4-H Canada and BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions (BASF) are proud to announce their renewed partnership, which is designed to help youth leaders make positive contributions to their communities and advocate for important issues.
The renewed partnership is effective from 2021-2023. It will see BASF continue as the lead partner of 4-H Canada’s Community Engagement & Communications Pillar programming at both national and provincial levels via a three-year, $600,000 contribution agreement. The investment aims to engage more 4-H youth in building the skills necessary to share their passion and ideas to help build stronger Canadian communities.
“Throughout the first year of our partnership with 4-H Canada, we were constantly inspired by Canada’s youth – their drive to take action and inspire change within their local communities is admirable,” said Jonathan Sweat, Vice President, BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada. “We’re proud to extend our partnership with 4-H Canada and continue to ensure today’s youth have access to the skills and experiences they need to thrive and make a difference in the world.”
The announcement comes on the heels of a successful first year of partnership between 4-H Canada and BASF. In 2020, the partnership supported 4-H Canada’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), the annual Show Your 4-H Colours campaign and provincial youth leadership programming in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. These programs will continue to be funded through 2023.
“We’re excited to renew our partnership with BASF, and to continue advancing our shared value of empowering young Canadian leaders,” said Shannon Benner, 4-H Canada CEO. “This support ensures youth are given meaningful opportunities to explore the subjects important to them and their generation and create a positive impact on the world around them.
“YAC has built my confidence to speak up and contribute in various settings, and I’m grateful for the amazing opportunities it has provided me,” said George Meggison, Manitoba’s Youth Advisory Committee representative. “We’re excited to have BASF’s support to continue to provide these new opportunities to YAC members.”
4-H Canada and BASF Partnership
• BASF’s investment will continue to support 4-H Canada’s Community Engagement & Communications programming. This program empowers young people to make a positive difference in the world by volunteering in their local community and participating in globally-oriented initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• 4-H Canada and BASF’s partnership will also support 4-H Canada’s YAC as the national voice for 4-H youth in Canada and as contributors to the direction of 4-H operations and governance at the national level. As national 4-H youth ambassadors, YAC members bring their authentic voices to industry events, policy discussions, consultations and international conferences.
• The partnership includes support for Show Your 4-H Colours in November – the annual campaign that celebrates the 4-H movement from coast to coast. In 2020, thousands of youth members, leaders, alumni and supporters across Canada wore their green colours with pride for 4-H, posting to social media about 4-H, and raising funds for 4-H, which included a network of 4-H alumni within BASF who were proud to show their support.
• In addition to national programming, BASF’s investment will continue to support 4-H programming at the provincial level in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, and their own leadership development and ambassador opportunities for young people. More than 260 young people took part in these provincial programs in 2020.
