Career fair attracts Albertan youth, hope to bolster future work force of agriculture industry

Dozens of youth from across the province had the opportunity to learn about a career in the agriculture industry, amid efforts to bolster its future workforce.

While farmers and ranchers from all over western Canada showed off the best of the best in Alberta’s largest beef cattle show Saturday, as part of Farmfair International, not far away — in another area inside Edmonton’s Expo Centre — dozens of youth from across the province had the opportunity to learn about a career in the agriculture industry.

“We are having an event for the first time. It’s called Discover Your Future and it is a way to bring youth together with potential employers,” said Patty Milligan, agriculture education specialist at Explore Edmonton.

Roughly one hundred youth attended to the job fair and were able to get information and connect with 15 industry organizations.

“There’s a career booth just for women in trades that is really cool and interesting to look at ’cause I really hadn’t really heard anything about them until today,” fair attendee Grace Scheler said.

16-year-old Scheler traveled from the town of Hannah southeast of Red Deer just for the fair.

“It opens up my eyes to see what options I have in the future,” Scheler said.

Farmer and parent of four, Adele Walsh also travelled several hours from northern Alberta with the hopes of getting her children interested.

“It’s harder and harder to attract kids to stay working on the farm or working in the agriculture industry. So something like this is a great spotlight for kids to see what may be tied to the farm but isn’t directly a position on the farm,” Walsh said.