Pandemic changes Essex County youth organization 'for the better'
A member of the agricultural organization, 4-H, says going virtual offered new learning opportunities.
“Some of it has changed for the better,” says Scott Morrison, 17. “They have lots of different online clubs that you never would have got to experience if it hadn’t of been for the pandemic.”
Morrison has been a member of Essex County’s 4-H club since he was nine years old.
“I just like it because you get to work with cows and you get to meet new people and you get lots of different experiences,” says Morrison.
The leader of the Essex County Dairy Club is his mom, Vicky.
“Really, what we’re doing is bringing on the next generation of rural adults,” says Vicky Morrison.
She says before the pandemic, their meetings were mostly all in-person and almost always included a farm visit or a guest speaker like a veterinarian.
But the pandemic forced the club to go virtual, which Vicky says was actually a good thing.
“They have the opportunity to have speakers that normally wouldn’t come to Essex County to talk to the kids,” says Vicky.
“Now we’ve got good at Zoom and that has opened the door for these kids to hear about the different areas of the industry.”
A dairy cow at a farm in Essex County, Ont. on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (Michelle Maluske/CTV Windsor)
4-H stands for head-heart-health and hands and Morrison says every meeting starts with the members reciting their motto.
“I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty my hands to larger service and my health to better living. For my club, my community, my country and the world.”
Part of the club is “showing” calves at county fairs and competitions all over Ontario.
That, has been cancelled outright during the pandemic.
“It’s about meeting new people and having those experiences,” says Morrison. “Sure it’s nice to show cows, but it’s all about the experience really.”
Being a dairy farmer is in Morrison’s family for more than three generations.
Parents William and Vicky immigrated to Canada from Ireland in 2008 for the chance to own and operate their own dairy operation in Essex County.
Young Morrison says being a dairy farmer is his career path, and he plans to go to Ridgetown College in September to work towards that goal.
“I like it because there’s always something to do. I’m never bored. You get a lot of work ethic working on a dairy farm,” he says.
“I think that’s something that’s really important to build the qualities we want in the next generation,” says Vicky.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.