Podcast & Story: Young Farmer Summit unites 200+ agrarians in Red Deer

“[The under-40 group] is critical right now. Over the next 10 years, we’re going to see a significant amount of farm assets transferring from one generation to the next, like we’ve never seen before,” Fiske posits.

“We want to make sure that young producers are set up for success, and that they not just survive, but they thrive and can establish a business they can pass on for generations to come.”

Fiske says with it being families transferring these assets, there can also be an emotional component for people. There’s history and family dynamics, which he points out can complicate things from time to time.

“A limited number of producers actually have a written farm transition plan, so the sooner that producer can start one, the more options they’ll have,” he said. “That’s something we want people to not just be aware of, but to take action on.”

That’s not just to help farmers, but big picture it benefits all Canadians, he agrees.

With humans needing to eat, a healthy ag sector will have a massive say in creating a sustainable economy, communities and businesses, Fiske adds.

According to Fiske, mental health in farming has truly become a hot topic of discussion, with many rural producers realizing they have limited resources where they live.

“One, we want them to talk about mental health. People can feel that loneliness or the feeling of being on their own in many cases. We also want them to feel comfortable in seeking help, and maintaining strong connections,” he says.

“FCC has been highlighting this topic since 2018, and then COVID took it to a whole new level. I think the industry is rallying behind the importance of it, and we’re certainly seeing more dialogue.”

Fiske believes it’ll be a never-ending area of focus for the organization.

But whether they’re young or old, what about the supply of farmers in Canada?

Fiske explains what FCC calls ‘new entrants,’ meaning people completely new to farming entering that realm.

“That is an area of priority for us. We want to grow the industry. We try to provide not just programs of knowledge, but lending opportunities as well. It could be people who’ve grown up in Canada, or new Canadians, but there’s really great opportunity for us to welcome and nurture new entrants into agriculture,” he explains, saying there are many thousands of jobs to be filled in the next five or six years.

“We need to see new entrants. There’s going to be a labour shortage in agriculture, so there’s great opportunity.”

Fiske says it comes down to education and enabling those who have that dream.

He also believes Canadians should be extremely proud of the ag industry and those in it.

“I think we feed not just Canada, be we feed the world. I think that’s built on the foundation of thousands of producers across the country and they’re passionate. They’re very good at what they do,” he says.

“We talk about a CEO mindset. It comes down to each farmer, and I know we have some of the best farmers in the world. The next generation, I think, is just as passionate as the current one, and there are good things ahead for Canadian agriculture.”

To learn more about FCC Knowledge, visit fcc-fac.ca.

You can also listen to the Talking Farm and Food Podcast.

The Young Farmer Summit series heads to Drummondville, QC on Dec. 17, then will be in Regina, SK on Feb. 10, Lethbridge, AB on Feb. 25, before two virtual events on Mar. 17 and Mar. 31.

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by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Podcast & Story: Young Farmer Summit unites 200+ agrarians in Red Deer

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