14
Special Edition: Donor Appreciation
24
Answering the Digital Ag Question
Fall/Winter 2020
Harnessing the Power of Partnerships Fall/Winter 2020 1
Planned Giving
Growing Greater Futures By making a planned gift to Olds College, you plant seeds for a brighter future and ensure that opportunities for education and research will be available for years to come. You have the opportunity to make a significant gift that will transform Olds College for generations to come. Your agricultural legacy can begin today!
Types of Planned Gifts: • • • •
Bequests through your will. Real property such as a farm or ranch. Securities including stock, bonds, and mutual funds. Life insurance policies.
For more information, please contact Olds College Development at development@oldscollege.ca or by telephone at 403.556.8257.
2 Olds College Horizons
Table of Contents 04 President's Message 06 Alberta’s Barley Breeding Program Moving to Olds College 08 Sheldon Kennedy Awarded 2020 Olds College Honorary Degree 10 Olds College Receives $21 Million toward New Ag-Tech Learning Hub and Animal Health Education Centre 12 Supporting the Livestock Industry through Innovative Services and Applied Research
16 Endowment Spotlight: Ken and Bettie Ditzler 17 Planned Giving Spotlight: George and Margery Steckler 18 Memorial Spotlight: Bassan Family 19 Student Award Spotlight: Bob and Carollyne Collier 20 2020 Partner of the Year Spotlight: Farm Credit Canada (FCC) 22 Expanding Turfgrass Industry through International Research
26 Government of Alberta Invests in Innovation
14 Special Edition: Donor Appreciation
Fall/Winter 2020
Horizons is published by Olds College Corporate Communications & Marketing. The magazine is mailed to alumni and friends of Olds College. To Reach Us:
Editorial/Advertising/Letters: Horizons, Corporate Communications, Olds College 4500-50 Street, Olds, Alberta T4H 1R6 Ph: 403.507.7953 Fax: 403.556.4704 communications@oldscollege.ca
Address Change:
24 Answering the Digital Ag Question
14
Horizons
28 Agriculture Supports Economic Innovation and Jobs 30 Olds College Receives Donation of Purebred Red Angus Herd
Olds College, 4500-50 Street Olds, Alberta T4H 1R6 Ph: 403.556.8257 Fax: 403.556.4704 development@oldscollege.ca Toll-free: 1.800.661.6537 Online: oldscollege.ca
Return Undeliverable Magazines to: Corporate
Communications & Marketing Olds College, 4500-50 Street, Olds, Alberta, T4H 1R6
Visit Olds College online at oldscollege.ca Facebook.com/oldscollege Twitter.com/oldscollege Instagram.com/olds.college Linkedin.com/school/oldscollege
Publication mail agreement number: 40010029
15 Gift-in-Kind Spotlight: Carmacks
Fall/Winter 2020 3
“I can also say that I have never been more impressed by the resourcefulness of our staff and faculty who worked tirelessly over the summer to ensure the success of our fall campus re-entry plan.� - Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College
4 Olds College Horizons
Olds College
President's Message Dealing with the global COVID-19 health pandemic has made 2020 a year that we will never forget. As a collective we have adapted our routines to what we now consider our new norm — cautiously meeting friends and family in-person, avoiding handshakes and hugs, sporting our new favourite fashion/safety accessory — the face mask, and so much more. While it can seem that this year has been overshadowed by restrictions, guidelines and rules, I believe that it has also been a year of incredible resourcefulness and connection.
From an operational standpoint, working through a pandemic has provided us all with a unique opportunity to incorporate technology to create workday efficiencies. The introduction of video calling alone has enabled us to hold meetings “face-to-face” from anywhere in the world. While it may feel like we have never been more disconnected, video calling has provided many people with a bridge to the outside world, and most definitely, new connections otherwise missed. There is no doubt that connections built during this global pandemic will have the power to transform how we interact with one another moving forward. In fact, I’m proud to say that Olds College has built more connections with donors, government officials and industry partners over the past year than ever before. These relationships are so important as they go a long way in providing our students with exceptional learning environments, unique opportunities and industry insight. They also make a huge difference in our students' educational journey, especially as they enter a new world, transformed. I can also say that I have never been more impressed by the resourcefulness of our staff and faculty who worked tirelessly over the summer to ensure the success of our fall campus re-entry plan. In preparation for the fall term, every program went through an academic delivery model review to determine the most appropriate delivery method. Some programs were moved to online delivery, others are being delivered through a hybrid of online delivery and in-person labs, and a few are being delivered completely in-person. Despite the change in delivery, our team was able to create valuable experiential learning opportunities for our students.
In this issue of Horizons you will read about several exciting new partnership announcements. We have also created a special donor appreciation section that highlights the many ways that people continue to support our students. I am always amazed at the generosity and support shown by our community, as we all work together toward achieving our social purpose of transforming agriculture for a better world. I hope you enjoy this issue of Horizons!
Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College
Fall/Winter 2020 5
Photo Caption (right): From left: Leona Staples, Board Chair, Olds College; Nathan Cooper, MLA, Olds-DidsburyThree Hills; Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College; Devin Dreeshen, Minister, Agriculture and Forestry; Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister, Advanced Education; and Dr. Joy Agnew, Associate VP, Applied Research, Olds College.
New Teaching Opportunities
Alberta’s Barley Breeding Program Moving to Olds College Agriculture and Forestry’s field crop development centre will now be operated by Olds College, leveraging research capacity and creating new teaching opportunities.
