H Saskatchewan. This July at Ag in Motion offered a perfect example of how we’re jointly working towards building trust in agriculture.
Those of you who attended this year’s Ag in Motion outside of Langham, SK realize that it attracts a significant number of farmers. These farmers are typically looking at new technology, seed varieties, and marketing options, or simply networking with other growers from across Western Canada. That concentration of producers in one place presents a valuable opportunity for public trust organizations to engage directly with the agriculture industry and share the work we’re doing on its behalf.
Although Farm & Food Care, Agriculture in the Classroom, and 4-H serve different target audiences, we all share the goal of helping people understand the food system to a higher degree. Agriculture in the Classroom focuses on placing resources with teachers and engaging students from kindergarten through Grade 12. 4-H aims to build our agriculture leaders of tomorrow through hands-on learning and mentorship. Farm & Food Care works to ensure the consuming public has answers to food-related questions and feels confident in how their food is grown. Individually, these are tall tasks but attainable ones, and easier when we pull in the same direction.
Sharing space at Ag in Motion gave us the chance to discuss our similarities and differences with farmers and industry leaders face to face. Many stopped by simply curious about who does what, and left with a clearer picture of how the three organizations fit together: students encounter agriculture through Agriculture in the Classroom, youth develop leadership skills through 4-H, and adult consumers find credible answers through Farm & Food Care. It’s a continuum, not a competition.
When we work together, we get further in the public trust discussion. Numerous farmers and industry leaders commented on how encouraging it was to see our three organizations collaborating for the betterment of the industry. Those comments matter — they signal that the industry sees value in a coordinated approach.
Our hope is that this partnership becomes a fixture for future collaborations. Building public trust in agriculture is a long game, and it’s one we’re far more likely to win together than apart.