Horizons Winter/Spring 2022

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HyperLayer Data Collection on the Smart Farm

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Special Edition: Donor Appreciation

Winter/Spring 2022

Sustainability & Technology in Agriculture

INNOVATION. EDUCATION. DEMONSTRATION. Olds College is excited to host AgSmart on August 9 & 10, 2022!

AgSmart, proudly produced by Olds College, is a must-see educational expo focused on data and technology across the agriculture industry. Come see the latest innovations being demonstrated, hear from industry experts and engage with leading innovation-focused exhibits.

This year will mark the third edition of AgSmart. Mark your calendars and join us August 9 and 10, 2022 on the Olds College campus for this exciting two-day outdoor expo — rain or shine.

says Stacy Felkar, Event Co-Manager. “We saw huge growth in the overall expo — over 30 per cent from the previous year — and we look forward to evolving the event for 2022.”

AgSmart features interactive exhibits, educational sessions from industry experts and hands-on ag tech demonstrations. The expo focuses on agriculture technology and data across the sector — how to gather it, and how to use it to enhance productivity and profitability for farm operations.

Farmers will be able to engage with a wide-range of top industry experts about new products, the latest in drone tech, new livestock-focused innovations and much more.

“We are grateful that we were able to host AgSmart last summer despite challenges in the field and beyond,”

AgSmart also gives producers the opportunity to engage with the Olds College Smart Farm, learn about ongoing applied research projects and results through interactive displays, and tour the Smart Farm to see how research projects are integrated into farming operations.

Ag tech related companies can showcase their product or service at AgSmart through exhibits or partnership with the event. Attendee tickets will be available this spring. For additional information, visit AgSmartOlds.ca or follow AgSmartOlds on social media for the latest updates.

Growing Profits with Data 2 Olds College Horizons

AgSmartOlds.ca facebook-square Twitter Instagram AgSmartOlds

Table of Contents 6

Using Floating Islands to Treat Feedlot Runoff Water

20 Julie Calderwood’s Continuous Support

8

HyperLayer Data Collection on the Smart Farm

21 Estate of Charles Edgar Young

10 Work-Integrated Learning Opportunities Growing on the Smart Farm (Literally)

22 The Smart Farm Draws Attention of Notable Guests

12 Sire Progeny Links = Performance, Profitability & Sustainability 14 Five-year milestone and five years of additional support

26 Olds College’s New Buildings are Underway

16 Inaugural Robert Saik AgTech Awards

28 Olds College Excited To Expand Offerings Through Online Microcredentials

19 Red Deer & District Community Foundation

Winter/Spring 2022

Horizons is published by Olds College Marketing & Communications.

The magazine is mailed to alumni and friends of Olds College.

To Reach Us:

25 Olds College Student Wins Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization Scholarship

18 Special Areas Board

Horizons

30 Technology in the Classroom

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Winter/Spring 2022 3

Agriculture Animal Science Business Equine Fibre Arts Horticulture Land & Environment Service Industry & Food Production Trades If you are considering continuing education or looking to enhance or change your career, Olds College’s Continuing Education programs are a great place to begin. We offer short courses, distance learning, evening classes and online programs to accomodate your busy lifestyle.

We also offer corporate training solutions in the form of workshops, courses or programs that can be custom created specifically to your organization to assist you in achieving training and performance objectives.

View our programming through the listings on this page or through our Continuing Education calendar that is published annually.

Take a look and explore your passion with Olds College.

Experience More: oldscollege.ca/continuing-education SHORT COURSES

DISTANCE & ONLINE LEARNING

CORPORATE TRAINING

•Cans & Bombers •Growlers •Kegs •Limited Edition Craft Brews, Seasonal and Student Beers

Available at the Olds College Brewery Retail Store, and at leading bars, restaurants, and liquor retailers across central Alberta! We produce all types of beer and train students in all beer styles, so we are constantly turning out new and creative seasonal brews in addition to our four ‘core’ brands.

Learn more: ocbeer.ca

Facebook-square Twitter Instagram Untappd Our core brands are available year-round!

HAY CITY Wheat Beer | PRAIRIE GOLD IPA | AGGIE ALE Amber Ale | OLD SKOOL Brown Ale

4 Olds College Horizons

Olds College

President’s Message

As a new year rolls in, I am beyond grateful for the resiliency shown by the Olds College team and all of our students, faculty and staff as we continue to navigate the highs and lows of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more than 100 years Olds College has delivered hands-on training, innovative learning programs, and graduates who are in-demand and have the skills and tools needed to succeed. Despite changes to the classroom, our team remains focused on creating valuable experiential learning opportunities for our students — whether that happens online or in-person.

In this issue of Horizons, we highlight applied research on the Smart Farm which is at the heart of the Smart Ag Ecosystem at the College and has grown to include 2,800 acres of farmland, infrastructure, and staff who are experienced in agricultural technology research and development. We are experiencing steady growth in our smart agriculture applied research programming, and our Smart Farm continues to expand and engage new partners and attract new investment with an added focus on both sustainability and technology.

We have several exciting new partnership announcements, as well as celebrating that the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production at Olds College received another five years of funding to support on-farm technology development and practices.

Construction is underway on three new high-tech, innovative learning and working environments on campus — and the College continues to expand online learning opportunities and technology in the classroom.

We also celebrate our donors in this issue with a special donor appreciation section that highlights the many ways that people continue to support our students. These relationships are so important in providing our students with exceptional learning environments, unique opportunities and industry insight. I’m amazed at the generosity and support shown by our community and how we continue to 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

Winter/Spring 2022 5

The Floating Islands deployed in the Olds College Constructed Wetlands.

Environmental Sustainability

Using Floating Islands to Treat Feedlot Runoff Water Olds College researchers are evaluating the economic and environmental benefits of using native wetland plants and floating island technology to remediate feedlot runoff water. This research aims to effectively improve water quality for irrigation or livestock use by removing nutrients, heavy metals, and other contaminants — as well as minimizing the presence of algae blooms. Feedlot operators could access alternative, low-cost options for treating feedlot runoff water while being environmentally sustainable.

Contamination of surface water and groundwater from nutrient loading is a critical problem within agriculture and urban areas across Alberta and Canada. Feedlot wastewater can contain many different contaminants — such as solid and dissolved organic matter, nutrients, salts and heavy metals — and poses a risk to water supplies if it’s not contained and treated.