An initial $10.5-million grant over three years will fund the program at Olds College. The College will take ownership of the program, providing it the capacity to support more world-leading research. 6 Olds College Horizons
“Olds has long been the centre of agriculture research innovation, so it was a natural fit,” comments Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. “From practical on-farm applications to advanced technical training, the College has helped build modern agriculture in Alberta. Tremendous barley varieties have been developed under Alberta’s barley breeding program and a more farmer-focused research program under Olds College, will just make a good thing better.” Alberta’s barley breeding program has successfully developed and introduced several new varieties of barley to both domestic and international markets, including:
• AB Advantage, AB Wrangler and AB Tofield, and a
highly sought after (but yet unnamed) variety, used for feeding domestic livestock, and
• AB Lowe and AB Brewnet, which are now used for the growing craft brewing market.
“Olds College sits in the heartland of central Alberta’s agriculture belt and is a leader in agriculture education in our province. This new research mandate significantly increases the College’s research capacity, adding to an already forward-thinking agriculture research program and leading to more opportunities for students and measurable benefits for Alberta farmers,” said Nathan Cooper, MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. The transition of the Barley Breeding Program to Olds College helps Alberta’s agriculture industry build upon its track record of global applied research collaboration. It will enhance learning opportunities for students and support a skilled workforce. Since 1973, the program has been developing enhanced cereal varieties for feed, malt, food and bio-industrial uses, bringing more economic opportunities to Alberta’s agriculture industry.
“Olds College welcomes the addition of the Barley Breeding Program to our applied research portfolio,” replies Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College. “Olds College is focused on delivering research programming that is centred on the needs of producers and industry partners and we are committed to collaborating with key stakeholders throughout the sector in order to sustainably position and grow barley/ triticale research here in Alberta.” Dave Bishop, Chair, Alberta Barley Commission adds, “Barley is an important crop in Alberta for both the livestock sector and the brewing industry. We are pleased to see the continuation of a barley breeding centre in our province where over half of Canada’s barley is grown and look forward to working with Olds College in bringing new varieties to market that improve the bottom lines of Alberta farmers.” Under this new model, agricultural research in Alberta will lead to tangible benefits for farmers, including higher profits, a more abundant food supply at lower cost for Albertans and ultimately a higher quality of life in rural communities. “RDAR is excited to support the ongoing barley/triticale research at Olds College. The results of this research will directly benefit producers’ competitiveness and profitability as new economic opportunity is discovered. RDAR is where big ideas grow,” comments Dr. David Chalack, Interim Board Chair, Results Driven Agriculture Research.
“This program transfer builds on the strengths of Olds College and will help expand the institution’s overall research capacity,” comments Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education. “With the barley breeding program at Olds, we will see researchers, producers and industry all at the table to find real-life solutions that will benefit farmers, Alberta consumers and our economy.” This agreement is part of the Alberta government’s commitment to ensuring farmers and ranchers lead agriculture research priorities - not government. Establishing Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), an arm’s-length, non-profit corporation, is a first step in making sure research funding priorities are producerled. Over the long term, RDAR will assume ongoing responsibility for the funding agreement with Olds College. Fall/Winter 2020 7
8 Olds College Horizons
Leadership and Advocacy
Sheldon Kennedy Awarded 2020 Olds College Honorary Degree Olds College is pleased to have awarded the 2020 Olds College Honorary Degree to Sheldon Kennedy for his significant contributions to the prevention of bullying and abuse.
Having had a successful ice hockey career winning the Memorial Cup, and playing for the Detroit Red Wings, the Boston Bruins and the Calgary Flames, Sheldon is widely recognized for his advocacy for child abuse after his courageous decision to charge his Major Junior Hockey League coach with sexual assault for the abuse he suffered while a teenager under his care. Since then, Sheldon has dedicated his career to advocacy and co-founded the Calgary & Area Child Advocacy Centre (formally known as the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre), which provides services to children and their families to assess, treat and seek justice for abused children. Sheldon also co-founded Respect Group, an organization that provides training to companies, sport organizations and schools. In 2018, Olds College engaged the Respect Group to help make the campus a more respectful place to work, learn and thrive for Olds College staff, faculty and students. The ‘Respect in the Workplace’ program is aimed at empowering people to recognize and prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination through an interactive, online training course. “Sheldon has shown tremendous support of Olds College through the Respect Group organization,” said Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College. “His passion for creating safe, respectful environments for people to feel empowered reflects the values that we hold at Olds College, and makes Sheldon a wonderful recipient of the Olds College 2020 Honorary Degree.” Recently, Sheldon received the Order of Hockey by Hockey Canada, the WHL Governor General Award and was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame with the awarding of the 2020/2021 Order of Sport. "To me, this award represents the fact that leaders and proactive organizations, like Olds College, are ready and willing to make positive change,” said Sheldon Kennedy. “If I have influenced good leadership through my advocacy efforts then I accept this award as honouring that collaborative work. Thank you so much." Traditionally presented during the annual June convocation ceremony, the honorary degree will instead be presented during a two-day combined 2020/2021 convocation ceremony to take place in June 2021.
Fall/Winter 2020 9
Photo Caption: Renderings of the new Ag-Tech Learning Hub (left) and Animal Health Education Centre (right)
Future Growth and Enrolment
Olds College Receives $21 Million toward New Ag-Tech Learning Hub and Animal Health Education Centre Over the summer, the Government Of Alberta announced that Olds College will receive more than $21 million in capital maintenance and renewal funding to redevelop two existing buildings on campus in support of new technology programming and future growth. $15.16 million will be used to expand the Lachlin McKinnon Building into the new Animal Health Education Centre, allowing the College to accommodate future growth and enrolment for their animal science programs and provide state of the art and specialized facilities for learning.
