Ag education important to today's youth

Sep 30, 2022

It was a big night for the Yorkton Mill Heritage Society as it held its annual fundraising dinner.

Not only was it a night for a full house to hear guest speaker Sara Shymko talk about the importance or teaching agriculture in the classroom, but two major donations were announced.

Grain Millers has taken naming rights on the planned interpretative centre at the old mill for a donation of $100,000, and Ernie Aniuk has made a donation in a similar amount.

The dual donation push mill fundraising efforts past $1 million, about one-third of the amount the project will need.

In her presentation Shymko, who is executive director of Agriculture in the Classroom, said the interpretive centre can be an important local spot in terms of offering education to students about farming.

Shymko said teaching the history of farming connects directly to the history on Saskatchewan and “it matters.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.