Emilie Edgar, research technician, tests equipment and gathers data from the feedlot holding pond on campus.

Past research has shown wetland plants are effective in capturing nutrients, but more critical information is needed. Olds College aims to fill that knowledge gap about the effectiveness of various native wetland plant species in removing specific nutrients and other contaminants for successful water remediation in its research project Floating Island Technology for Livestock Water Remediation.

This research on floating islands is a progression from previous, controlled environment trials at Olds College that evaluated water remediation using native wetland plants. The 2019 study examined nutrient and contaminant uptake of cattails, wheat sedge, sweet flag, smartweed and water sedge in a controlled, replicated experiment using water artificially dosed with high concentrations of macro nutrients. The results showed that macro nutrient removal was possible from all species with cattails performing the best overall due to its productivity and biomass production.

6 Olds College Horizons

These findings were used to define a second controlled experiment — which ended in November 2020 — with additional plant species and feedlot runoff water collected from the Olds College feedlot holding pond.

The results from both studies will be used to guide the selection of native wetland plants and the design, deployment, and maintenance of the floating islands in the latest research project.

Olds College is currently in its third phase of its floating island research with a three-year project which began in April 2021. Floating islands with select native plant species will be deployed in 2022 on catch basins at commercial feedlots to see if they can improve water quality to irrigation or livestock drinking water standards.

Dr. Daniel Karran, hydrologist and instructor in the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology at Olds College, is the principal investigator responsible for managing the project activities, data analysis and technical reporting.

The first “season” — from snow melt in the spring to freeze-up in the fall — will be used for baseline data collection. The quantity and quality of the water entering and remaining in all retention ponds will be assessed regularly, along with plant growth, plant health and plant nutrient profiles throughout the season. Using a variety of digital technologies and field sampling, concentrations of nutrients, fecal indicator bacteria, and other water quality parameters will be monitored along with climate and surface runoff variables. If successful, this technology will allow producers to reuse runoff water for livestock drinking water and irrigation, while minimizing risks associated with groundwater contamination, eutrophication and algae toxicity.

The number of floating islands — each four feet by eight feet in size — and selection of plants for each site will be based on previous studies and the water quality assessment at each site. It is estimated that between five to 25 per cent of the surface area for each pond will be covered with floating islands, and therefore the actual pond surface area will dictate the number of islands required per site.

“Across all sectors, especially agriculture, one of the most pressing issues of our time is learning View of the experimental setup within the greenhouse during the 2019 study. how to better manage This research aims our precious water to deliver specific resources,” explains information to inform Karran. “In operations that have negative impacts on water the design and deployment of floating islands and native quality, we desperately need solutions that are economical wetland plants for treating feedlot runoff ponds — a new and easily adopted so that producers can do more with low-cost process for treating feedlot runoff water — and the water they have, which minimizes their overall water information for the general public about the environmental footprint on the environment.” footprint of livestock production and the steps the industry is making towards environmental sustainability.

“The results of the previous phases of the floating island research have been very promising, so now we need Olds College understands the importance of providing to test this technology in real-world environments to livestock producers with alternative, natural, low-cost determine if it is indeed the type of solution we are methods of water remediation so they can continue to be looking for.” strong stewards of land and water.

Winter/Spring 2022 7

Advancing Agronomy

HyperLayer Data Collection on the Smart Farm Digital farming technologies — machine learning, artificial intelligence and robotics — will play a large role in the future of sustainable agricultural production. However, innovators require comprehensive training datasets (essentially huge collections of data) to build algorithms for data-driven predictions or decisions, but they don’t currently exist. Since Olds College focuses on innovation in the agriculture industry, it eagerly took on the challenge!

Felippe Hoffmann Silva Karp, PhD candidate from McGill University, collecting ground data from Field 15/16.

Introducing the HyperLayer Data Concept — a process where the Olds College Smart Farm compiles, analyzes, and uses virtually every type of agricultural data to support the development of new technologies for Western Canadian producers. The HyperLayer Data Concept collects data layers with geographical coordinates across the 2,800-acre Smart Farm and stores them in a standardized georeferenced format which allows for quick extraction, easy analysis and data sharing.

For each field on the Smart Farm, there will be multiple layers of data collected — topographical data, detailed soil nutrient and moisture mapping, multispectral and hyperspectral imagery, yield data — for analyzing, developing and validating new technologies, and building next-generation machine learning algorithms. Data collection for the HyperLayer Data Concept started in 2020 and there’s still years of data to collect; it’s the most labour and time-consuming part of this project.

“The Smart Farm has the expertise, technology and capacity to overlay and analyze many layers of geospatial agricultural data that exists in the industry,” explains Dr. Alex Melnitchouck, Chief Technology Officer - Digital Ag at Olds College who is overseeing the technical aspects of the project. “The HyperLayer approach starts with the creation of georeferenced field boundaries, and then layers of data are collected and analyzed within those boundaries. The information is stored in a geospatial database and used for integrated analysis and predictive analytics on an on-going basis.”

8 Olds College Horizons

The HyperLayer Data Concept allows the College to test smart ag technologies on the Smart Farm and unlock the potential for farmers to make data-driven management decisions on their fields. It’s also providing invaluable work-integrated learning for Olds College students in the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology and Continuing Education — including one PhD candidate from McGill University completing his candidacy at Olds College. These students are gaining valuable experience in data collection, analysis and smart ag technologies to help advance the agriculture industry.

The predictive algorithms built from the HyperLayer data will provide significant environmental benefits, including a reduction of fertilizer use by precisely

estimating yield potential and amount of plant-available soil nutrients throughout the field, as well as water use efficiency. Economically, this data will help increase the competitiveness of Canadian agriculture, optimize efficiencies in field work and crop production, and simulate the development of smart ag technologies.

The opportunities for collaboration and partnerships are endless.

BASF Digital Farming commits $300,000 to the HyperLayer Data Concept BASF Digital Farming announced a $300,000 donation to Olds College as part of its three-year commitment to support the Smart Farm. The donation, made on behalf of the company’s market-leading xarvio® Digital Farming Solutions brand, benefits the HyperLayer Data Concept.

“Our collaboration with BASF Digital Farming is a perfect fit,” said Dr. Alex Melnitchouck. “By expanding our network, we can best provide growers with the ability to make informed decisions surrounding their fields, so they can achieve the greatest success possible.”