10 Olds College Horizons
$6.21 million will be used to redevelop the James Murray Building into the AgTech Learning Hub that will house the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology. Combined with more than $5.5 million in donation support, the facility will be home to the new Agriculture Technology programs that started this fall.
“Olds College is thrilled that the Province of Alberta is contributing nearly $21.4 million in funding toward two critical projects that will ensure Alberta’s economy has the labour and talent needed to thrive,” comments Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College. “The first project will go toward our Animal Health Education Centre, which will result in a 67% increase in capacity for animal health programming at the College. The second project will make our Ag-Tech Learning Hub and home of the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology a reality.” President Cullum adds, “Olds College is thankful for the support of the Province of Alberta and their co-investment toward both projects with our many generous donors and industry partners. I would also like to thank MLA Nathan Cooper, for his tireless advocacy of Olds College and our community.
It is as a result of MLA Cooper’s engagement and contribution, that projects like these are becoming a reality and the positive impact on our region will be felt for generations.” “Agriculture is without a doubt the most important industry in our region. Our farm families are leaders in adopting new ideas and technology. Expanding and modernizing Olds College, supporting more students and researchers, will only help drive our industry forward,” comments Nathan Cooper, MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. “Olds College has long been a valuable source of innovation for Alberta’s agriculture sector as well as a driving force for the regional economy in central Alberta. This investment will give students and researchers more access to cutting-edge facilities and help solidify the College’s place as a world-leader in its field,” comments Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education. Renovation of both facilities have begun, with the AgTech Learning Hub opening in fall 2022 and the Animal Health Education Centre opening in fall 2023.
Fall/Winter 2020 11
Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production
Supporting the Livestock Industry through Innovative Services and Applied Research The Olds Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) is one of 60 technology access centres (TAC) in Canada supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). It is unique among other receivers of a TAC grant because it is the only technology access centre that deals directly with both agriculture and livestock management. Established in 2016, the TACLP is dedicated to improving animal health and welfare, increasing production efficiency and enhancing environmental sustainability for beef and sheep production.
The TACLP initially focused on providing feed efficiency testing services to Canadian producers with the intent of achieving genetic improvement, reducing feed requirements and decreasing the environmental footprint of beef cattle. Since then, the TACLP has flourished and broken into multiple different areas of livestock research while partnering with a wide range of clients to achieve their research goals. The centre has also provided significant opportunities within Olds College’s educational programs. 12 Olds College Horizons
“The TACLP has been key to implementing researchimpacted education at Olds College,” said Dr. Joy Agnew, the associate vice president of applied research. “The research results and expertise of the team have created the opportunity for classes to include leading edge information on the technology and best practices of livestock management.” The TACLP team is currently providing connections to industry partners for Agri-Business Applied Degree students for real world experience projects. Olds College’s Agriculture Management and Animal Health Technology programs have also benefited from the TACLP’s involvement with over 5,655 student hours contributing directly to TACLP research projects. Student interns also play an active role in the development of applied research projects. “Seyed ‘Ali’ Goldansaz is currently a student intern with the TACLP, supporting our sheep research activities,” said TACLP manager Sean Thompson. “He brings with him specific expertise related to sheep research and industry priorities, along with an extensive network of producers and fellow sheep researchers.” The applied research projects and services conducted by the TACLP range across many aspects of livestock management, and third party validation of agricultural technologies have become a prominent part of the centre’s operations. As an example, the centre is currently working with Growsafe Systems Ltd. — developers of an in-pasture weighing system that collects data on individual animal performance and transmits that data directly to a wireless network. Throughout its new initiatives, the TACLP has continued with its feed efficiency testing, attracting clients including the Canadian Hereford Association, the Canadian Gelbvieh Association, the University of Alberta, and over 20 other ranchers from across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “The University of Alberta has successfully collaborated on projects with the TACLP since its inception,” said Dr. Stanford F. Blade, the dean of agricultural, life and environmental sciences faculty. “Important research evaluating the feed efficiency of beef steers and heifers has previously been conducted by the University by enlisting TACLP to provide equipment access, trial management, data collection and professional services required to determine residual feed intake.” Ceres Solutions Ltd. is another client of the TACLP who is working on the development of an environmentally efficient livestock feed called Mycopro. “The TACLP priorities for improving sustainability and increasing productivity are shared with Ceres in our efforts to produce a food product with zero waste,” said Alex Villeneuve, founder of Ceres Solutions Ltd.
