Carleton County Junior Farmers: More than a century of developing local leaders

After a long, dusty day at the fifth annual Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm Tractor Jam, some of the members of the Carleton County Jr. Farmers took a moment for a photo. From Left: From left: Rebecca Skuce, Tori Larkin, Nevin Juneau, Cameron Stewart, Travis Kamckey, Terri Burnett, Blair Burnett, Ian Burnett, Rhiannah Gallagher. Tinkess Photo

EDWARDS – Long before social media connected young people across rural Ontario, organizations such as the Carleton County Junior Farmers were bringing together the next generation of agricultural leaders through friendship, volunteerism, community service, and a shared passion for rural life.

In 2026, the organization celebrated an impressive milestone, 110 years of service to the Ottawa-Carleton region, making it one of the oldest Junior Farmer clubs in Ontario. Over the decades, thousands of young people have passed through its ranks, gaining leadership skills, building lifelong friendships, and contributing to the communities they call home.

Today, the club remains an active part of the Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario (JFAO), which promotes leadership development and community involvement among young people aged 15 to 29. While agriculture remains at its heart, membership extends well beyond those who farm for a living. Young adults interested in rural life, community service, and personal growth are equally welcome.

Leadership, teamwork, volunteerism, and giving back to the community continue to define the organization more than a century after its founding.

Unlike many youth organizations, Junior Farmers focuses heavily on hands-on learning, in some ways an extension of the “Learn to do by doing” philosophy of the 4-H program.

Members organize community events, participate in public speaking competitions, volunteer for local causes, host social activities, and represent their communities at provincial conferences and leadership camps. The club has also participated in international exchange programs, giving members opportunities to meet young people from around the world while showcasing rural Ontario.

Former members frequently credit the organization with helping them develop confidence, public speaking skills, and leadership abilities that later proved valuable in careers ranging from agriculture and business to municipal government and education.

In this area, one of the club’s most visible partnerships has been with Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm in Edwards.

Together, the two organizations have created events that celebrate agriculture while raising money for worthy causes and providing family-friendly entertainment for residents from across Eastern Ontario.

Among the most popular is the annual Tractor Jam, an event that has grown steadily since its inception five years ago.

Hosted jointly by the Carleton County Junior Farmers and Stanley’s Farm, Tractor Jam combines antique tractors, tractor pulls, touch-a-truck displays, farm equipment demonstrations, show vehicles, food vendors, and activities for children. (See an article on the event elsewhere in this issue.)

The event attracts families, farm enthusiasts, and machinery collectors from across the region. Organizers describe it as an opportunity to celebrate Ontario’s agricultural heritage while introducing younger generations to farming traditions that helped build rural communities. Earl Stanley is quick to give credit to the Junior Farmers for the success of the event. “It gives them a chance to see what is involved in putting on an event like this, and they are more than willing to put in the time and the effort to see it succeed. They are well deserving of the credit they get for all the work they do.”

The 2026 edition of Tractor Jam which took place on Sunday, June 21 also carried a charitable focus, with proceeds supporting Carefor Hospice Cornwall in memory of Randy Woods, who was a regular participant prior to his death,  demonstrating the club’s longstanding commitment to community service.

Community involvement has always been central to the Junior Farmer movement.

Throughout its history, the Carleton County club has organized food drives, charity fundraisers, educational programs, agricultural awareness activities, and countless volunteer projects. Members have supported local events, agricultural fairs, community celebrations, and rural organizations while helping develop the next generation of community leaders.

The organization has also encouraged youth participation in agriculture through scholarships and educational opportunities, helping young people pursue post-secondary education and careers connected to the agricultural sector.

Agriculture, like the rest of the world, has changed dramatically since the club was established around 1916. Horses have largely given way to GPS-guided tractors. Digital technology has transformed farm management. Rural communities have evolved and diversified.

Yet the mission of the Carleton County Junior Farmers remains remarkably consistent. Terri Burnett is the group’s President.

“It’s the community coming together,” said Burnett at the most recent Tractor Jam. “We love to see everybody come out and put a smile on the faces, and at the root of it, we raise money for whatever good pause comes up that year.

It seems sometimes like more and more young people whose family were farmers are returning to that lifestyle. Burnett agrees but says you can be involved in the group without being involved in farming. “Yeah, they definitely are. Our club goes down to age 15, and we see a lot of members coming in at that point, wanting to get involved, and it gives them an extra outlet. If they’re not necessarily on the farm, they can still be involved in agriculture in some way.”

A modern farm requires so many different skills. You need to be a scientist, you need to be a business manager, you have to be everything, sometimes all at the same time.” At the end of the day, it is a business, and it takes a lot of mind work to get everything together,” said Burnett, “whether it’s an accountant, and business manager, and salesman… everything.

And then there are the mechanics, to do all this work to keep everything running. In our club, we’ve got people from all sides. There are pumpkin farmers and some that do the tree farms, dairy farms, and there’s beef. We’ve got a couple chicken farmers, and then people that are involved in the mechanics.  So, we all network together and everyone has a place.”

The organization continues to provide a place where young people can learn leadership skills, build confidence, contribute to their communities, and develop friendships that often last a lifetime. More than a century after its founding, the club remains proof that investing in young people remains one of the best ways to strengthen rural Ontario.

As the crowds gathering at Tractor Jam each year demonstrate, the Carleton County Junior Farmers are not simply preserving agricultural traditions. They are helping ensure those traditions continue to thrive for future generations.