“The College’s HyperLayer Data Concept signals the next generation of digital farming in Canada and aligns with BASF’s commitment to innovation and shaping a sustainable future for farming,” said Kael Briggs, Commercial Manager, xarvio®, BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions.

The collection of this previously undiscovered information and the subsequent development of algorithms by xarvio will enable growers to make evidence-based decisions to optimize crop production, improve their bottom line and maximize success.

Through the partnership, xarvio will receive access to data collected from Olds College and its Smart Farm partners, enabling the development and testing of algorithms specific to Western Canada growing conditions.

The algorithms will provide significant insight into crop nutrition and weed and disease control on a spatial basis, and support growers in producing better crops.

High-resolution elevation map of Field 15/16 on the Olds College Smart Farm.

Yield (Dry) (bu/ac)

67.44 - 80.08(17.53 ac) 61.86 - 67.44(38.57 ac) 58.53 - 61.86(32.74 ac) 55.38 - 58.53(36.05 ac) 51.66 - 55.38(33.42 ac) 45.71 - 51.66(25.18 ac) 24.22 - 45.71(15.23 ac)

9/10/2021 2:22:09 PM Data Altered/Created through Analysis

Ag Leader Technology SMS Advanced

Virtual grain yield forecast map created for Field 18 from satellite imagery data and scouting.

Dr. Alex Melnitchouck and Dr. Joy Agnew analyzing data in the Smart Ag Innovation Centre.

CAAIN Contributes $1.4 Million to Data Collection & Validation on the Smart Farm The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) is contributing close to $1.4 million in support of the Hyperlayer Data Concept.

CAAIN spurs technological advancement in Canada’s agri-food sector by funding the development of Canadian agricultural innovation, and by building a network of stakeholders interested and involved in the nation’s agri-food industries.

These activities will allow Canada to tackle barriers to progress, helping to ensure the long-term sustainability of the businesses and processes responsible for feeding a growing global population. For more information or to join the network, visit CAAIN online at caain.ca or follow them on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Olds College students, Ben Kabbeke and Keith Huseby, perform a Drone Club data collection activity.

Student Engagement

Greenhouse quality assessment research project on compost materials led by OCCI intern Megan Wong.

Work-Integrated Learning Opportunities Growing on the Smart Farm (Literally) For 25 years, the Compost Technology Centre at Olds College was a receiving ground for municipal green waste, but since taking over management of the facility in 2020, Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) has been transforming the space into a venue for applied research and student-learning activities — as well as successfully producing a large amount of high-quality, ready to sell compost material.

Olds College previously leased out compost centre operations to a third party that offered commercial compost services; however, in 2020, the College decided to permanently close the facility and dedicate the space to academic and research priorities. OCCI began managing the remaining material on site in order to turn it into a finished compost product to sell, and staff and instructors

10 Olds College Horizons

seized this opportunity for work-integrated learning with students and interns.

“Providing valuable work-integrated learning opportunities in applied research with data collection, waste management, reclamation, and quality assessments during the transition and closure of the compost centre is a huge bonus,” says Dr. Joy Agnew, Associate Vice-President, Applied Research at Olds College who is overseeing the closure of the compost centre. “Actively managing and optimizing the compost process was a learning experience for everyone at the College, and our students and research assistants are involved in every step as we produce a saleable, high-quality finished compost product.”

Primarily a hands-on learning and applied research environment, students, instructors, interns and student clubs joined forces with OCCI to ensure proper composting conditions resulted in a high-quality end product.

complete volume calculations and infrared temperature of the materials. Kabbeke and Huseby took RGB (red, green, blue) and thermal imagery with two different drones and used GPS location targets to increase the location and elevation accuracy of the results. The students were then able to generate a map of the surface temperatures and calculate the quantity of compost in windrows in order for OCCI to optimize the composting process.

For her eight-month internship with OCCI through the Adaptation Resilience Training Program, Megan Wong was excited to contribute to research and project planning with a focus on climate change adaptation. Wong completed quality assessment trials by growing Garden Cress (Lepidium Sativum) in the OCCI greenhouse to evaluate the stability and quality of the finished compost for OCCI researchers and potential buyers. Quality assessments — along with regular lab analysis — found the finished compost to be a high quality soil amendment. “Leading a research project at OCCI was an incredible experience. It was amazing to be able to demonstrate how the compost has been transformed into a healthy and viable material to promote plant growth,” says Wong, Project Assistant at OCCI.

Passionate about environmental sustainability, Olds College student and OCCI employee Becky Hutchings was a natural fit for monitoring compost centre activities as she finishes classes — which include Reclamation and Remediation, and Environmental The germination trials were Stewardship and so successful, instructors Rural Planning. in the Werklund School Hutchings performed of Agriculture Technology weekly temperature are now including a semimeasurements, compost scientific trial using the sampling, and clean-up compost for an upcoming activities on site. Her project through the cloudwork helped optimize the based learning platform composting process by Olds College Remote Staff, faculty and students partake in a clean-up activity at monitoring carbon levels, Ag Ecosystem (OCRAE). the compost centre led by student Becky Hutchings. moisture content and Students will grow one of composition as well as four different plants (oats, sending samples to the lab for quality testing. canola, peas or barley) in different mixes of compost and

“My life’s mission is to help heal the earth and support environmental sustainability.

Applying my Olds College education to important projects on campus like managing the compost centre is a great way to combine my passion and education,” says Hutchings.

Olds College Drone Club student members Ben Kabbeke and Keith Huseby performed data collection activities with drones alongside instructors at the compost centre to

potting soil while each plant is connected to a camera and sensors. This technology illustrates plant growth over time and measures climate and soil moisture while the data streams to the cloud.

Olds College is focused on using the compost centre building and land for applied research and student-learning activities going forward since intake of all material has ended and the compost centre will be permanently closed.

If you have questions or comments about the compost site — or are interested in learning more about the high quality compost material ready for purchase — please contact the Olds College Centre for Innovation.

Winter/Spring 2022 11

Building Sustainability

Sire Progeny Links = Performance, Profitability & Sustainability The future adoption of sire-progeny links and verification by commercial beef producers could improve genetic selection opportunities of high-producing bulls, in turn improving efficiencies and overall production levels of the Alberta Beef Industry.

The Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) at Olds College is in its third year of research alongside Blindman Beef and Bison evaluating sire-progeny links, breeding plans, and information management in multi-sire breeding scenarios. Commercial herds in Alberta will often run multiple bulls in a single pasture with cows; knowing which bulls sired specific offspring can help producers understand sires’ current and future contribution to performance, profitability and sustainability — and track offspring data to make informed breeding decisions.

“High conception rates are an important measure when considering herd profitability, and ensuring adequate bull power during the breeding season will support this,” states Sean Thompson, Manager of the Olds College TACLP. “However, investigating the value that each bull contributes in a multi-sire pasture requires sire verification of offspring, and this is not commonly done within the industry. Our research project aims to shed light on the merit of individual bulls in these commercial operations.”

This applied research project utilizes Quantum Genetix’s DNA test and BIXSco Inc. software for improved on-farm data collection and record-keeping, and aims to highlight the benefits of new agriculture technologies for livestock producers. In addition to Blindman Beef and Bison, West-Central Forage Association (WCFA) and Lakeland College are partner

12 Olds College Horizons

organizations on this project with funding support provided by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

All sires from Blindman Beef and Bison are DNA sampled, tested for breeding soundness and added to the reference sire database. Calf DNA samples are collected during spring processing and submitted to Quantum Genetix in Saskatoon to confirm sire parentage. As well, cow performance is recorded and summarized in November after weaning, followed by data summarization and statistical analysis. Additional performance data is collected from the producer through their Herdtrax account — an electronic herd management program that allows performance and management records to be inputted and referenced easily.

Sire Verification Results In 2019, the first year of the project, 278 calves were sampled and received sire verification results. The range of offspring from each sire included in the project was as low as seven calves for one young bull to as many as 52 calves from one of the mature herd sires. In 2020, a total of 252 calf DNA samples were collected and the range of offspring varied from as low as four to as high as 44 calves per sire.

Results are still being analyzed and a further in-depth assessment on the sire verification results is currently underway combining data from both WCFA and Lakeland College in order to provide a larger sample size for statistical analysis.

Benefits to producers Genetics are the key to sustainable beef production.

Producers can use cattle genetic information to define and improve bull selection, fertility, breeding plans and profitability of beef production in Canada. In turn,

production efficiency improvements play a role in reducing the greenhouse gas footprint of beef production, and require using less land and water.

This project will confirm how successful each bull is at breeding cows and place an economic value on knowing which bulls sire which calves — the importance being both the number of calves a bull sires as well as how the calves perform. For example, Bull A sires 30 calves and Bull B only sires 25 calves, but Bull B’s calves are weaned 50 pounds heavier on average. Discovering the economic advantage in addition to other metrics — calving ease, length of calving season, immunity to disease, and carcass quality — will help producers benefit their operations through a simple $12 parentage test.

“On our operation, we are fortunate to have all our pasture in a contiguous piece, which is great for pasture management but it makes it more difficult to manage genetics as we group breed our entire cowherd,” explains Assar Grinde, owner of Blindman Beef and Bison. “With parentage testing, we are able to not only determine which bulls are performing (or not performing), but we also improve our replacement heifer selection by knowing their sires. We plan on continuing with testing after the pilot ends.”

The TACLP is able to highlight the importance of sire verification and inform producers of the relatively low cost to do so now — a common misconception that has presumably been limiting uptake in the industry. The preliminary results are already providing value to Blindman Beef and Bison and leading to the potential of additional research opportunities with the TACLP to improve efficiencies and overall production levels.

Winter/Spring 2022 13

Sean Thompson, Manager of TACLP, in the feedlots at Olds College.

Building Sustainability

Five-year milestone and five years of additional support

Five years, 60 months, 260 weeks or 1,825 days — however you count it — the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) at Olds College recently celebrated its anniversary with another five years of financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Established in 2016 after receiving its first Technology Access Centre grant, the TACLP is dedicated to improving animal health and welfare, increasing production efficiency, and enhancing environmental sustainability for beef and sheep production.

The TACLP is one of 60 centres across Canada to receive funding to support technology development through innovative services and applied research. This federally funded grant encourages productivity, innovation, networking, and sharing of best practices by enabling centres to readily access college expertise, technology, and equipment. With this renewed support from NSERC, the TACLP will continue to leverage the Smart Farm and integrate the growing infrastructure of smart ag technologies.

“The TACLP has supported the development, optimization and validation of innovative on-farm technologies and practices in order to enhance producer viability,” says Sean Thompson, Manager of the Olds College TACLP. “This has been made possible by leveraging the IT, data science and agronomic experience of the Olds College Smart Farm.”

14 Olds College Horizons

Special Edition

View our donor listings by visiting oldscollege.ca/donors

Donor Appreciation Olds College continues to value our past, present and future relationships with donors and industry partners. Through these partnerships, our students have received exceptional learning opportunities that will benefit their careers and impact the agriculture industry as a whole.

As we continue to navigate COVID-19 restrictions, we are once again unable to host our annual donor appreciation event. With that said, 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 couldn’t do it without your generosity. Thank you!

Winter/Spring 2022 15

Endowment Spotlight

Inaugural Robert Saik AgTech Awards Highlighting a passion for agriculture, Robert Saik’s biography includes professional agrologist, entrepreneur, author, worldrenowned speaker, international consultant, mentor, and founder and CEO of AGvisorPRO. He recently spent a day discussing technology with Bill Gates, and now he’s supporting Olds College, students, and the future of agriculture technology with the inaugural Robert Saik AgTech Awards.

Saik recently donated $100,000 to Olds College to create an endowment funding the Robert Saik AgTech Awards — two $2,500 scholarships per year supporting students from urban areas enrolled in the Agriculture Technology programs at Olds College — and fueling his passion for agriculture and technology. This donation builds on the scholarship Saik established at the University of Alberta to support rural students.

“I established these scholarships at Olds College because the College offers hands-on, high-tech learning experiences with the Ag Tech programs,” explains Saik. “Technology, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning are a part of the future of agriculture.

Olds College is helping students focus on the agricultural needs of tomorrow by placing technology inside the classroom and providing a hands-on learning environment on the Smart Farm.”