“Access to novel equipment, extensive livestock research acumen and accommodating facilities within the centre creates an innovation environment which supports companies to further develop and validate their products and technologies.” Under the strong leadership of Sean Thompson and expertly staffed by Dr. Desiree Gallatly, Brittany Scott, Shianne Hofer and Ali Goldansaz, the TACLP continues to make great strides within the livestock industry. Celebrating it's fifth anniversary, the TACLP is established as an industry leader and trusted source of livestock expertise. “Collaboration is the key to success for these multidisciplinary projects and the TACLP has successfully worked with our own Smart Farm team as well as research groups and faculty members at Olds College and several other institutions to maximize positive research outcomes,” commented Dr. Agnew. The TACLP is currently involved in researching the remediation of feedlot runoff water, in collaboration with the Environment & Wetland research team, to quantify the benefits of using floating island technology to naturally filter runoff water for reuse. In addition to this, the regenerative agriculture project funded by Alberta Innovates integrates both Smart Ag Research and the TACLP research teams to quantify the economic and environmental benefits of novel grazing systems while demonstrating the use of technology for remote grazing management. “The TACLP has supported the development, optimization and validation of innovative on-farm technologies and practices in order to enhance producer viability. This has been made possible by leveraging the IT, data science and agronomic experience of the Olds College Smart Farm and the entire Smart Ag ecosystem at Olds College," said Sean Thompson. Though it has primarily focused on cattle, the TACLP plans to increase sheep activities through upcoming applied research projects. Two of these prospects include designing and implementing blood kits for efficient parasitic infection testing and pregnancy detection technology that can be used to determine the number of births within a flock. By expanding its applied research track record, the TACLP is positioning itself to continue delivering first-rate services to its industry and producer partners while enhancing the academic programming at Olds College in its next five-year term.
Fall/Winter 2020 13
Special Edition
Donor Appreciation Olds College would like to extend a sincere thank you to all our partners and donors who have supported us over the years. Your generosity and support is helping to provide our students with an exceptional hands-on learning experience that ensures our graduates who are in-demand and have the skills and tools needed to succeed.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions we could not hold our annual donor appreciation event, so instead we have created a special section in this issue of Horizons to thank all of our partners and donors for working with us to achieve our social purpose of Transforming Agriculture for a Better World. We simply couldn’t do it without you!
Ways to Support Olds College • Cash Gift • Gifts-In-Kind (GIK) • Stocks & Securities • Establish an Endowment
• Planned Giving • Event Sponsorship • Tribute Programs
Total Raised in 2019:
$9.22 million
View our donor listings by visiting oldscollege.ca/donors 14 Olds College Horizons
Gift-in-Kind Spotlight
Carmacks
“It has been a pleasure to work with Carmacks as we train students to support the heavy equipment industry. Carmacks' investment into future heavy equipment operators and technicians, by providing expertise and equipment usage, has helped many students make the jump from school learning to real-life seat time, with real-world employability skills, that are highly sought after," remarks Sharyl James, Trades Programmer, Continuing Education. Supporting the future of the heavy equipment industry, Carmacks has been an ongoing supporter of the Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate program at Olds College since 2016. Focused on providing students with valuable connections to the industry, along with the resources to help them pursue a career. Over the last four years, Carmacks has been able to provide students with invaluable hands-on learning opportunities through their generosity by donating the use of several large pieces of equipment, including John Deere dozers and skid steers, valuing $176,000. As part of their involvement with the College, Paul Moreau, recruitment specialist for Carmacks, has been an active member of the Olds College Industry Advisory Committee. As a strong supporter of Olds College, Paul has gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide students with mentorship and career guidance, providing students with valuable information on what to expect when looking to enter the industry. “Our hope is that by investing in students' education, we can directly impact the future of the heavy equipment industry,” comments Paul Moreau, Recruitment Specialist, Carmacks.
Through this relationship, Carmacks was able to provide students in the Heavy Equipment Technicians program with a unique opportunity to complete an undercarriage rebuild on a dozer in need of repair. The dozer then went on to be used as part of dozer operation training in the Heavy Equipment Operators program.
Gifts-in-Kind By giving a gift in kind, you’re helping us enhance the learning environment for our students with the best tools and materials in industry. Your donation of property or assets help students access experiences and technology that prepare them for the fast-paced realities of their future careers.
# of Gift-in-Kind in 2019
From combines and cattle to software and safety glasses, these types of non-cash donations help Olds College reduce the cost of purchasing equipment, tools or supplies.
30
= $907K in Value
To make a donation, please contact the Olds College Development team at development@oldscollege.ca or by telephone at 403.556.8257. Fall/Winter 2020 15
Endowment Spotlight
Ken and Bettie Ditzler “It's been a dream of ours to support the future of agriculture. Our hope is that we are able to help students successfully obtain their education so that they may have an impact on the advancement of the agriculture industry. We believe Olds College is in a unique position to provide students with opportunities to make important connections and stay up to date with the ever changing agriculture industry,” remarks Ken Ditzler. The Ken & Bettie Ditzler Endowment Fund was established in 2008 in an effort to help provide bursaries to students enrolled in the Agriculture Management, Production Horticulture and Land & Water Resources programs at Olds College. The fund was established with an initial donation of $100,000 from Ken and Bettie Ditzler with five awards granted annually to students. Of the five awards committed annually, one student entering their second year of full time studies in the Agriculture Management program will receive a bursary of $1,000; two students entering their second year of full time studies in the Production Horticulture program will receive a bursary of $1,000 each; and lastly, two students entering their second year of full time studies in the Land & Water Resources program will receive a bursary of $1,000 each. To date, 60 students have been the recipients of a Ken & Bettie Ditzler Award. “This award has had a tremendous impact on my education because it was able to help me cover some costs for my tuition and education. It was a true reward for me as working hard in my courses and performing well in school paid off,” comments Spencer Bird, third year BASc Horticulture student at Olds College.
