Are you a farmer looking to hire and mentor a young, new, or aspiring farmer?
Youth Employment and Skills Program
The Youth Employment and Skills Program is providing funding in 2020 for the creation of agricultural internships to youth and youth facing barriers. This is a program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and employers across the agriculture sector may apply for funding to hire Canadians, age 15 to 30. We reached out to inquire about their upcoming funding.
“We plan to have a short intake starting Jan 13, 2020 at 10:00 am EST for the $864,000 and then another in June for the $2,350,000. If you would like to get in on the Jan 13, 2020 intake, the application should be available from our website on Jan 6, 2020 for download. I would strongly suggest having your application complete and ready to submit as soon as intake opens as spots are going to fill in quickly with the limited funding.” – YESP Staff
Applicants are eligible to receive 50% of total eligible costs, up to a maximum of $14,000 in matching funds. For those hiring youth facing barriers, 80 percent of total eligible costs up to $14,000 are eligible. Program staff also mentioned a second intake later in the year.
If you are a mentor in the Alberta Apprenticeship program, we support farm mentors and employers in grant writing. Contact Kolby at apprenticeship@youngagrarians.org
If you are hosting a farm apprenticeship in the prairie provinces, or are interested in hosting an apprentice on your farm, please reach out to us to learn more about our apprenticeship program and how you can be involved. To chat with YA staff about apprenticeship opportunities throughout the Prairie provinces, please contact
Kolby Peterson, Apprenticeship Coordinator | apprenticeship@youngagrarians.org
Supporting the new, young, and aspiring ecological farmers, but also the farmers who are stepping into mentorship roles, is vital for the future of farming! It can be challenging to meet financial and labour needs on a farm, and this program will help support the intergenerational transfer of knowledge that farming communities need to experience for their continued vibrancy and regeneration. The availability of funding such as this demonstrates a commitment by governments to the new generation of farmers and agriculture-sector professionals.