4-H can partner to Drive Away Hunger with Farm Credit Canada

As one of Food Banks Canada's Top 10 Food Drives, FCC Drive Away Hunger is making an impact in rural communities across the country...and 4-H can help!

Ten years ago, Farm Credit Canada started Drive Away Hunger.  FCC knew this was something close to the hearts of their customers and employees, and wanted a way to band together to help Canadian food banks help those who go hungry.

Since then, FCC employees and community partners have raised over 11 million pounds of food for food banks in Canada.

This year, until October 18, anyone can make donations of food and cash at your nearest FCC office. Furthermore, 4-H Clubs, Districts and Regions can go above and beyond that and organize their own food drive! In doing so, 4-H can become an official Partner with FCC Drive Away Hunger. To become an official partner each individual club will have to fill out the Letter of Agreement 2013 (by October 9th). For more information or to register as a partner, please email: amanda.wood@fcc.ca.

In addition to feeling great about your contribution, FCC will recognize your club/district/region as a Partner, if you register by October 9th! Partners are essential to FCC Drive Away Hunger.  Your cash and contributions go directly to the registered food bank of your choice and help your community reduce hunger. All donations must be dropped off at the local food bank of your choice and the pounds and dollars raised submitted to FCC by October 20th in order to count towards this year's Drive Away Hunger campaign.

Throughout your campaign 4-H members can use their marketing, community service and public speaking skills to support the Drive Away Hunger! These are valuable life skills that truly set 4-H members apart from their contemporaries. 

This opportunity is also a nice tie into the 100th Anniversary of 4-H Canada Celebrations. The Canadian 4-H Council, as part of their celebrations, has challenged and encouraged all 4-H clubs and councils to make a donation to their local food banks. 4-H Alberta's goal is to raise the most food and funds compared to all other provinces and supporting FCC Drive Away Hunger can help meet that goal!

FCC Drive Away Hunger Tours

Tractor tours will take place the week of October 14 in Alberta, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan, including the FCC corporate office in Regina.

Tractor tours in Alberta will be taking place on the following dates:

• Brooks and Medicine Hat - October 16, 2013
• Leduc - October 16, 2013
• Lethbridge - October 17, 2013
• Stony Plain - October 17, 2013
• Fort Saskatchewan - October 18, 2013

Opportunities for 4-H to help directly with these tours may also be available (i.e. delivering and unpacking goods at the local food bank).

If you have questions about FCC Drive Away Hunger and would like to get involved please email: amanda.wood@fcc.ca or call: 306.780.3865. 

Did You Know?

38 per cent of the over 900,000 people who use a Canadian food bank are children? That's more than 338,000 kids right here at home who regularly have to go hungry.

Join Ag for Life for the second annual Harvest Gala

Ag for Life will be hosting its second annual Harvest Gala at Northlands in Edmonton on Saturday, November 2, 2013. 

 

This event supports the work Ag for Life does with agriculture education and farm safety programs across Alberta and is a wonderful evening of great Alberta food, entertainment and networking.  If you're interested in supporting a strong agricultural industry, learning about the programs Ag for Life supports and having a great time at this end of harvest event, please visit Ag for Life's website here to purchase tickets. 

 

4-H Ambassadors Needed

 

4-H Alberta is currently looking for eight to 10 4-H Alberta Ambassadors to volunteer at the Harvest Gala.  Ambassadors will be helping to set up the event, greet guests and host different areas of the Gala.  For more information and to commit, please contact Vanessa Bosworth, ph: 1.877.682.2153, email: Bosworth@4hab.com. Deadline to commit is October 17, 2013. 

Deadline for UFA 4-H Alumni Service Award Quickly Approaching

UFA & 4-H Alberta will once again recognize one 4-H alumni volunteer for their outstanding 2013 contributions to their communities.  Applications can be submitted, no later than November 30, 2013.

 

The UFA 4-H Alumni Service Award will recognize a recipient who has demonstrated leadership through volunteerism. This recipient must have made noteworthy contributions to the development and advancement of their local community by getting involved in 4-H and other community activities.

In order to be recognized, the 4-H Alumni recipient must:

• be newly nominated in 2013 (nominees that have not won in the past may re-apply yearly);
• be between the age of 20 and 35;
• have pursued post-secondary education;
• have returned and remain committed to their rural roots;
• and enhanced their community as a 4-H volunteer for at least two years.

The recipient of the UFA 4-H Alumni Volunteer Service Award will also be presented with a $2,000 UFA gift  certificate in recognition of the contributions.

For more information, please contact:

Carmen Stone

Manager, Corporate Partnerships

4-H Foundation of Alberta

(c) 403.869.3528

NOMINATION FORM AVAILABLE HERE.

Applications to be submitted to:

Jessica Patten

4-H Foundation of Alberta

Email: patten@4hab.com

Fax: 780.682.3784

Mail: 4-H Foundation of Alberta, R.R.1, Westerose, Alberta T0C 2V0

Photography needed for 4-H Alberta Corporate Partnerships Appreciation Evening

October 30, 2013 - the 3rd annual 4-H Alberta Corporate Partnerships Appreciation Evening will take place.  This year, the event will be hosted by the 4-H Foundation of Alberta and the Wheatland 4-H District at the Strathmore Civic Centre in Strathmore, Alberta.

