Children ages 5 – 13 years and their families are invited to enter the Junior Farmer Program.
The focus is to help children grow vegetables or herbs in containers and allow them to track their progress by creating a journal. The program launches at the Quesnel Farmer’s Market, June 4, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The vegetables/herbs will then be exhibited and judged at the Quesnel Fall Fair Aug. 20 in the Junior Farmer Category.
The produce may be dehydrated into healthy snacks after the judging and each child completing the program will graduate as a “Junior Farmer.” There are two categories for participants. They include the beginner category (ages five – eight) and the advanced category (ages nine – 13.)
The beginner category will be judged as container gardening and the advanced category will be judged with a plot or container garden. For entries grown in plots, the creation of static displays through pictures may be used for judging.
The purpose of the Junior Farmer Program is to encourage young people to farm and produce local food, aid in creating healthy sustainable communities and address food security issues such as food production in urban areas. Registered participants will have all the required equipment supplied at no charge. Registration forms may be located at, www.farmed.ca.
Sponsors of this program include FARMED (North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association) Northern Health Authority (HEAL), Quesnel Community Foundation, Community Futures, Quesnel Farmers’ Market and the Quesnel Agricultural and Exhibition Association.