Farm Apprentice Job Opens Doors for Quebec Youth

Rain Hye always saw farming as a potential career, but didn’t know how to get his foot in the door. 

Although he had volunteered as a community gardener, which sparked his interest in the sector, he faced barriers that made breaking into the profession feel nearly impossible. 

“Farming is a tough field to just get into, unless you have formal training,” explains Hye. “I’m first generation and a trans person. By and large, the people I’ve seen farming – at least in Ontario and Quebec – don’t look like me.” 

But thanks to the CPRA Green Jobs Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Skills Strategy program, Hye gained hands-on farming experience as a farm apprentice at Camp Amy Molson’s Young Roots Farm. 

Young Roots Farm, located in Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, Quebec, helps make nature more accessible to local communities while teaching environmental stewardship—covering topics like composting, carbon neutrality, and sustainable food systems. It also serves as a sleepaway camp where children learn to grow and harvest fresh vegetables, compost waste, and care for the land. 

As a farm apprentice, Hye played a role in both agriculture and youth education. In the spring, he helped prepare garden beds, transport and spread compost, rake soil, and sow seeds. In the summer, he expanded his role to include working at the organization’s sleepaway camp – where he developed lesson plans and spent his days helping young campers connect with farming and nature.  

Reflecting on his time as a farm apprentice, Hye can’t begin to describe the skills he gained. 

“What haven’t I learned?” he laughs. “I acquired many of the skills necessary to have a career in farming. I gained practical agricultural skills – how to prepare beds, understand soil ecology, sow and transplant properly, maintain a greenhouse, and manage watering schedules. I also learned a little bit about crop rotations and crop planning.” 

Beyond farming, Hye strengthened his ability to lead and facilitate group activities—essential skills he honed while working with the campers. 

Ana Castillo, the Farm Director at Camp Amy Molson, was not just Hye’s supervisor and mentor, but also a past beneficiary of the Green Jobs Initiative. In 2021, she secured her own farm apprenticeship through the program, an experience that helped shape her career. 

When she met Hye during the interview process, she knew he would be a perfect fit. 

“Sometimes, you just have a feeling about someone,” Castillo says. “He asked all the right questions, had experience working with youth and in nature, and was deeply curious.” 

She emphasizes that without Green Jobs funding, Camp Amy Molson would not be able to offer these critical learning experiences. 

“For nonprofits, funding is always a challenge,” Castillo explains. “Finding a program like Green Jobs is a breath of fresh air. It allows us to keep delivering meaningful programming and invest in youth leaders like Rain.” 

For Hye, the opportunity wasn’t just a summer job—it was a launchpad. 

“This experience meant the world to me,” he says. “It was incredible to work on the land and with kids. It opened my eyes to the world of agriculture, and now I’m eager to explore what other opportunities exist that will help me further my career.” 

The Green Jobs Initiative provided Hye with real-world experience, mentorship, and a direct pathway into an industry that can be difficult to access—proving once again that investing in youth employment isn’t just about jobs, it’s about futures.