Competition Deadline Nears for Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture Competition

Aug 18, 2017

The topics for 2017 are:

Working in agriculture is more than just farming.
Does digital farming have a place in the future of Canadian agriculture?
Farm gate to dinner plate: The importance of food traceability for Canadian consumers.
How will we feed 9 billion people by 2050?
Food waste: What is the global impact and who is responsible for making a change?

Competitors can easily register online and find information about accommodation assistance, rules and regulations, and more at www.cysa-joca.ca.

Each year the renowned public speaking competition is held at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. The competition is open to youth ages 11 to 24 with a passion for agriculture whether raised on a farm, in the country or in the city.

Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture is a national, bilingual competition that gives participants an opportunity to share their opinions, concerns and solutions affecting the Canadian agriculture and agri-food industries in a five- to seven-minute prepared speech.

Since the first competition held at the Royal Winter Fair in honour of the International Year of the Youth in 1985, it has gone on to become the premier public speaking event in Canada for young people interested in agriculture, with more than 1000 participants over the last 32 years.

Source: CYSA JOCA

Video: California Farm Bureau 2025 Farm Dog of the Year Contest Winner - Willy - CAFB 107th Annual Meeting

Meet Willy: California Farm Bureau’s 2025 Farm Dog of the Year!

We’re excited to introduce Willy, a miniature long-haired dachshund with a big heart and even bigger courage, and the Grand Prize winner of this year’s Farm Dog of the Year Contest!

Willy may be small, but he’s become an indispensable partner on owner Marshal Hagedorn’s forestry and cattle operations in Shasta, Tehama, and Siskiyou counties. Adopted in 2023, he quickly found his place on the ranch, helping manage critters, tagging along for long days in the woods, and offering unwavering companionship during demanding logging work.

Willy has even taken naturally to moving cattle, surprising calves (and more than a few full-grown cows!) with his burst of energy from the tall grass. As Marshal put it: “He goes with me everywhere every single day.”

Congratulations to Willy and his family, a perfect example of how every good farm dog, no matter the size, helps keep California agriculture running strong.