“Being able to complete my education with no debt was a huge relief for me. This award has helped me in my career because it helped cover my education costs. Because of this, I was able to complete my education with less stress. Being able to finish my education has been huge because Photo Caption: Spenser Bird, now I can find a career third year BASc Horticulture and begin to dictate student, Olds College certain aspects of a job with my education. Without my education that wouldn’t have been possible. The opportunities I have now with my education are endless! Thank you Ken and Bettie Ditzler for your generous contributions to Olds College. Your contributions truly benefited my education and career for the better along with many others.”
Endowments Endowed gifts provide critical and sustainable funding to advance the academic priorities and strategic vision of Olds College. Individual funds make up the Olds College endowment. Each fund is established by a dedicated and generous donor, or a group of donors, for a specific purpose. The endowment fund exists to generate enough income to support the programs tied to it and to maintain the fund’s real value, after inflation, in perpetuity.
# of Endowments at Olds College:
16 Olds College Horizons
141
$ 13.88 million
Total Market Value of Endowments (As of June 30, 2019):
Planned Giving Spotlight
George and Margery Steckler “I can’t think of anything better than for us to provide a gift of land and funds to support students attending Olds College. It feels right to help the next generation, and it’s nice to know that our name will continue on through this donation,” said Margery Steckler. “Olds College is our neighbour, it gives us pleasure to know our good, viable farmland will continue to be used for farming long after we are gone.” Committed to the advancement of agriculture and future farmers alike, Didsbury couple — George and Margery Steckler, commemorated their retirement from 47 years of farming with a generous gift of land and funds to Olds College in 2019. The commitment of the future estate gift included 310 acres of farmland now integrated into the Olds College Smart Farm, as well as the formation of an endowment fund for student bursaries for eligible students enrolled in agriculture programs at the College. Over the last year, the College has installed some smart farm technology on the Steckler farm, including a Farmer’s Edge weather station that is set up to monitor dew point, humidity, wind speed and precipitation levels. The data collected is fed back to the Farmers Edge dashboard, that is used at the Olds College Smart Farm. The Olds College Smart Farm team will begin farming 310 acres of farmland west of Didsbury this spring.
Growing Greater Futures By making a planned gift to Olds College, together we can plant seeds for a brighter future by ensuring that opportunities for education and research will be available for years to come. You have the opportunity to make a significant gift that will transform Olds College. Your agricultural legacy can begin today.
The George and Margery Endowment Fund was established in an effort to help provide bursaries to students enrolled in agriculture programs at Olds College. The fund was established with an initial donation of $100,000 from George and Margery Steckler with five awards of $1,000 granted annually to students in any year of study, enrolled in either a certificate, diploma, applied degree, degree, apprenticeship agriculture program at Olds College. Of the five awards committed annually, two are awarded in the fall semester, two are awarded in the winter semester, and one is awarded in the spring/summer semester.
Planned Giving Raised in 2019
$5.54 million
2 Gifts
George & Margery Steckler and the Estate of Charles Edgar Young
Types of Planned Gifts • Bequests through your will • Real property such as a farm or ranch • Securities, including stocks, bonds and mutual funds • Life insurance policies Fall/Winter 2020 17
Memorial Spotlight
Bassan Family The Eli Chadwick Bassan Memorial Endowment Fund was established in memoriam for the life of Olds College Alumni Eli Chadwick who lost his battle with mental illness on July 24, 2020. Eli graduated Olds College with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agribusiness and worked as a Student Ambassador where he provided mentorship and guidance to new students. Eli was described as a bright, interesting and adventurous young man, who was fiercely loyal, passionate, fearless, up for anything and was inspired by nature and the world. Eli Chadwick Bassan Memorial Endowment Fund was established by the Bassan family to help provide emergency bursaries to students dealing with mental health issues. The award is available to full-time students enrolled in a certificate, diploma, degree, applied degree or apprenticeship program at Olds College. Recipients of the award are nominated and selected by staff from the Olds College Department of Student Health & Wellness. "Eli was a vibrant adventurer with a passion for learning and experiencing other cultures. He grew up in Ontario and moved to Alberta to pursue studies in Agriculture and Business at Olds College, where he met new challenges, friendships, and opportunities that enriched his life and brought him joy. He cared deeply for those around him, and put the needs of others ahead of his own to bring happiness to anyone within his reach. Olds College provided Eli with a place to grow, learn, and laugh.
Tribute Programs You can Set In Stone the path for student education! Personalizing a paving stone within Olds College’s “Walkway up Celebration Hill” will not only reflect your own Olds College pride and support, but it can also become a memorable gift and personal keepsake. Having a personalized paving stone installed in the Olds College Botanic Gardens III and Treatment Wetlands is a unique way to honor a friend, family member, mentor, or other loved one, or for marking a wedding, graduation, new arrival, memorial, or other important life event. Paving stones may be purchased at any time throughout the year. 18 Olds College Horizons
In an effort to try to preserve and propagate Eli’s giving nature towards others, his family and friends decided it was a fitting legacy to develop a perpetual Fund at Olds College, a place close to his heart. It is our hope that the Fund will help other students flourish in the way that Eli did during his time at Olds. For those Eli left behind, knowing that he will be remembered in this manner is both comforting and healing. We know that pursuing studies comes with a variety of stresses, and we felt that helping to alleviate some of the financial burdens experienced by other students could make a difference in reaching their goals,” shares the Bassan family.
“We feel that this bursary is a testament to Eli’s spirit and ideals and something that Eli would have felt proud of.” - Bassan family
Olds College's Memorial Bench Program gives you an opportunity to adopt a bench in memory of a loved one, to dedicate a bench to a friend or family member or to commemorate a special event. The Memorial Bench Program is immersed within our on-campus green spaces and Botanic Gardens that will commemorate a moment and enhance the campus and community for everyone.