With the programming at Werklund School of Agriculture Technology, along with applied research on the Olds College Smart Farm, Saik feels the College is showing students and farmers the possibilities of where they can go with ag tech, and creating opportunities for sustainable agriculture. Saik also hopes this scholarship bridges the gap between Olds College and students living in urban centres.

“I want this scholarship to encourage bright people to join the agriculture industry and take advantage of the technology available, and those bright people don’t need to come from

In 2021 we raised a total of :

$4.29 million 16 Olds College Horizons

Ways to Support Olds College • • • • • • •

Cash Gift Gifts-In-Kind (GIK) Stocks & Securities Establish an Endowment Planned Giving Event Sponsorship Tribute Programs

a farm or have a background in agriculture,” says Saik.

“It’s important that kids living in urban areas understand agriculture is a viable and exciting career; it’s a really good place to be. I feel very strongly about that.”

“Agriculture offers a variety of career opportunities, including new skill sets centered around technology, data, robotics and engineering,” says Patrick Machacek, Vice President, Development and Strategy at Olds College. “Thanks to Mr. Saik’s generous donation, we will be able to support urban learners in agriculture by removing some of the financial roadblocks, and introducing these learners to exciting ag tech careers that are emerging throughout Alberta. Robert has been a long-time friend of Olds College and we would like to thank him for his continued support.”

By offering these scholarships, Saik is most excited to participate in the students’ lives who receive the Robert Saik AgTech Awards — and potentially have these bright minds join his own organizations down the road bringing a fresh perspective and ag tech experience from Olds College and the Smart Farm.

Saik has never been without a computer or cell phone since his early 20s. He refers to kids that have grown up with screens as “Screenagers” and believes this gives

them a natural step up in ag tech — an innate ability and knowledge of how to integrate technology with agriculture.

Actually, saying Saik is passionate about agriculture might be the biggest understatement. He reflects that agriculture has treated him well throughout his entire career. He grew up on a farm in northeastern Alberta and spent his career working in every facet of the agriculture industry — crops, fertilizer, agridata, autonomy in farming — and his experiences showed him the tremendous need for farm technology and integration by farmers and producers.

“I think we need to sell agriculture better,” explains Saik.

“By setting up this scholarship, I hope I encourage other agriculture professionals to step up and contribute to their post-secondary institutions and create more awareness of the career paths available in agriculture, particularly ag tech.”

Saik’s connection to Olds College goes beyond the Robert Saik AgTech Awards; he’s also a long-time member of the Smart Agriculture Industry Advisory Council and the AgSmart Industry Advisory Group.

Robert Saik’s passion for agriculture and technology is contagious.

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:

145

$ 15.17 million

Total Market Value of Endowments (As of June 30, 2021):

(principal + interest) Winter/Spring 2022 17

Gift-in-Kind Spotlight

Special Areas Board Since 2015, the Special Areas Board has supported enriched learning opportunities for Olds College students through the in-kind donation of a heavy construction grader to the Agrology Technologist in Training (ATT) program and by encouraging senior staff members to share their learnings with students during speaking engagements. Shaune Kovitch, Superintendent of Roads and Equipment for the Special Areas Board, is a strong advocate for this type of hands-on learning and is passionate about supporting students in enriched learning environments.

“The Special Areas Board is proud to partner with Olds College because the students embody what we look for in potential hires: a comprehensive understanding of the equipment, safety, spatial awareness and the ability to handle real-world scenarios,” says Kovitch. “I love having the opportunity to speak to students in the Agrology Technologist in Training (ATT) program, answer their questions and share my wisdom from over the years.”

The Roads and Equipment program is based out of the Youngstown Service Centre — an 18-bay shop facility that houses heavy-duty and automotive mechanics, a welding department, tire technician and large parts department consisting of $3 million in inventory.

Sometimes called the “backbone of operations,” the Youngstown Service Centre is the hub of the fleet — including over 700 pieces of equipment — with everything from light machines to heavy construction graders. As part

of his role leading this program for Special Areas, Kovitch continues to enjoy sharing his personal knowledge and experience with Olds College students through regular speaking events.

“My hope is that these students will leave Olds College with an enhanced education and hands-on learning experience that sets them apart from others entering the same workforce,” Kovitch explains. “The Special Areas Board recognizes the value of this training in potential employees and has seen how well it prepares them to hit the ground running.”

Kovitch looks forward to watching Olds College continue its excellent work while investing in technological advancements for its students and incorporating new technology into its training. He knows the Special Areas Board will continue to support enriched learning opportunities, like the ATT program at Olds College, for many years to come.

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 the 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.

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.

# of Gift-in-Kind in 2021

37 = $658K in Value

To make a donation, please contact the Olds College Development team at development@oldscollege.ca or by telephone at 403.556.8257.

18 Olds College Horizons

Inclusion & Diversity Spotlight

Red Deer & District Community Foundation Formed in 2020, the Fund for Gender Equality supports communities across Canada to further their gender equality initiatives thanks to the Equality Fund, Government of Canada, Green Shield Canada and Community Foundations of Canada. Additionally, one grassroots community foundation, the Red Deer & District Community Foundation, was particularly eager to play a role.

The Red Deer & District Community Foundation received $165,000 to fund grants that advance gender equality and empower all genders, including women, non-binary, Two-Spirit, transgender and gender-diverse people. Erin Peden, Executive Director of the Red Deer & District Community Foundation, invited local organizations to join her in a virtual roundtable with the ability to request funding. This allowed each applicant the opportunity to hear the needs of their community and present how the grant would be used. During this conversation, Olds College’s grant request for gender-neutral washrooms was well received.

“Gender equality is often overlooked in conversations because it’s typically thought of as an issue of the past, but it’s most definitely not,” Peden states. “Using opportunities like the Fund for Gender Equality to generate any type of intention and understanding is essential for our communities.”

Recognizing Olds College’s commitment to providing safe and inclusive spaces for all students, staff and alumni, the Red Deer & District Community Foundation offered the College grant funding of $16,343. The funds will be used to administer gender equity training, create signage for the College’s newly renovated gender-inclusive washrooms, and purchase customized fitness equipment for females in the Athletics Department’s HighPerformance Centre.

“I was pleased to see we had a post-secondary institution at the table that understood the importance of gender equality,” Peden says. “There’s definitely an indication of strong leadership within Olds College to admit that these are needed. One size does not fit all and they’re making sure everyone is included. So kudos to everyone at Olds College, and we look forward to maintaining an ongoing partnership.”

