Why Agriculture Needs Millennials | Sara Kate Smith | TEDxYouth@Langley

at home in between my door and bookshelf

at home in between my door and bookshelf is a vision board created when I was 14

is a vision board created when I was 14

is a vision board created when I was 14 partially out of curiosity and partially

partially out of curiosity and partially

partially out of curiosity and partially because my mother said it was a good

because my mother said it was a good

because my mother said it was a good idea and while the concept of putting a

idea and while the concept of putting a

idea and while the concept of putting a goal on your wall and then not really

goal on your wall and then not really

goal on your wall and then not really thinking about it seemed unrealistic I

thinking about it seemed unrealistic I

thinking about it seemed unrealistic I tried it anyway

tried it anyway

tried it anyway incidentally on that vision board was

incidentally on that vision board was

incidentally on that vision board was the Ted logo symbolizing my goal of

the Ted logo symbolizing my goal of

the Ted logo symbolizing my goal of wanting to speak right here when well I

wanting to speak right here when well I

wanting to speak right here when well I would love to talk about setting goals

would love to talk about setting goals

would love to talk about setting goals or communications or having your mother

or communications or having your mother

or communications or having your mother constantly prove herself right I’m here

constantly prove herself right I’m here

constantly prove herself right I’m here to address a more pressing issue

to address a more pressing issue

to address a more pressing issue agriculture through my many years and

agriculture through my many years and

agriculture through my many years and the 4-h program showing an exhibiting

the 4-h program showing an exhibiting

the 4-h program showing an exhibiting livestock

livestock

livestock I gained a deep passion for agriculture

I gained a deep passion for agriculture

I gained a deep passion for agriculture and for youth leadership throughout my

and for youth leadership throughout my

and for youth leadership throughout my 4-h career I was inspired by many youth

4-h career I was inspired by many youth

4-h career I was inspired by many youth advocates for agriculture and what I

advocates for agriculture and what I

advocates for agriculture and what I found the most inspiring the most

found the most inspiring the most

found the most inspiring the most motivating and the most humbling was

motivating and the most humbling was

motivating and the most humbling was that the majority of those who spoke

that the majority of those who spoke

that the majority of those who spoke with such a passion for agriculture who

with such a passion for agriculture who

with such a passion for agriculture who shared their ideas on how to expand the

shared their ideas on how to expand the

shared their ideas on how to expand the industry had yet to celebrate their 25th

industry had yet to celebrate their 25th

industry had yet to celebrate their 25th birthday

birthday

birthday however the generation most adept at

however the generation most adept at

however the generation most adept at using an iPhone is under constant

using an iPhone is under constant

using an iPhone is under constant scrutiny there’s the perception that

scrutiny there’s the perception that

scrutiny there’s the perception that Millennials don’t work as hard as our

Millennials don’t work as hard as our

Millennials don’t work as hard as our parents our grandparents and our and the

parents our grandparents and our and the

parents our grandparents and our and the generations previous we have to look

generations previous we have to look

generations previous we have to look past this because we were instilled with

past this because we were instilled with

past this because we were instilled with the same values of hard work dedication

the same values of hard work dedication

the same values of hard work dedication and perseverance as the generations

and perseverance as the generations

and perseverance as the generations before us even if we portray it a little

before us even if we portray it a little

before us even if we portray it a little bit differently these negative

bit differently these negative

bit differently these negative connotations can lead us to question

connotations can lead us to question

connotations can lead us to question whether or not we as Millennials are

whether or not we as Millennials are

whether or not we as Millennials are ready ready to be the leaders in our

ready ready to be the leaders in our

ready ready to be the leaders in our country the pillars in our community and

country the pillars in our community and

country the pillars in our community and the generation responsible for providing