25
Benches On Campus
7
Benches Available
Student Award Spotlight
Bob and Carollyne Collier “Each year we continue to be so impressed with the students who receive our five annual awards. We look forward to meeting each student and hearing what they are doing with their projects and education. We dearly love and enjoy helping students reach their entrepreneurial goals,” remarks Bob and Carollyne Collier. The Bob Collier Award was established in 2017 by Bob and Carollyne Collier, with a generous pledge of $300,000 over ten years for student awards in support of innovation and entrepreneurship at Olds College. The purpose of the Bob Collier award has been to provide financial assistance to deserving students who are enrolled in full time studies in any program at Olds College. Successful recipients must portray excellence in innovation, creativity and an entrepreneurial aptitude in relation to the farming and agriculture sector. Nominated by instructional staff, recipients of the five annual awards receive a bursary of $6,000. In addition to the annual awards, Bob and Carollyne have also pledged an annual gift of $10,000 in support of institutional priorities, which amounts to $30,000 to date. Most recently, their donation has helped fund the construction of a new student lounge — The Hive, located on the lower level of the Learning Resource Centre across from the Campus Bookstore. Since their initial involvement with Olds College, Bob and Carollyne have donated $330,000 and have provided bursaries to 15 deserving Olds College students.
“I think what's great about the Bob Collier Award is that it has created an opportunity to get students thinking about innovation, while also allowing them to realize that they have the potential to create awesome new things for the betterment of our agriculture industry. Whether that be through efficiencies, environmental impacts, or a positive social change. My personal success with the Bob Collier Award has not only pushed for me to solve problems I've encountered on the farm, but has provided me with resources to take several of my ideas beyond the level of "a great idea". With the support of the Collier family and Olds College, I've taken a couple of my innovations through both the idea, and design phases to a point where I now have working and evolving prototypes. I am beyond grateful for all of the support that the Colliers have provided, and the assistance from Olds College to encourage me to continue moving forward with my products,” shares Daniel Stefner, fourth year, BASc Agribusiness.
Student Awards
Event Sponsorship
In 2019, Olds College disbursed over $450,000 to students from scholarships, bursaries and prizes. We are very grateful to our many award donors for their generous support of our students!
$399,900
In 2019
437
Awards Were Disbursed
And
378
Olds College Students Received Awards
Total Raised
AgSmart
Homestead Feast
Golf Classic Fall/Winter 2020 19
2020 Partner of the Year Spotlight
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Photo Caption: (Right) The Smart Ag Innovation Centre, a state-of-the-art technological farmhouse of the future where the AgExpert Data Lab is housed.
Olds College is pleased to announce that Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has been selected as the Olds College 2020 Partner of the Year. In 2018, FCC stepped forward as the College’s first corporate partner of the Olds College Smart Farm. Since then, FCC has made a fouryear commitment to Olds College and its focus on cultivating informed decisions through the advancement of ag technology learning and applied research at the Smart Farm. Through this partnership, Olds College was also able to create the AgExpert Data Lab, located in the Smart Ag Innovation Centre — the lab is a technologically advanced workspace, available for students, instructors, industry partners and the Smart Farm Integration Team to meet, collaborate and learn. “We are thrilled to announce that Farm Credit Canada is our 2020 Partner of the Year,” comments Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College. “Olds College and FCC share a common goal of supporting the growth and advancement of Canada’s agriculture and agrifood industry. Our partnership with FCC is much greater than a financial commitment, they were one of the first industry partners to step up and support our vision for the Olds College Smart Farm. On behalf of Olds College, I would like to sincerely thank FCC for their partnership and investment into Olds College. We congratulate them on being our 2020 Partner of the year.” "In partnering with Olds College, we saw an opportunity to work together to build a brighter future for Canada’s agriculture and food industry,” said Michael Hoffort, President and CEO of Farm Credit Canada.
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“Olds College is educating the next generation of producers and agriculture professionals and at FCC, we want to support the success of these students and graduates. We’re also very excited about our joint project with the Olds Smart Farm: the AgExpert Data Lab. The data from this lab can help students, and eventually producers, make more informed decisions for their operations. The future of this industry is bright.” The Olds College Partner of the Year is one of the most prestigious awards bestowed by Olds College. The recipients of this award reflect the mission of Olds College and support the values, mandate and vision in a manner that has a positive, measurable and lasting impact on the College.
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Technology and Research
Expanding Turfgrass Industry through International Research Long winters and dry summers are some of the most daunting aspects of the Albertan climate when it comes to turfgrass. Maintaining grass health can be a delicate process, even more so when the grass is not meant for Canadian weather. Together with Texas A&M, University of Florida and Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), Olds College is conducting research with different breeds of turfgrass to determine which may be better suited to Albertan conditions by comparing breeds, blends, and mixtures of turfgrass.
“The reason for this project is because all the research, particularly in turf, is based in the United States,” says Dr. Manuel Chavarria, lead scientist for turfgrass research at Olds College. “Canada doesn’t have the same level of technology and turf research programs, so the information and products don’t match the Albertan environment.” TPI is a United States-based organization made up of turfgrass and sod producers from around the world. “They take about thirty proposals at a time, but only choose four for funding,” mentioned Dr. Chavarria. “I was excited, I feel very proud about this because we were able to get this project for Olds College and the Canadian industry, and now I have several seed companies from the states and Bluegrass Nursery from Canada working together on this project.” Aside from Bluegrass Nursery, Olds College is working with six companies from the United States: Pure Seed, Columbia, Go-Seed, Barenbrug, Mountain View and the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). Olds College aims to host these companies during scheduled demonstrations of the turfgrass research during the stress testing phase of the project in 2022.
