Challenging youth leaders to create sustainable solutions
We’ve partnered with Syngenta Canada to challenge youth leaders create sustainable solutions and think critically about sustainable agriculture and food security at the community level. 4-H’ers have what it takes to innovatively solve some of the biggest challenges facing our planet. This challenge is one way to make a difference, and you could win up to $1000 in cash prizes for your club!
What is the AgriFood Challenge?
The AgriFood Challenge is a Canada-wide initiative challenging 4-H members to consider how you can take action in support of sustainable agriculture and food security in your community.
4-H’ers have what it takes to innovatively solve some of the biggest challenges facing our planet. This challenge is one way to make a difference!
With your club and individually, you’ve explored sustainable agriculture and food security through the Proud To Bee A 4-H’er, Dig Into Soil, and Food For Thought outreach kits and activity books.
In this challenge, you, your fellow 4-H’ers, and your club can put that learning into practice. You choose the most meaningful way to take action to support sustainable agriculture and food security in your community. This is your chance to live your 4-H Pledge by combining knowledge, hard work, and service.
There are 15 cash prizes of $500/each available to be won by Challenge participants.
- Cash prizes will be awarded to the club of the winning member(s).
- No club will be eligible to win more than $1,000 in total cash prizes.
- Both the club and the members who completed the winning challenge must be deemed ‘in good standing’ by their provincial association.
- Winners will be determined though a review process based on the information provided in the online challenge report including information such as: reason initiative was chosen, involvement of 4-H member(s), community impact, sharing of photos, and reflection of learnings.
Who Can Participate?
The challenge is open to all 4-H Canada members and 4-H Clubs in good standing. 4-H members of all ages are encouraged to participate.
Your group can be any size. Whether you choose to complete the challenge individually, in a small group with fellow club members, or as a whole club, you get to make this challenge your own!
AgriFood Challenge One Pager
Need more information or inspiration?
Key Dates for the 2025 AgriFood Challenge
April 30, 2025
AgriFood Challenge Launch
November 30, 2025
The Challenge Closes
2024 Winner Profiles
The Headingly 4-H Club’s AgriFood Challenge was designed to increase food security by showing how to stretch a food budget through couponing.
Their goal was to purchase 40 boxes of cereal with coupons and then donate them to the local food bank. They chose cereal because it is a staple food in many homes that can be eaten anytime. Plus, many cereals are made using Canadian-grown grains.
The club was inventive about how they collected coupons and then leveraged sales to stretch their dollars even further.
In the end, they met their goal of purchasing 40 boxes and also supported local families in need.
BC Growing Together
Setting up an education table at various local fairs and talking about the importance of sustainable agriculture was how Sadie U, member of the Pitt River Lamb, Beef and Swine Club, won an award in the 2024 AgriFood Challenge competition.
By growing a portable three sisters garden (made up of corn, beans and squash), creating a pollinator display, and handing out seed packets, Sadie engaged in conversations with her community about sustainable agriculture, companion planting and the importance of pollinators.
Having reached several hundred people last year, the plan is to build on 2024’s successes to reach more people during the 2025 county fair season.
Way to build buzz about sustainable agriculture, Sadie!
Sheep and sustainability
Who knew sheep were such stars of sustainable ag?
Sheep provide meat, milk and wool, a renewable resource that they regrow annually. Sheep also have less impact on grassland due to their smaller size, and their manure returns nitrogen to the soil. Sheep grazing also reduces invasive weeds and improves plant biodiversity.
Having discovered the many ways sheep are a sustainable form of agriculture, the Hanvover 4-H Club shared their discoveries at the local fair during achievement days, helping local beef farmers and others learn more about the many ways that sheep prove they aren’t baaa-d for the environment after all!
How You Can Participate
The AgriFood Challenge in 3 Simple Steps!
Choose your challenge group and try using the 4-H Do, Reflect, Apply approach to get started!
AGRIFOOD CHALLENGE
Step 1: DO
Use the Proud To Bee A 4-H’er, Dig Into Soil, and Food For Thought activity books to learn more about sustainable agriculture and food security. Try out some activities.
AGRIFOOD CHALLENGE
Step 2: REFLECT
Talk with your challenge group members about what you learned from the activity books and the activities you completed. How do these issues affect your community? Brainstorm ideas for how you can use what you’ve learned to take positive action.
AGRIFOOD CHALLENGE
Step 3: APPLY
With the support of your club leaders, choose what your action will be and make a plan for your challenge. Do you need any permission? Do you need supplies? How long will it take to complete your action? Who can you ask for help? What community resources can you make use of? When do you need to start? How can you involve others? What will the role of your challenge group members be?
Divide the work, roll up your sleeves and get started! There’s no better time to create positive change in your community than right now!
Be sure your plan allows you to complete your challenge before the deadline.
Please note: Applications for 2024 are now closed.
Challenge Terms and Conditions
There are 15 cash prizes of $500/each available to be won by Challenge participants. The following terms and conditions apply.
- Cash prizes will be awarded to the club of the winning member(s).
- No club will be eligible to win more than $1,000 in total cash prizes.
- Both the club and the members who completed the winning challenge must be deemed ‘in good standing’ by their provincial association.
- Winners will be determined though a review process based on the information provided in the online challenge report including information such as: reason initiative was chosen, involvement of 4-H member(s), community impact, sharing of photos, and reflection of learnings.
- A review panel including members of 4-H Canada staff and Syngenta staff will review all eligible submissions. The decisions of the review panel will be final.
- In order to be eligible for the review process, completed reports (including responding to all questions and uploading of all documents) must be completed by 11:59pm ET on Sunday December 8, 2024. Incomplete submissions or in progress reports will not be eligible.
The AgriFood Challenge Is Supported By:
Syngenta Canada