Planned Giving: 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.

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 Winter/Spring 2022 19

Student Awards Spotlight

Julie Calderwood’s Continuous Support For over a decade, Julie Calderwood has made her mark on Olds College. From creating student awards and scholarships to participating in the Olds College Alumni Association, Olds College Foundation and Board of Directors, she has been pivotal to a number of the College’s successes. Most recently, Calderwood helped establish an engagement program called the Olds College Student Industry Engagement Fund.

“Julie has been a tremendous supporter of Olds College for many years now,” says Stuart Cullum, President of Olds College. “She continually contributes to the College in meaningful ways — not just financially but through her time and energy. Julie is always looking forward in creative ways, which is really valuable to our students.”

Together, Calderwood and Michael Frankiw, Student Experience Coordinator at the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology, helped bridge the gap between students and the industries they aspire to work in by building this mentorship program. The program sends students to industry-led events, such as Agribition, and brings in industry leaders and alumni to speak to the students at the College.

“I’d like to give a big thank you to Julie for her part in the Student Industry Engagement Fund and giving our students access to formative, foundational experiences,” Frankiw says. “All these opportunities are possible because of donors like her who support this Fund, which gives

students a chance to progress in their educational and professional fields. I’ve really enjoyed my conversations with Julie over the years and I look forward to bolstering my relationship with her as time goes on.”

To date, the Student Industry Engagement Fund has connected over 150 students to various industry-led events and experiences. These are not only tremendously valuable networking and career development opportunities, but also memories and experiences the students will hold dearly for the rest of their lives.

“This is a good example of where Julie saw the vision and value of an idea, recognized the need for support and jumped right in as our first contributor for the Fund,” Cullum adds. “As a result of her initial seeding of $14,000, we’ve been able to raise over $70,000 towards the Fund, getting closer to our goal of $100,000. Most importantly, however, has been the impact of Julie’s generosity and the Student Industry Engagement Fund on the students. It’s wonderful seeing students excited about their futures.”

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. Honor 20 Olds College Horizons

a friend, family member, mentor, or other loved one, or mark a wedding, graduation, new arrival, memorial, or other important life event. Paving stones may be purchased at any time throughout the year.

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.

Planned Giving Spotlight

Estate of Charles Edgar Young Lifelong Alberta rancher, Charles Edgar Young, had many passions — two of which included rodeo and education. Before he sadly passed away in 2017, Young ensured his passions would be passed onto future generations through the Rodeo team at Olds College.

Starting in 2020, the College’s Rodeo department has graciously received funding from the Estate of Charles Edgar Young to offer entrance and recruitment scholarships, as well as purchase new training equipment, such as a Smarty roping and bucking machine for training purposes.

“Funding from the Estate of Charles Edgar Young has been instrumental in enhancing the Rodeo and Trades programs at Olds College, giving us the opportunity to build stronger, more well-rounded students and teams,” said Guy Kelley, Head Rodeo Coach at Olds College.

“These programs have significantly improved since receiving the funding and we’re so proud of our students’ growth because of it.”

While he had no prior relationship with Olds College, Young understood the College’s important role in the community and wanted to give students the opportunity to discover their own passion for rodeo, learning a skilled trade to further their education.

“When you have higher quality athletes, word spreads,” says Kelley. “Years before, the College would have been

Student Awards In 2021, Olds College disbursed over $500,000 to students from scholarships, bursaries and prizes.

We are very grateful to our many award donors for their generous support of our students!

overlooked for bigger post-secondary institutions, but now, students are choosing us. Seeing the success of my students and their growth is my favourite part of working here.”

Dan Daley, Dean of the School of Trades at Olds College, looked forward to receiving funding from the Estate of Charles Edgar Young this past year. A portion of funding was directed to student financial aid and the remainder helped improve the student learning environment by updating props — such as precision farming, air brake systems, transmissions and steering boxes — to stay current in the industry.

Daley’s hope is that through this new funding, the College will provide an overall better learning experience for the students with even more hands-on engagement.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Estate of Charles Edgar Young so our students can receive scholarships and bursaries, giving them the opportunity to attend Olds College when they otherwise may not have been able to,” Daley adds. “We’re really thankful to the Estate, as it’s no doubt been a positive experience for our students.”

In 2021

$518,719.40

446

$ 1,163.05

359

Awards Were Disbursed Average value of an award

Awards Were Disbursed Olds College Students Received Awards Winter/Spring 2022 21

Ag Tech Connections

The Smart Farm Draws Attention of Notable Guests “Canada’s agriculture system is a global leader in sustainable agriculture, and we appreciate the Ministers taking time to tour the Smart Farm, where our industry’s next generation of talent and innovations are being produced,” comments Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College.

The industry-led, agriculture technology applied research happening on the Olds College Smart Farm is being noticed far and wide, and a few noteworthy guests have recently made their way to Olds, Alberta to learn more about it.

The Federal and Provincial Ministers of Agriculture toured the Smart Farm to learn how the College’s applied research is supporting sustainability and climate change in agriculture. In addition, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada and embassy members included the Smart Farm in their west coast tour to discuss digital ag technology, data collection and international students. As Canada’s Smart Agriculture College and home to Canada’s first Smart Farm, Olds College is eager to share how it’s integrating real-life applied research and smart ag technologies into commercial farming operations.

Federal and Provincial Ministers of Agriculture Explore Sustainable Agriculture on the Smart Farm The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Alberta Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development, Nate Horner, toured the Olds College Smart Farm to learn more about applied research at the College and how it supports sustainable agriculture while addressing climate change.

Showcasing Olds College’s work in regenerative agriculture and climate change resiliency, the Ministers toured the Smart Ag Innovation Centre, explored the OMNiPOWER Autonomous Agriculture platform, and spoke with students in the new Agriculture Technology programs. The Federal Minister even took the reins (aka remote control) of OMNiPOWER to see how supervised autonomy works on the Smart Farm.

“It is great to be on the ground with Minister Horner to see first-hand the innovative work happening right here at Olds College. Students at Olds are getting the chance to work on the most digitally advanced technologies that are driving a more sustainable system of agriculture. We are immensely proud of the role taken by the college and the world-leading research collaborations they are forging,” comments Marie-Claude Bibeau.