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The project will not only determine what grasses work best in Canadian environments but also create care guides that will assist turfgrass producers and customers alike with information on how to cultivate healthy turf. The project addresses the Canadian industry’s need for specialized grasses and aims to provide the knowledge of how to treat each species to get the most out of the turfgrass. “This information is going to help sod producers, landscape companies, park recreations and municipalities save potable water for the Albertan people while maintaining good green spaces,� commented Dr. Chavarria. The project focuses on balancing human objectives with the nature of the plant, a goal set to meet the demand for grasses that can withstand heavy manicure. The research is conducted in several areas that are designed to test different abilities in the strains of plants. This year, 60 one by two metre plots were seeded under canopy spaces to prepare for drought testing, which will determine the length of time each species will be able to survive without water. In addition, 60 three by three metre plots and several large plots were planted to be tested for traffic and mowing stress, which will allow for the Olds College team to find the shortest mowing height and the maximum amount of traffic the turf can have before it becomes unhealthy. The team is testing five species of grass to determine the strengths and correct use of each. These species include fine fescue, tall fescue, ryegrass, creeping bentgrass, and the commonly used kentucky bluegrass. In addition to these grasses, a variety of mixes (a cocktail of different species) and blends (a combination of several strains from one species) are seeded throughout the turfgrass plots. The first year of the project focuses on developing a foundation for the grasses that are to be tested. During this time, the Olds College team will seed, fertilize, irrigate and mow the grass to establish a strong root system. In the following year, the team will begin stress testing on the turfgrass to find which samples have the best performances. The grasses will be tested for durability in high traffic scenarios, health at different mowing heights and drought tolerances. Fall/Winter 2020 23
Agriculture Digitization
Answering the Digital Ag Question Industry partners and producers have identified that Ag digitization represents one of the biggest opportunities – and one of the greatest barriers – for the future growth and development of the sector. However, data is often a doubleedged sword: too much is choking many producers, and too little is preventing enhanced decisions that can strengthen production, sustainability and profitability.
Olds College recognizes that it has a responsibility to help answer the digital Ag question for producers and affiliated industry partners. By focusing on helping producers and technology companies collect, integrate, and utilize agricultural data for evidence-based decision making, Olds College is also gaining the insight and direction needed to develop our Smart Farm. As such, Olds College views digital Ag not as a foundational issue, but as a directional issue that is pulling the Smart Farm forward. To address this issue head-on, Olds College contracted Dr. Alex Melnitchouck to develop a digital Ag strategy that includes clear guidance for the development and collection of Smart Farm data, as well as an implementation roadmap of digital technologies throughout the College’s current – and future – farming operations.
Dr. Melnitchouck joins the College as our Digital Ag Strategist with over 25 years in agricultural science and industry experience at the international level (including Canada, USA, Brazil, Australia, Germany, UK, France, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus). Alex brings an in-depth knowledge of agronomy, soil science, crop modeling, spatial statistics, GIS, and remote sensing applications for the agriculture industry. In 2015, Bayer CropScience had acquired Zoner.Ag - a web-based platform for geospatial data analysis created by Dr. Melnitchouck in collaboration with his partners. Alex joined Bayer CropScience as Global Technology Lead with the Digital Farming division. Zoner.Ag technology became a foundational platform for creation of xarvioTM Field Manager, currently owned by BASF. His primary focus at Olds College is to create a digital environment that supports and enhances our learning programs and applied research initiatives; and at the same time, organize data flow, collection, analysis, and decision-making processes for the College’s farming and livestock operations.
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Smart Farm Growth
Government of Alberta invests in Innovation Olds College has received just under $1 million through the Government of Alberta’s Research Capacity Program (RCP) for its Smart Agriculture Applied Research Program. The funds will be used to purchase agricultural equipment, sensors, devices and computers to support the growth of agriculture technology research on the Olds College Smart Farm.
“We are very excited to receive this funding from the Government of Alberta towards our Smart Agriculture Applied Research program,” comments Dr. Joy Agnew, Associate VicePresident, Applied Research. “The funding from RCP will allow us to deliver an exciting program and it is expected to attract additional partners and grant funding for projects related to automation and digitization of agriculture.” The Olds College Smart Farm has several agriculture technology applied research projects on the go, including: the DOT Autonomous farm equipment project that is looking at the economic, environmental, and labour benefits of autonomous equipment for broadacre production, and the WEED-IT spot sprayer project that is evaluating the economic benefits of spot spraying technology. “Olds College continues to lead in innovation and research. Olds College leads the country in smart ag technology while meeting the needs of producers right here in Alberta,” comments Nathan Cooper, MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. In total almost $2.1 million in RCP funding was awarded to Olds College, SAIT and Red Deer College. SAIT received $1 million and RDC almost $150,000. “This investment will help get Albertans back to work now, and prepare our next generation for the jobs of tomorrow in manufacturing, energy and agriculture. One of Alberta's greatest strengths is our ability to tackle challenges through innovation. Growing these programs will make our province even more competitive as we turn ideas into reality, creating jobs and prosperity,” comments Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation.