the generation responsible for providing

the generation responsible for providing enough food for the largest population

enough food for the largest population

enough food for the largest population our world has ever seen

our world has ever seen

our world has ever seen but I believe that yes we are ready new

but I believe that yes we are ready new

but I believe that yes we are ready new generations have a greater understanding

generations have a greater understanding

generations have a greater understanding of technology and contrary to popular

of technology and contrary to popular

of technology and contrary to popular belief work ethic but more importantly

belief work ethic but more importantly

belief work ethic but more importantly than that Millennials are educated

than that Millennials are educated

than that Millennials are educated universities are offering more and more

universities are offering more and more

universities are offering more and more courses and degrees with a focus on

courses and degrees with a focus on

courses and degrees with a focus on agriculture in engineering marketing

agriculture in engineering marketing

agriculture in engineering marketing Business Administration agribusiness

Business Administration agribusiness

Business Administration agribusiness research and science my generation

research and science my generation

research and science my generation understands that there is more to

understands that there is more to

understands that there is more to agriculture than just a farmer and a

agriculture than just a farmer and a

agriculture than just a farmer and a consumer that there are transporters and

consumer that there are transporters and

consumer that there are transporters and marketers and veterinarians and many

marketers and veterinarians and many

marketers and veterinarians and many other key positions that allow our food

other key positions that allow our food

other key positions that allow our food to go from the field to the table in the

to go from the field to the table in the

to go from the field to the table in the past farming was a relatively

past farming was a relatively

past farming was a relatively self-contained operation but it

self-contained operation but it

self-contained operation but it certainly won’t be in the future we will

certainly won’t be in the future we will

certainly won’t be in the future we will see the network of Canadian agriculture

see the network of Canadian agriculture

see the network of Canadian agriculture grow to fit the modern world now more

grow to fit the modern world now more

grow to fit the modern world now more than ever there are opportunities to get

than ever there are opportunities to get

than ever there are opportunities to get involved in your food sustainability

involved in your food sustainability

involved in your food sustainability because you don’t have to be a farmer to

because you don’t have to be a farmer to

because you don’t have to be a farmer to have an impact on Canadian agriculture

have an impact on Canadian agriculture

have an impact on Canadian agriculture according to the government of Canada’s

according to the government of Canada’s

according to the government of Canada’s 2015 Canadian agricultural outlook the

2015 Canadian agricultural outlook the

2015 Canadian agricultural outlook the average net worth per farm was expected

average net worth per farm was expected

average net worth per farm was expected to set new records of 2.1 million

to set new records of 2.1 million

to set new records of 2.1 million dollars in 2015 and the average net

dollars in 2015 and the average net

dollars in 2015 and the average net operating income was forecasted to be

operating income was forecasted to be

operating income was forecasted to be roughly 78 thousand dollars which is an

roughly 78 thousand dollars which is an

roughly 78 thousand dollars which is an all-time high this is a big

all-time high this is a big

all-time high this is a big responsibility

responsibility

responsibility to hand down to the next generation so

to hand down to the next generation so

to hand down to the next generation so we as the next generation have to ask

we as the next generation have to ask

we as the next generation have to ask ourselves where do we begin the truth is

ourselves where do we begin the truth is

ourselves where do we begin the truth is it doesn’t begin with us no matter what

it doesn’t begin with us no matter what

it doesn’t begin with us no matter what the next generation of Millennials can

the next generation of Millennials can

the next generation of Millennials can bring to the table it will be pointless

bring to the table it will be pointless

bring to the table it will be pointless if the current generation does not have

if the current generation does not have

if the current generation does not have a strong succession plan in place so the

a strong succession plan in place so the

a strong succession plan in place so the transition into stewardship will be

transition into stewardship will be

transition into stewardship will be uninterrupted

uninterrupted

uninterrupted it is here where we find great

it is here where we find great

it is here where we find great opportunity but also face an enormous

opportunity but also face an enormous

opportunity but also face an enormous amount of pressure I am only 17 years

amount of pressure I am only 17 years

amount of pressure I am only 17 years old a millennial and yet the weight of

old a millennial and yet the weight of

old a millennial and yet the weight of the world the responsibility of

the world the responsibility of

the world the responsibility of providing food security and finding

providing food security and finding

providing food security and finding solutions to our social economic and

solutions to our social economic and

solutions to our social economic and environmental issues is tied up with

environmental issues is tied up with

environmental issues is tied up with ribbon and red tape waiting to be

ribbon and red tape waiting to be

ribbon and red tape waiting to be delivered the day I turn 19 this is why

delivered the day I turn 19 this is why

delivered the day I turn 19 this is why it is so crucial that we as Millennials

it is so crucial that we as Millennials

it is so crucial that we as Millennials engage our peers so that when that

engage our peers so that when that