“Agriculture is a key driver of Alberta’s economic recovery plan, and Olds College continues to be a leader in innovation, research, and smart ag technology while meeting the needs of producers right here in Alberta,” adds Nate Horner. “From practical on-farm applications to advanced technical training, Olds College has helped build Alberta’s modern agriculture sector.”

From left: Julie Cobb, student, Olds College; Hon. MarieClaude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food; Brody Nestorovich, student, Olds College; and Hon. Nate Horner, M.L.A., Minister of Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development operate OMNiPOWER at the W.J. Elliott Building on campus.

22 Olds College Horizons

Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada and Embassy Members Tour the Smart Farm Olds College welcomed His Excellency the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada, Akylbek Kamaldinov, and members from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Canada including visitors from the Canada Eurasia Russia Business Association (CERBA) and Condor Petroleum. The visitors went on a tour of the Olds College Smart Farm, and the College showcased the agriculture technology applied research and data collection taking place on the Smart Farm along with the College’s support for international students.

The visitors learned about data collection on the Smart Farm, and explored the Smart Ag Innovation Centre, the OMNiPOWER platform, Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production feedlots, and Smart Farm fields near campus. James Benkie, Dean of Werklund School of Agriculture Technology, was also able to highlight the Agriculture Technology programming, hands-on learning, and opportunities for international students with Olds College.

“It’s beneficial for CERBA to host the Embassy of Kazakhstan and bring them to Olds College for a tour of the Smart Farm to see the digital agriculture technologies being tested here,” says Frank Kense, Regional Director, Alberta Chapter at CERBA. The Embassy members were especially interested in the economic and commercial use of autonomous agriculture equipment, the Smart Farm data collection and connectivity, plus how local producers are able to use digital data to improve their crop production and sustainability.

“The value of these visits is exchanging information about how we’re using leading-edge technologies in crop production and livestock along with discussing the education and applied research that happens at Olds College,” says Dr. Alex Melnitchouck, Chief Technology Officer - Digital Ag at Olds College.

“Canada and Kazakhstan share a similar geography and climate, so a visit to the Smart Farm showcases many opportunities to work together and collaborate going forward," explains Kense. "What Olds College is doing on the Smart Farm is amazing and it’s applicable for the future of agriculture to learn more about ag technologies and efficiencies.”

Photo, Clockwise from left: Jason Bradley, Manager of Smart Ag Partnerships at Olds College, showcases data collection and autonomous agriculture equipment to H.E. Akylbek Kamaldinov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada, in the Smart Ag Innovation Centre and W.J. Elliot Building on campus.

Winter/Spring 2022 23

24 Olds College Horizons

Ecological Sustainability

Olds College Student Wins Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization Scholarship Abigail Taylor, a third-year Olds College student enrolled in the Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) Agribusiness degree, has always been interested in the agriculture industry and food production. In 2020, Taylor left her hometown in Ontario to work on a farm in Quebec to gain more experience in the industry.

During her work experience, Taylor worked on a female-run farm which she found extremely inspiring as she had never worked for a woman who was the primary producer of their own farm and food.

“Working for a female farmer changed my perspective on my future, and for the first time, I truly felt that my dream of running my own farm was achievable,” says Taylor.

After her work experience, Taylor was inspired and motivated to follow in her mentor’s footsteps. She spent the next summer starting her own farm and business called Dawn Farm.

Currently, Taylor raises chickens, turkeys and beef cattle at Dawn Farm and sells free-range eggs, whole bird chickens and turkeys, grass-finished beef, and organ meats for raw dog food. With the farm-to-plate mentality, Dawn Farm sells products directly to consumers from the farm. Taylor is extremely passionate about providing healthy meats and produce to the local community.

Taylor received this year’s Canadian Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO) Scholarship of $2,500. To receive this award, the winner must have completed at least two years of higher education in Entrepreneurship or Business, maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA, and have an active business. The WEDO Scholarship aims to support and ignite future women innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide. In addition, Taylor was invited to attend and speak at the WEDO Virtual Day and was inspired by all of the female entrepreneurs.

“I am grateful for the WEDO scholarship to help pay my tuition, thus allowing me to save money for buying cattle this spring and growing my farm,” says Taylor. “As I grow my business, I hope that I will be a role model for other young women, and eventually hire them to work for my farm.”

Taylor went into the Agribusiness program at Olds College to gain business expertise in the agriculture industry to help her growing business and farming operation. With a

motivation to learn, Taylor has spent her weekends touring beef farms, and attending cattle auctions and cattle shows to learn as much as she can about the beef industry.

“Growing up in the agriculture industry, I have always cared deeply about the Earth and environment.” Taylor adds, “As a child, I read books about ecological farms selling directly to consumers. Ever since then, I wanted to start my own farm so I could produce food in a way that improved the land.”

“I am passionate about being a steward of the land, providing food for my local community, and connecting people with their food,” Taylor says. “Dawn Farm allows me to chase all of these passions while building a career.”

A long-term goal of Taylor’s is to become an agricultural educator using her farm. She enjoys giving customers tours around Dawn Farm and teaching them about where their food comes from. In the future, she hopes to host workshops, student field trips and schedule group farm tours to educate people about agriculture. With Dawn Farm, Taylor aims to be a part of the solution in bridging the gap between farmers and consumers.

After graduation, Taylor has big plans for Dawn Farm and her career. She plans to continue expanding Dawn Farms while working in partnership with her family’s farm. She hopes to join her local agriculture federation and continue to be involved in her community. Taylor also plans to spend four months working on a regenerative ranch in Georgia, U.S.A.

Winter/Spring 2022 25

Construction on Campus

Olds College’s New Buildings are Underway Fostering high-tech, innovative learning and working environments, three new facilities — the Ag Tech Learning Hub, Animal Health Education Centre and Farm Shop — are underway at Olds College. These state-of-the-art buildings will expand from existing structures on campus and support new technology programming, smart ag applied research, work-integrated learning and future growth at Olds College.

“The very essence of this building is celebration, and we can’t wait to experience the excitement and energy that will flow in and through this exciting learning space.”

Christine Chalaturnyk, Associate Dean of Werklund School of Agriculture Technology

Ag Tech Learning Hub The Ag Tech Learning Hub is being redeveloped from the James Murray Building. This new building — opening September 2022 — will be the home to the new Ag Tech programming and will house the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology along with open concept learning spaces, offices and classrooms.

