The Bulkley Valley Groundbreakers Agriculture Association is helping connect youth with work on local farms.
The Youth on Farms program started in 2016 helping youth aged 15 to 30 find employment and training around agriculture.
“Some programs within the umbrella are paid and some are not so there’s a few different programs with Youth on Farms,” said Spokesperson Emma Anderson.
Most of its programs are currently full while looking for people to join its work bee program.
Some of the topics it touches on include skill building, training workshops, first aid, tool repair, and maintenance.
“The work bees and training days have become a time where young people can talk about various food production and discover what farming can be as a viable career path for young people,” said Anderson.
The program originally started with farms around the Smithers and Telkwa area, expanding west to the Hazelton area, with plans to work with farms further to the east.
“It’s definitely a reciprocal experience where the farmers get help for a day, and through the other programs even have young people work there for the whole summer,” Anderson said.
On top of working with various local farms, the program has worked with the school districts and community gardens in the area.
It included installing a drip irrigation system for the planter boxes at Muheim Elementary in Smithers.
More information about the program, including to sign up, can be found on the Groundbreaker’s website.
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