engage our peers so that when that responsibility is handed down to us it

responsibility is handed down to us it

responsibility is handed down to us it does not land squarely on only the

does not land squarely on only the

does not land squarely on only the leaders of our generation but is divided

leaders of our generation but is divided

leaders of our generation but is divided amongst all of us this is an incredibly

amongst all of us this is an incredibly

amongst all of us this is an incredibly powerful concept because agriculture is

powerful concept because agriculture is

powerful concept because agriculture is not a solitary business venture but

not a solitary business venture but

not a solitary business venture but instead the efforts of like-minded

instead the efforts of like-minded

instead the efforts of like-minded individuals working together to steward

individuals working together to steward

individuals working together to steward the land sustainably and efficiently

the land sustainably and efficiently

the land sustainably and efficiently this leads us to make investments that

this leads us to make investments that

this leads us to make investments that focus on the future while we learn from

focus on the future while we learn from

focus on the future while we learn from the past we shouldn’t expect the

the past we shouldn’t expect the

the past we shouldn’t expect the different generations to have the same

different generations to have the same

different generations to have the same impact because we are facing different

impact because we are facing different

impact because we are facing different problems my generation will be

problems my generation will be

problems my generation will be attempting to feed and expanding global

attempting to feed and expanding global

attempting to feed and expanding global population while meeting strict new

population while meeting strict new

population while meeting strict new emission requirements we will have to

emission requirements we will have to

emission requirements we will have to produce more food on fewer acres while

produce more food on fewer acres while

produce more food on fewer acres while minimizing our environmental footprint

minimizing our environmental footprint

minimizing our environmental footprint of the roughly eight billion dollars

of the roughly eight billion dollars

of the roughly eight billion dollars spent annually by federal and provincial

spent annually by federal and provincial

spent annually by federal and provincial governments on agriculture just 1.9

governments on agriculture just 1.9

governments on agriculture just 1.9 percent goes into research programs and

percent goes into research programs and

percent goes into research programs and only 1.7 percent is spent on Trade

only 1.7 percent is spent on Trade

only 1.7 percent is spent on Trade Development in order to expand and grow

Development in order to expand and grow

Development in order to expand and grow our industry we need to fund these

our industry we need to fund these

our industry we need to fund these research programs and focus on economies

research programs and focus on economies

research programs and focus on economies of scale Dean of the Colorado State

of scale Dean of the Colorado State

of scale Dean of the Colorado State University’s College of Agricultural

University’s College of Agricultural

University’s College of Agricultural Sciences a Jamin on students that not

Sciences a Jamin on students that not

Sciences a Jamin on students that not only has the technology used in

only has the technology used in

only has the technology used in agricultural production involves

agricultural production involves

agricultural production involves significantly in the last 20 10 or even

significantly in the last 20 10 or even

significantly in the last 20 10 or even 5 years but that the next generation of

5 years but that the next generation of

5 years but that the next generation of agricultural producers have come to rely

agricultural producers have come to rely

agricultural producers have come to rely on innovation and

on innovation and

on innovation and entrepreneurship to advance our food and

entrepreneurship to advance our food and

entrepreneurship to advance our food and fiber production systems if we are going

fiber production systems if we are going

fiber production systems if we are going to tackle these pressing issues in food

to tackle these pressing issues in food

to tackle these pressing issues in food safety food sustainability and food

safety food sustainability and food

safety food sustainability and food security

security

security then we must both train and learn from

then we must both train and learn from

then we must both train and learn from the next generation of producers who

the next generation of producers who

the next generation of producers who will position agriculture to feed of

will position agriculture to feed of

will position agriculture to feed of global population topping nine billion

global population topping nine billion

global population topping nine billion people this is an incredible challenge

people this is an incredible challenge

people this is an incredible challenge that my generation and future

that my generation and future

that my generation and future generations will have to face but we

generations will have to face but we

generations will have to face but we will be prepared with advancements in

will be prepared with advancements in

will be prepared with advancements in technology innovation and the knowledge

technology innovation and the knowledge

technology innovation and the knowledge not only from our schools but from the

not only from our schools but from the

not only from our schools but from the farmers before us so yes we are ready to

farmers before us so yes we are ready to

farmers before us so yes we are ready to be the leaders of our country we are

be the leaders of our country we are

be the leaders of our country we are ready to be the pillars in our community

ready to be the pillars in our community

ready to be the pillars in our community and with our shared vision for what

and with our shared vision for what

and with our shared vision for what agriculture and kennix Canada can be we

agriculture and kennix Canada can be we

agriculture and kennix Canada can be we are ready for the future thank you