Women in agriculture

A yearly conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario, with workshops and networking on topics such as leadership, communication, career planning and financial management.

Who: Created for every woman — cisgender, transgender, and anyone who identifies with womanhood — who is passionate about agriculture and food. The site names students, farmers, entrepreneurs, grower association members and agribusiness representatives. Men and all genders are welcome too.

Farm Credit Canada's program that pairs financing with skill-building sessions, mentorship, events and resources for women in agriculture, agribusiness and food.

Who: Women involved in agriculture and food who are starting or growing a business. The page says women entrepreneurs who qualify may be eligible for additional discounted rates.

A national non-profit based in Saskatoon with a free membership tier that includes events, online learning modules, venture capital training, webinars, worksheets and access to application-based accelerator programs for food businesses.

Who: The site describes FEAD as supporting growth for women shaping and shaking the agri-food industry, and invites people to become members. Cost: Membership has a free tier.

A project of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council to build a national network for women in the sector, with virtual connections, regional events, webinars and research. Its stated goal is 30% leadership representation by 2030.

Who: Women in Canadian agriculture and agri-food at regional, provincial and national levels.

A youth organization where members join a local club and pick from many projects, including livestock, crops, food and life skills, with camps, competitions, scholarships and exchanges on top.

Who: Cloverbuds are for youth aged 6–8 (as of December 31 of the previous calendar year), while youth participants are between the ages 9–21. Cost: The 2026 annual participation fee is $120 and youth can take as many projects as they like. Some local associations charge extra or run a subsidy, and a fee assistance program takes 50% off for eligible families (75% off for eligible Indigenous families).

Hands-on career events where students visit stations run by people from the agriculture industry and learn what jobs in agriculture and food involve. Offered in person and over Zoom.

Who: Students, Grades 5-12. Schools book it for their classes.

A team quiz at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. Teams answer questions on 4-H project material, agriculture, food and current events.

Who: Participants must be paid members in good standing in the local 4-H Association and 4-H Ontario. Teams have four members, one alternate and two adult coaches or chaperones.

Degree programs in animal, plant, food and environment fields, including Honours Agriculture, Animal Science, Crop Science, Horticulture, Food Science and Landscape Architecture.

Who: Prospective university students. The page does not state eligibility; entry rules are on each program page.

Two- to three-year diploma programs that mix classroom learning and hands-on practice. Most run at the Ridgetown Campus (Agriculture, Horticulture, Equine Care and Management, Veterinary Technology, Environmental Technician). Turfgrass Management runs in Guelph.

Who: Prospective college-level students. The page does not state eligibility; entry rules are on each program page.

A small University of Guelph campus near Chatham that focuses on applied programs. Its site lists seven diploma programs: Agriculture, Environment, Equine, Horticulture, Veterinary Technology, Veterinary Assistant and Office Administration, and Dairy Herdsperson.

Who: Prospective students. The home page does not state eligibility; entry rules are on each program page.

The four-year professional degree at the University of Guelph that leads to a career as a veterinarian.

Who: Applicants must complete at least two years (a minimum of 4 semesters) of full-time undergraduate study, hold a prerequisite average of 75% (3.2 on a 4.0 scale) or higher plus the same in their most recent four full-time semesters, and complete eight prerequisite courses. Canadian citizens and permanent residents need 12 consecutive months of Ontario residency to apply to the domestic cohorts.

A high school program that lets students earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma while focusing on agriculture. It combines a bundle of 9 Grade 11 and 12 credits (including 2 co-op credits) with certifications such as CPR, first aid and WHMIS.

Who: High school students in Ontario. SHSM programs are available in all publicly funded school boards with high schools in Ontario; ask your school's guidance or SHSM contact whether yours offers the Agriculture major.

The skilled trade of inspecting, diagnosing and repairing tractors and other farm machinery. The apprenticeship is about 7,000 hours (6,280 on the job and 720 in school), takes roughly three and a half years, and is a Red Seal trade that is not compulsory in Ontario.

Who: People training in the trade. The page does not state an entry standard; it points to the apprenticeship training standard.

A two-year Ontario College Diploma on the Kitchener (Doon) campus, delivered in a hybrid format, for people who want to become veterinary technicians. Check the page for the program's current accreditation status before applying.

Who: Aimed at high school graduates who want to work in animal care. The page calls the program highly competitive.

Two-year diplomas in Greenhouse Technician, Horticulture Technician (including a landscape option) and Environmental Technician, plus a one-year Landscape Horticulture Techniques certificate. Several have co-op options.

Who: Prospective college students. The page does not state eligibility; entry rules are on each program page.