 

The Appreciation Evening will kick off at 5:00 p.m., and from 5:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.  the entire hall will be devoted to an engaging and energetic 4-H Showcase.

 

Currently, the 4-H Foundation of Alberta is seeking photos to display at the 4-H Showcase. Pictures can be 4-H photography projects or representations of life as a 4-H member in rural Alberta.  Corporate Partners (sponsors) will be able to view the photographs throughout the evening and get to see first hand the true benefits of 4-H Alberta.

 

Electronic images, accompanied by the name of the photographer, 4-H Club and a brief description of the subject matter, can be emailed to: pieschel@4hab.com by October 13, 2013. 

Alberta Milk funding available for 4-H Alberta Dairy Clubs

 

Alberta Milk has indicated that they have $250 in funding available for each 4-H Dairy Club in the province for the 2013/2014 club year.  To access the funding, each individual club is to contact:

Karlee Conway
Corporate Communications Coordinator
Alberta Milk
Ph: 780.577.3305
Email: kconway@albertamilk.com

Caring for our Watersheds Teams up with 4-H

Are you in Grades 7 - 12? Enter Agrium's Caring for Our Watersheds (CFW) environmental contest for a chance to win cash for your ideas and cash for your 4-H Club!

 

CFW asks youth to submit a proposal that answers the question, "What can you do to improve your watershed?". Teams research their local watershed, identify an environmental concern and come up with one realistic solution.

 

Across Alberta nearly $40,000 will be awarded to students and schools or clubs who participate.

 

Club Prize - For every 10 entries win $100 cash (based on first 500 entries) and all finalists will win matching cash awards for their club. This means that if your 4-H team finishes in first place, the team wins $1000 and the club wins $1000.  Plus, there is still money to implement the idea!

 

To qualify, a club must register online at www.caringforourwatersheds.com. All club members must select their club when they enter the contest.

 

Central Alberta Contest Entry Deadline - Thursday, April 3, 2014

Contact: Nathalie@battleriverwatershed.ca

 

Southern Alberta Contest Entry Deadline - Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Contact: Laura.Ewtushik@calgary.ca

 

Free watershed presentations, mentorship and resources are available upon request.

FortisAlberta Caring for Our Communities Contest Returns *New and Improved*

 

FortisAlberta has announced that 2013 will mark the 3rd Annual Community Cares Contest.  ALL 4-H Clubs ACROSS ALBERTA are invited to enter the contest, complete a community improvement venture and submit their before/after presentation or "Journey", via the 4-H Alberta Facebook page.  This contest runs from September 1, 2013 until June 30, 2014. 

Four top prizes will be awarded - $1000 each!

 

For more information, please contact Rae-Lee Pieschel, 4-H Foundation of Alberta, phone: 587.999.2240, email: pieschel@4hab.com or visit: www.4h.ab.ca and check out the "Contest" page. 

Support 4-H when you book a flight, car, hotel or packaged travel!

 

I.T.S. Travel & Cruise 4-H Alberta Bookings Program offers the opportunity for all members of the 4-H community to easily, affordably and conveniently support local 4-H clubs. 

 

I.T.S. Travel & Cruise, a family owned and operated agency offering personalized travel arrangements around the world, assists in booking airfares, package holidays, cruise vacation, escorted tours and many other travel options at competitive prices.

 

As a 4-H Alberta Champion supporter, I.T.S. Travel & Cruise is proud to offer the ability to provide direct club support while making a booking through them. The 4-H Community throughout Alberta, including parents, leaders, members and families can utilize I.T.S. Travel & Cruise services to book a flight, car, hotel, etc. and support their local 4-H organization. Upon making a booking, all patrons can specify which local 4-H Alberta club they wish to benefit as a result of using I.T.S. for their travel arrangements.

 

The amount of services and travel purchased will then determine the financial support going back to the patron's 4-H Alberta club of choice, and the 4-H Foundation of Alberta.

 

I.T.S. has committed to the following financial dollars, based on booking amounts, to be forwarded to local clubs and the 4-H Foundation of Alberta:

 

• Up to $999 receives $25.00 per person
• $2000 - $4999 receives $50.00 per person
• $5000+ receives $100 per person

 

75% of the financial support based on the booking amounts listed above will go directly to the club; the remaining 25% will go to the 4-H Alberta Member and Leader Travel Fund. 

 

How to use the Bookings Program:

 

Anytime throughout the year, book a flight, car, hotel, etc. by contacting I.T.S. Travel & Cruise:

 

I.T.S. Travel & Cruise

Lynn Holinski

5056 - 50th Street

Innisfail, Alberta T4G 1S7

Phone: 1.877.227.4348

Email: lynn@itstvl.com

 

Upon booking, state the 4-H Club you would like to receive the financial benefit from your booking.  75% of the financial support based on the bookings amounts listed above will go directly to the club you specify; the remaining 25% will go to the 4-H Alberta Member and Leader Travel Fund. 

 

On a quarterly basis, each 4-H club that was selected by the patron when making their bookings will receive the applicable financial dollars directly from the 4-H Foundation of Alberta via electronic funds transfer (EFT). 

 

For More Information regarding the 4-H Alberta Bookings Program or I.T.S. Travel & Cruise please contact:

 

Rae-Lee Pieschel

4-H Foundation of Alberta

Phone: 587.999.2240

Email: pieschel@4hab.com