The Canadian 4-H council recently announced a $200,000 grant from Kubota Canada Ltd., geared to assisting with sponsorship of regional and local 4-H shows across the country, culminating with the 2009 edition of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
The grant will help supply banners and signs, equipment, volunteers, and prizes for more than 150 events taking place across Canada.
“This investment into youth leadership development speaks clearly of Kubota’s values and vision,” said Lyndon Stewart, executive director of 4-H Ontario. “We are very pleased to welcome Kubota and its provincial dealer family to 4-H Ontario’s summit club, recognizing investments of $75,000 or more per year.”
For Kubota, whose sponsorship philosophy has revolved around youth, education, and creating opportunities, the money is a commitment to the future of youth in agriculture.
"All of us at Kubota Canada and throughout our dealer network are really pleased to be affiliated with 4-H right across Canada, and especially with 4-H Ontario right here in our home province,” said Ross Wallace, Kubota Canada general manager of sales and marketing.
“It all started with a co-sponsorship of the TD Canada Trust Agriculture Services youth leadership congress last year at the … Winter Fair.
“The quality of the young people we met within the dairy and beef competitions so impressed us that we decided right then and there that we wanted to broaden and deepen our relationship with 4-H.
“This led us to getting involved with as many local and regional 4-H events and fairs as we could,” he said.
“The response has been fantastic and we are now part of over 60 events across Canada with about two-thirds of them taking place in Ontario. We couldn’t be happier.
He said “4-H is a great fit … supporting youth, education, and creating opportunities.”
