Leadership in 4-H is something that can be learned from doing – but getting tips to improve doesn’t hurt.
Melfort was the site of Saskatchewan 4-H’s northern Leaderama conference Dec. 2. This was the first time 4-H has held two of the conferences; before, they had one big one in Saskatoon. The southern one was in Moose Jaw.
“This is an event to help advance the leadership of our clubs, give leaders the tools that they need to run their clubs, manage some conflict if it arises, and it’s a good opportunity for leaders to connect with other leaders to get ideas of things to bring back to their own club,” said Autumn Lawson, a 4-H board member.
There were also sessions on developing unique and interesting projects, making meetings fun and succession planning.
“It’s a good thing for everyone to take a step back during this day just to look at their leadership skills and how they can improve them,” Lawson said. “I know even at our table we were talking about what other clubs do for conflict management and it gives fresh ideas to bring back to the club to make better decisions and just have better leadership as a whole.”
The keynote speakers were Guenette Bautz, the Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum’s general manager, and Carla Borsa, the Saskatchewan Young Ag Entrepreneurs’ general manager.
“My message to the participants is about taking your leadership strengths, taking your skills and becoming a leader – and that we all have leadership traits with us,” Bautz said. “We can all be leaders when we’re contributing to a greater cause.”
Bautz said conferences are important to develop leaders.
“It gives you the opportunity to grow and advance, identify your own skill-set. It gives you the confidence to go out and do more work in the ag industry using the skills you’ve gained,” she said. “It also builds your network and your contact base so that you can continue to do your work in a broader capacity.”
The Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum representative also wanted to let the 4-H participants know that there’s a need for leaders within the agriculture industry and that there’s plenty of room for them to use their skills when they are finished with 4-H.
“If you’re passionate and you offer your leadership traits, you can have a bigger part in advancing the ag industry and a greater impact than you may be aware you’re having.”