The official site for exploring Ontario colleges and applying to them. Use it to look up agriculture, horticulture, veterinary technician and trades programs at every college in one place.

Who: Anyone looking at Ontario's 24 colleges.

Up to 10 scholarships of $5,000 each for study in any area that will benefit the Ontario grain sector or the agri-food industry. Up to five can go to students in non-agriculture programs.

Who: Applicants must be a permanent Ontario resident, entering or currently pursuing full-time post-secondary education at an accredited college or university, and are eligible at any point in their studies. Employees of Grain Farmers of Ontario and their children are not eligible. Recipients can win one scholarship in their lifetime.

A curated page of about a dozen scholarships and bursaries from agriculture groups, agricultural societies and companies, with a link to each application. Open the page to see what is currently listed.

Who: Youth and students interested in careers in agriculture and food.

A page that gathers scholarships and bursaries for agriculture students in Ontario, including the Federation's own program and listings from county federations, commodity groups and industry partners. Each one has its own eligibility rules.

Who: Scholarship and bursary information for all post-secondary students interested in pursuing a career in the agriculture industry.

The page that explains how 4-H Ontario and its sponsors give back to participants through scholarships for further education, grants and recognition awards.

Who: 4-H Ontario participants. For specific eligibility, the page directs people to 4-H Ontario at 1.877.410.6748 or inquiries@4-hontario.ca.

A national foundation that gives seven $2,500 scholarships each year to students in agriculture-related programs. It is not limited to Ontario.

Who: Canadian students who are entering or currently pursuing an agricultural-related program full-time at a Canadian college, university or apprenticeship (trade) institution.

A volunteer-run association that builds leadership through events, volunteering, forums, camps and international exchange programs, and runs the Ontario Century Farm Sign program.

Who: Young people age 15-29 of all backgrounds, but especially those in rural Ontario.

Farm Credit Canada's starting point for people beginning to farm, with a call to get started through its young farmer program, a way to find local offices, and links to its financing and knowledge pages.

Who: Young farmers and producers who are ready to launch an operation or looking for next steps. The page does not define an age.

A Farm Credit Canada loan of up to $2 million for starting or growing a farm business and for buying agriculture-related assets, with up to 18 months to complete a purchase. It includes one year of AgExpert accounting software.

Who: Qualified producers under 40. Cost: No loan processing fees.

A Farm Credit Canada loan of up to $2,000,000 with up to 18 months to complete a purchase, intended to help young business owners start or expand in agriculture and food.

Who: Entrepreneurs under age 40 with a good business plan who want to buy shares in, buy or improve an agricultural or food-related business. Cost: No loan processing fees.

A national non-profit that offers start-up financing and mentorship to young business owners in any industry, including farm and food businesses.

Who: Aspiring young entrepreneurs, ages 18-39, who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents currently living in Canada. Applicants need business experience or training and a viable business plan.

A government program that gives students start-up money, advice and mentorship to run their own summer business. The grant is up to $3,000, paid in two instalments of up to $1,500.

Who: Students between 15 and 29 years old who attend high school, college or university, are returning to school after the program, live in Ontario and are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. If under 18, a parent or guardian must sign the agreement. Applicants cannot already be running a business.

Lets students earn co-op credits through work placements in a skilled trade. Ask your school board's OYAP recruiter, guidance counsellor or co-op teacher which trades have placements near you.

Who: High school students who are at least 15 years old, studying part time or full time (Grade 11 or 12 equivalent) and have completed at least 14 credits. Students who finished Grade 10 may be eligible for summer participation before Grade 11.

A job board for agriculture and food, with a Canada page that lists positions from employers and recruiters across regions. The site also has internship listings and a career success library for early-career readers.

Who: Job seekers in agriculture and food. The site also serves employers and recruiters and lists other countries.

Ontario's agriculture and food education charity. It runs curriculum-linked programs for classrooms, including virtual field trips, a Teacher Ambassador Program and thinkAG career competitions, and shares scholarships and career exploration materials.

Who: Educators and students in Ontario.

A charity run by Ontario farmers and farm businesses. It offers educators' guides, virtual food and farm field trips, FarmFood360 virtual reality farm tours and The Real Dirt on Farming.

Who: The public, students and teachers.

A guide to food and farming in Canada, written by farmers and food producers and published by Farm & Food Care. Topics include crops and livestock, sustainability, food costs and career opportunities in agriculture.

Who: Canadians who want to understand how food is produced. The page does not give a grade range.

Curriculum-connected activities, videos, worksheets and teacher packages on agriculture, food systems, nutrition and animal science, available all year.

Who: Teachers (kindergarten to grade 12), students at all grade levels and school groups planning a visit to the Fair.