N.B. Young Farmers’ Forum seeks new members
/by Lisa Ashworth
The New Brunswick Young Farmers’ Forum (NBYFF) provides a voice for the young farmer community in New Brunswick. Established in the spring of 2008 with the assistance of the Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum (CYFF), it works closely with the CYFF and other provincial young farmer groups to foster opportunities for member networking, communication, and learning in a rapidly evolving agriculture industry.
Young farmer members (ages 18 to 40) gather for annual general meetings, professional and business development meetings, and agricultural tours and workshops. At these events, members acquire new contacts, skills, and ideas they can use to enhance the management of their farm businesses.
Participating in the NBYFF provides young farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to lead and sit on boards in the future and to master skills such as equity development, communication, business planning, and technology and data management – key skills young farmers need to become successful farm business managers.
MEMBER EXPERIENCE
NBYFF president Carolyn Wilson, who is also a CYFF board member, heard about the NBYFF though a farmer friend on the organization’s board. She was finishing her studies at Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus and was looking for a way to connect with other young people who were farming or were interested in farming.
She said that being a member has provided her with many benefits, including board experience both with the NBYFF and representing New Brunswick on the CYFF board. Other benefits are the farmer friends she’s made though the organization and the connections with others in the industry, such as different commodity board members and lenders.
Ellen Folkins tells a similar story. A director-at-large with the NBYFF, she heard about the organization through NBYFF members with whom she attended Dalhousie University with when she was studying for her bachelor of science degree.
“They invited me to the AGM, and I’ve been a member ever since,” said Ellen. “I joined in 2016 because I found value in being a part of the organization and really enjoyed networking and collaborating with other young New Brunswickers in the agriculture industry.
“The NBYFF has been helpful to me by having industry information and updates available, providing experience and training on formal meeting etiquette, and leadership opportunities by being a board member,” she added. “I have also gained countless contacts and friends that share the same passion for agriculture that I have.”
NEW STRATEGIC PLAN
The NBYFF is completing a new strategic plan to replace the last one covering 2015 to 2020. The main goal with this strategic plan is to attract more young farmers as members. This will include working more with other commodity groups as well as partnering with young farmer groups in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The new strategic plan will be presented to members at the NBYFF’s annual general meeting on Jan. 12. The meeting takes place at 8 p.m. via Zoom. Anyone interested in attending the meeting or joining the NBYFF can email info@nbyff.ca. You can also sign up during the AGM.
To join the NBYFF, you just need to be a New Brunswick farmer aged 18 to 40. You don’t have to belong to a specific commodity to join. Visit nbyff.ca for more information.
(Lisa Ashworth is president of the Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick.)