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Photo Caption: From left: Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College; Doug Schweitzer, Minister, Jobs, Economy and Innovation; Devin Dreeshen, Minister, Agriculture and Forestry; and Patrick Machacek, Vice President, Development & Strategy, Olds College.
Investing in Agriculture
Agriculture Supports Economic Innovation and Jobs On September 29, the honourable, Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and the honourable, Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation shared how Alberta’s government is working to build value-added agriculture capacity and bolster economic activity with an aggressive private investment attraction target of $1.4 billion.
As part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan, this investment attraction initiative will create more than 2,000 jobs and get Albertans back to work in emerging sectors like hemp, agri-technology and value-added processing of grain, oilseed, plant protein and meat. 28 Olds College Horizons
Olds College, with the Alberta Government’s investment of $200,000 from the Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP) through Agriculture and Forestry, will partner with THRIVE’s Canada accelerator and startup program, which focuses on technology-driven solutions to support agriculture and food sectors. This builds on the Alberta government’s commitment of $1 million, made Sept. 21, to Olds College for its Smart Agriculture Applied Research program. “Agriculture in Alberta will lead our economic recovery in Alberta. Alberta’s farmers, ranchers and processors are global leaders in innovation making Alberta the best place in the world to invest. Together, Olds College, SVG Ventures and strategic investors like the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation will deliver on projects that will support Alberta entrepreneurs and strengthen our supply chain,” comments Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood adds, “supporting technology startups will help keep Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food sector on the cutting edge of innovation, while creating jobs. Our farmers and food businesses are leading our country on the road to recovery, and our government will continue to invest in them to help them grow and succeed.”
“The Olds College Smart Farm is focused on building and supporting a broad-based agriculture innovation ecosystem that connects researchers, technology companies, producers, manufacturers, retailers and learners to accelerate the development and adoption of technology and practice, and enhance the economic impact of Canada’s agriculture sector,” comments Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College.
THRIVE will help strategically develop Alberta’s agri-food system by providing guidance on high-value cluster opportunities, supporting startups, increasing Alberta’s exposure to Canadian and international companies, and strengthening supply chains with industry-supported technology. These supports will attract investment by demonstrating our commitment to fostering a competitive business environment.
“We’ve had a banner year but we’re just starting to scratch the surface on our potential to grow our agricultural sector. Smart investments and partnerships like the one we’ve made with Olds College and THRIVE will allow us to be leaders in agri-tech. Being a leader in agricultural innovation will create high-paying jobs here in Alberta,” comments Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation. John Hartnett, chief executive officer and founder, SVG Ventures|THRIVE adds “We are delighted to expand our SVG|THRIVE Innovation and Investment Platform to Alberta and announce our THRIVE Canada Challenge Program in partnership with Farm Credit Canada and Olds College. These partnerships exemplify our focus on global entrepreneurs and continued commitment to solving the critical challenges facing the global agri-food sector.”
“Olds College’s collaboration with SVG Ventures strengthens Alberta’s platform to support early-stage companies by connecting with SVG’s global network of entrepreneurs and corporate clients that are looking to invest in the agriculture sector here in Canada.”
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Photo Caption: Left to right: Garth Cutler (Circle G Angus), Cole Dodgson (KC Stock Farms), Phil Bernie (WRAZ Red Angus), Darnell Fornwald (First Class Cattle Marketing), Mark Matejka (Matejka Farms), Bryan McKenzie (Brylor Ranch), Sean Thompson (Olds College), Blake Morton (Shiloh Cattle Company), Darcy Olesky (Shiloh Cattle Company), Jeff Fraser (Fraser Farms).
Purebred Red Angus Herd
Olds College Receives Generous Donation Thanks to the generous donation of 10 Red Angus heifer calves from the Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society, Olds College will now be home to a purebred Red Angus Herd. The purebred herd will be managed by the College’s Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TAC) who provide resources and services to move the livestock industry’s technological needs forward.
“We are very pleased to have a Red Angus purebred herd at Olds College,” comments Sean Thompson, Manager, Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production. “We intend to immediately incorporate these donated animals into applied research projects that focus on production efficiency, animal health and welfare, and environmental sustainability. There will also be an initial focus specifically on benchmarking genetics and performance so that we can measure progress with time. Academic integration will follow shortly, and students will be involved in the herd activities through class and student club participation.” 30 Olds College Horizons
Through the agreement, the College will be able to access service bulls or donated semen to allow greater access to superior Red Angus genetics from across Canada to improve the College’s own breeding program.
“We are very excited to be involved in this new partnership with Olds College,” comments Darnell Fornwald, First Class Cattle Marketing. “We feel this is a great way to not only showcase Red Angus cattle but also promote the entire purebred beef industry in youth across the country. By giving the College access to some of the best Red Angus genetics in the country, students attending Olds College will now have limitless opportunities to succeed in numerous areas of the beef industry. We will be watching this brand new herd with great interest for years to come.”
The Red Angus Promotion Society is an organized group consisting of 275 Red Angus beef cattle breeders from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan working together to promote the Red color of the Angus breed across Canada. Olds College would like to thank the following members for their donation to the purebred herd at Olds College:
• Anderson Cattle Company • Brylor Ranch • Circle G Angus • Diamond T Cattle Co • Fraser Farms • KC Stock Farm Ltd. • Matejka Farms • Shiloh Cattle Company • Triple S Red Angus • Wraz Red Angus
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Agriculture moves fast. Are you ready to keep up? Explore our programs today oldscollege.ca/agtech
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