Agriculture Industry Encourages Young People To Be Involved In Agriculture

As the average age of Canadian farmers continues to rise, many groups, including Protein Industries of Canada are taking steps to encourage the next generation to get involved in agriculture.

 

Recently, it launched a program aimed at introducing students to a wide variety of possible careers, including agri-food and the study plant proteins. The program is open to youth from kindergarten to grade 12, and will focus primarily on the three prairie provinces. The target is to reach close to 70 thousand students over the next few years, by helping them increase their knowledge of the industry. Canada's newest Minister of Innovation, Francois Phillipe Champagne says we must ensure we have a skilled workforce representing the diversity of talent that exists in Canada.

 

Protein Industries Canada is planning to invest more than 15 million dollars into various activities in Canada's agri-food sector.  For more information on the program to target youth in the Prairies, visit the news release from Protein Industries Canada, and for more information on the activities to build capacity, visit their Program Information Page. 

Video: Jim Smalley: The Voice That Defined Saskatchewan Agriculture Journalism | CKRM 100th Anniversary

Our next 620 CKRM Icon is Jim Smalley. Jim reflects on his remarkable career, from his early days in Ontario and his first steps into news, to his move west and his lasting impact on Saskatchewan’s airwaves.

After joining CKRM in 1982, Jim spent more than four decades as one of the province’s most trusted and recognizable voices. Jim defined agricultural journalism — not just in Saskatchewan, but across Canada. His commitment to telling the stories of farmers, rural communities, and the people behind the headlines set the standard. Now retired from the newsroom that proudly bears his name, Jim shares memorable stories from his time on air. A broadcaster, a storyteller, and a true voice of Saskatchewan — Jim Smalley’s legacy continues to resonate at CKRM and beyond.