Chicken Farmers of Canada’s Young Farmers Program 2025-2026 Application

Chicken Farmers Of Canada
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Chicken Farmers of Canada’s Young Farmers Program 2025-2026 Application

What is the Young Farmer’s Program?

The Chicken Farmers of Canada’s Young Farmer Program is a professional development program that teaches young leaders in the chicken sector about governance, succession planning and personal branding, while also getting to network with key agriculture and government stakeholders. It also helps young farmers better understand the sector and gives them the tools to succeed. Every year, five young farmers will be selected to participate in the 18-month program. We will strive to have a distribution of candidates from across the country:

One representative from the Atlantic Provinces
One from Ontario
One from Quebec
Two from the Western provinces.

Young chicken farmers selected for this program will gain valuable experience by meeting other emerging leaders within the sector. Participants will also get to share their knowledge with policy makers and stakeholders within the agriculture sector. The Program will give young farmers the tools and training to continue growing in the industry, with the long-term goal of having them play a larger role in governing and promoting chicken farming in Canada.

Applications close November 8, 2024.

Are you eligible to apply?

The ideal candidates:

Should be between the ages of 18-40 (highly recommended, but not required)
Must be in good standing with the Provincial Board and be in compliance with all orders, regulations and rules of the Provincial Board and of Chicken Farmers of Canada
Should have some experience with community involvement
Must demonstrate a willingness to learn and participate fully
Must have, or be willing to develop a social media presence
Each participant will be required to agree to and sign various forms, such as a Code of Conduct and Confidentiality Undertaking, similar to the one signed by members of the CFC Board
Applicants do not need to hold quota in order to apply; however, if they do not hold quota, they must include a reference letter from a quota holder. The reference letter from the quota holder must address a series of provided questions.
Applicants must be Canadian resident

What does it entail?

The program is an 18-month commitment with interactive meetings, training and events. When applying for the program, please keep in mind that you will need to be available for the following events (some dates to be confirmed and events subject to change)*

*Attend Chicken Farmers of Canada Annual General Meeting and the Joint Annual Reception in Ottawa, Ontario (March 18-19, 2025 and/or 2026)
*Attend an orientation session in early spring (included is a Communications and Media Training in Ottawa, Ontario (Spring 2025)
*Attend annual Lobby Day and Board of Directors meeting in Ottawa, Ontario (April 29-30, 2025)
*Attend the Chicken Farmers of Canada Annual Summer Meeting in New Brunswick (August 2025)
Partnership Activations (TBD)
Agricultural Excellence Conference (November 2025)
Attend a wrap up meeting online (November 2025)

*Required Meetings

Please note: Failure to attend two or more of the required meetings will result in a revaluation of your participation in the Chicken Farmers of Canada’s Young Farmer’s Program.

How do I apply?

The application process is simple! Simply fill out the form below and submit a 1 minute video make sure to provide the following:

If you hold quota: Please provide us with your quota number issued on behalf of Chicken Farmers of Canada by the Provincial Board, in the province where their registered production facilities are located.
If you do not hold quota, work on your family farm or are an eligible producer in Newfoundland and Labrador, please provide us with a letter of recommendation from the quota holder. If you are working on the family farm, the letter of recommendation must contain an outline of the succession plan with a clear path to ownership, as well as years served on the farm, duties performed, etc. If you are a producer in Newfoundland and Labrador, the quota holder (processor) or licensee (farmer) could write the letter of recommendation.

You must submit a 1 Minute Video

1 Minute Video

A 1 minute video explaining why you would like to be a part of the Chicken Farmers of Canada’s Young Farmers Program, why you are an ideal candidate and what you would like to get out of this program.

Please note: Provincial Boards are responsible for selecting their candidate for consideration. Should you have any questions regarding the status of your application, please contact your Provincial Board.

Young Chicken Farmers

First Name*
Last Name*
Email*
Address*
City*
Province*
Postal Code*
Date of Birth*
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Primary Phone Number*
Cell Phone Number
Do You Hold Quota?*
Quota Number/License*
Letter of recommendation from quota holder*
Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, gif, jpg, png, pages, Max. file size: 50 MB.
Are You a Canadian Resident?*
What allocation period are we in?*
Please answer the following questions:
For each question please enter a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 500 words.
1. Tell us about yourself (e.g. hobbies, interests, schooling, family and interesting facts)*
2. How did you get into chicken farming?*
3. What are your future aspirations in farming, and in the chicken sector in particular?*
4. Share a bit about previous and current community service experience, or extra-curricular activities you partake in*
5. Are you familiar with social media? If so, what social media platforms do you have, and what is your intended use or goal of your social media account? (e.g. family and friends, and/or farm and education?) If you are not on social media, are you interested in learning about it and why do you think it’s important?*
6. Are there any dates that you are unavailable for travel in 2024 / 2025? (Optional)
1-Minute Video Submission*
Please Note: Once your video has been uploaded you must return to this page to complete your submission.

Click Here to Submit Your Video
*
- I have uploaded a video submission to Dropbox using the above link.
Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) is committed to diversity and equity in its selection process. CFC encourages applications from all qualified candidates, and treats all applicants fairly, regardless of their race, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any of the other grounds of discrimination listed in the Canadian Human Rights Act. Should you require accommodation in relation to a disability during the selection process, please tell us as soon as possible. This information will be kept confidential.
Deadline to apply is November 8, 2024

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Chicken Farmers of Canada’s Young Farmers Program, please contact Erin Callary at youngfarmers@chicken.ca or you can contact your Provincial Board.

Applications close November 8, 2024.

Testimonials

“The CFC Young Farmers Program has not only been an opportunity to learn about the overall sector and how it all works beyond the barn yard, but has also given me the chance to meet many other producers from across Canada and CFC staff members who I’ve been able to form relationships with which I will carry with me for years to come. The program has been a stepping stone to becoming more involved within the industry and has given me the surety in myself to accept a position with my provincial chicken marketing board, of which I now serve as a director, and participate in more roles within the sector. My confidence in myself has grown so much thanks to this program and I will forever be thankful for being given the opportunity to participate at the point in my life when I can use these skills in real time and carry them with me throughout my career in the chicken sector.”

– Amy Vanderheide, Young Farmer, Nova Scotia

“Following the [Young Farmers] program, I now sit as a board director for Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan and Farm and Food Care SK. I also take on various speaking engagements and advocacy projects. Not only has the CFC program offered a wealth of information, it was also a lot of fun! Having the chance to travel and spend time with other young farmers is an invaluable experience that I am very thankful for.”

– Tiffany Martinka, Young Farmer, Saskatchewan (now on a Director for the Chicken Farmers of Canada Board of Directors)

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