10 years of our national young farmer program

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our national young farmer program. The program supports young egg farmers in their leadership journey within our sector by offering networking opportunities and educational sessions to expand knowledge and build skills. Thanks to the stability of the system of supply management, many young people are choosing rewarding careers in egg farming, and this program is just one of the ways we are preparing the next generation of leaders!

To celebrate this 10-year milestone, we brought alumni together for our Future Egg Leaders’ Summit—a day of continuing education, networking and skill-building. We sat down with four young leaders at the Summit: Marie-Pier Lefebvre from Quebec, Campbell Woike from British Columbia, John Huitema from Ontario and Lacey Merks from Nova Scotia. They shared their experiences and insights, reflecting on how the national young farmer program has shaped their perspective and why they’re excited about the future of the sector.

Read our Q&A to learn what they had to say.

Q: Why is the national young farmer program important?

Campbell: The national young farmer program is critical to our industry because it educates and builds networks for future leaders in egg farming. Networking is key and this program gives us the chance to get out there, meet people and build those important connections within the industry.

Q: Why should other young farmers take part in this national young farmer program?

Lacey: It’s been an education, for sure. There’s been a lot to learn, and it’s been a great experience. I also learned that egg farming is much bigger than what happens on the farm. It’s been amazing to create a community with people in other provinces.

Q: What is one key takeaway that stayed with you from the program?

Marie-Pier: The connections that were made. I was part of the 2016 program, and I’m so glad to see so many familiar faces in leadership roles on egg boards, the EFC Board of Directors and working in different areas in our communities. It’s very great to see!

Q: What’s one thing you want Canadians to know about egg farmers and the egg farming sector?

John: Basically, there is a safe, local and affordable supply of eggs available across the country. Many people might not necessarily think about that, but our industry has achieved that.

Q: What advice do you have for other young farmers?

Lacey: Don’t be afraid to ask questions, try new things and seek advice from those with more experience. We’re in a great industry with a wealth of knowledge that can help you grow and succeed.

John: I would say get involved in your industry and consider taking this young farmer program. I’m pretty young on my ‘getting involved’ journey, but so far, it’s been a great experience.

Q: This is the 10-year anniversary of the national young farmer program. What is your hope for Canada’s egg sector 10 years from now?

Campbell: I hope we continue to innovate and adapt to new challenges while maintaining our high standards. In 10 years, I want to see even more young farmers leading the way with new technologies and sustainable practices.

Marie-Pier: I hope it continues this way. I hope previous young farmers become the next generation, explaining how well they’ve done and all that they’ve accomplished throughout the years. And I hope that 10 years from now, we will still talk about young farmers and how important it is to teach history, how production works and how the system of supply management works.

As we celebrate 10 years of our national young farmer program, we remain steadfast in our commitment to empowering our next-gen leaders. The passion, innovation and dedication we see from these young farmers is inspiring us as we look to the future!

To learn more about the national young farmer program, download our fact sheet.

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