Volunteers are becoming harder to find for all rural organizations

VANKLEEK HILL – With the 2024 fair season gaining steam, the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies is ramping up efforts to bring more young people into the fold to help sustain the organization over the long haul.

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“If we don’t build our youth programs, we won’t have the leaders of tomorrow,” observed Valerie Allen of OAAS District 1 who recently concluded a three-year stint as chair of the association’s youth committee.

Volunteers are becoming harder to find for all rural organizations including the OAAS. Starting them young has become imperative. What was needed to appeal to young people was incentives, Allen stated during a recent interview.

A few years ago, the committee developed a handbook of ways to engage youth, with mentoring practices, various governance structures, and information sharing on youth projects with fair boards across the province.

A component was added to the annual conference – presentations on how to involve youth in leadership activities; Successful roundtables have been held at district meetings to look at engagement options.

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“We weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel…but to discover what works and try it out in various contexts.”

Along the way Allen and other committee members learned some simple approaches to enticing youth including that they prefer to work with a buddy and to be overseen by a mentor in activity organizing. These are teenagers and having food available at the end of an event is always a big draw.

Many fair boards bring in youth helpers for part of the day and give them an entrance or midway pass for the end of the day. And it goes without saying that strong family ties to the fair help bring in young volunteers.

There has also been a focus on youth recognition. Three videos were created focusing on youth involvement to be used across the province; a merit certificate and pin were developed to be awarded to youth that made a significant contribution.

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A Youth of the Month program is also in play which will recognize on social media two or three exemplary young volunteers from across the province with photos and descriptions as submitted by their home agricultural societies.

Cash is being poured into youth development, primarily though proceeds from an auction of donated items held at the annual conference. In February, the 2024 auction raised more than $20,000.

A retired educator tied into a well-known farming family at Vankleek Hill, Allen underlined the annual OAAS-CCEA scholarship which provides $2000 to worthy applicants actively involved in their home societies and fairs. This year, there were six recipients, all university or college students and all female.

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“The auction helps replenish the fund established by the disbanded Central Canada Exhibition Association. The fund also helps pay for practical things such as producing youth videos.”

Lastly, Allen cited the Youth Ambassador Program operated by many Ontario societies to promote their mission and activities.

“The idea once again is to get involved and hopefully remain involved by participating in various meetings, seminars and special leadership workshops.”

And all ambassadors are invited to participate at the Canadian National Exhibition in a competition for cash, prizes and the opportunity to be the CNE ambassador: “It’s excellent for capacity building.”

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