The Ag Tech Learning Hub will enhance the physical learning environments for students by including adaptable space for current and future technology integration. The Ag Tech Learning Hub will be 3,000 square metres of learning space — including a huge lecture space, large lab spaces, collaboration and group areas for students to use, as well as a student commons space right in the very center. Olds College students will be greatly impacted by these innovative spaces for years to come.

“The Ag Tech Learning Hub is going to be a very exciting and interactive space for teaching and learning,” Christine Chalaturnyk, Associate Dean of Werklund School of Agriculture Technology expresses. “This innovative building will be open, inviting and transparent where people will see all the exciting teaching and learning that happens in our courses.”

New Ag Tech Learning Hub rendering

ANGLE-DOWN Construction progress from August 2021

26 Olds College Horizons

ANGLE-UP Construction progress from October 2021

Animal Health Education Centre

Olds College Farm Shop

The Lachlin McKinnon Building, which houses the Animal Science and Animal Health programs, is currently under construction to expand into the new Animal Health Education Centre. The new building will host the Animal Science and Animal Health programs and the National Meat Training Centre along with more open concept learning spaces, offices and classrooms.

The current Olds College Farm Shop on campus is a repurposed hay processing facility that was designed mainly for equipment and hay storage, basic maintenance, and farm operations. With the growth of applied research in smart agriculture technology and the expansion of the Olds College Smart Farm, the Farm Shop is undergoing a major renovation in order to support the growing Smart Farm and team, student programming, and workintegrated learning.

“The new Animal Health Education Centre will provide a dynamic learning space where students, animals, staff and peers will come together to feed the passion for the care of animals,” says Dalin Bullock, Dean of the School of Life Science and Business. “This unique learning environment will further leverage the skill and expertise of our staff and program curriculum as the place for Animal Health training.”

This building — opening Fall 2023 — will allow for a projected 67 per cent increase in capacity for animal health programming at the College. The first phase of the project, currently under construction, is the addition to the north east side of the existing Lachlin McKinnon Building. This new addition will house the National Meat Training Center, including the new retail meat store, and is planned to be open for the first student intake in early May 2022.

“The new National Meat Training Centre will further enhance the capacity to provide skill and expertise to the meat industry,” Bullock adds. “The new centre will have an expanded retail store to allow the public to taste the skill and innovation of this program.”

New Animal Health Education Centre rendering

The renovated Farm Shop will provide a highly technical, global-leading workspace for Smart Farm staff to undertake equipment repair, maintenance and smart ag project equipment modifications. It will also ensure the proper storage for the advanced equipment being used for Smart Farm operations, such as the OMNiPOWER autonomous platform.

The new Farm Shop will feature a working laboratory space for students, instructors, smart ag applied research scientists, technicians and industry partners.

“The updated Farm Shop will provide a meeting space for the Smart Farm team for strategic and tactical day-today planning to support our commercial farm and applied research activities, but it will also help us better support a teaching and learning centre of innovation,” explains Ken Miller, Olds College Smart Farm Manager. “The new facilities are designed to increase work-integrated learning opportunities for students in smart agriculture technology, and get more students involved in applied research activities.”

The renovated Farm Shop will allow for increased engagement of students, industry and staff in a positive, practical and excellencefocused environment.

New Olds College Farm Shop rendering

ANGLE-DOWN Construction progress from October 2021

Olds College is excited to watch our students, faculty and staff excel in the new learning spaces around campus.

Winter/Spring 2022 27

Industry Advancement

Olds College Excited To Expand Offerings Through Online Microcredentials Olds College Continuing Education and Corporate Training is excited to introduce online microcredentials. From horticulture, to cannabis, to beverage production — microcredentials align with some of the most desired skills sought by top industries. By earning microcredentials, individuals are able to boost their careers with practical skills, recognize what they’ve learned while on the job, and share their skills with employers.

Defining Microcredentials A microcredential is a certification of assessed competencies that is additional, alternate, complementary to, or a component of a formal qualification. Microcredentials are an opportunity to maintain or upgrade employment skills. They provide professional, industryaligned, focused skills that employers are looking for in their next hire. You can achieve microcredentials by completing the training and receiving an assessment, or simply through an assessment if you already possess the necessary skills.

Microcredentials have a number of benefits: SKILLS The knowledge and skills gained are practical and applicable for advancing your career or starting a new one.

SHOWCASE Earning and validating new skills demonstrates your capabilities to existing and new employers.

28 Olds College Horizons

SCHEDULE Often delivered in an online and self-directed format means you can learn at your own pace around your schedule.

SHORT Each credential takes approximately seven hours or less and most offerings are completed in less than a month.

Going from a Microcredential to a Digital Badge Microcredentials can also be combined into digital badges to show a series of completed microcredentials in a particular area. Upgrading microcredentials to badges allows students to further increase their knowledge and reflect their professional skills. Just like individual microcredentials, learners can also share digital badges on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, via email, or embedded in a website.

Digital badges at Olds College are managed through the College’s digital wallet powered by MyCreds.ca — Canada’s new, official credential wallet for postsecondary learners and graduates — and future employers can view qualifications related to specific skills through this digital wallet.

SITE SELECTION AND ENVIRONMENT COMPONENTS

+

GROWING MEDIA: SELECTION, MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT

+

PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Current Offerings of Microcredentials Olds College offers microcredentials in six sought-after industries:

1

HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION

2

CROP PRODUCTION & FACILITIES

3

CANNABIS LEGISLATION & DOCUMENTATION

These credentials provide students with an introduction to commercial growing facilities and their associated crop production systems.

Environmental management and control, irrigation systems, soil management and pest control are explored in crop production.

These credentials introduce important government legislation and regulations associated with the legal production of cannabis in Canada. Students will develop a critical understanding related to the need for documentation, packaging and secure product maintenance, and more.

INTRODUCTION FOR CROP PRODUCTION & FACILITIES Digital Badge

Reply

Microcredentials are Suitable for Everyone

These credentials offer skills in a variety of areas related to plant development and propagation methods including seed development, seed propagation, vegetative propagation, grafting principles and techniques, and more.

4

HORTICULTURE FOR CANNABIS PRODUCTION These credentials introduce key management, harvesting and pest management information as it specifically applies to cannabis production.

Students will develop a crucial understanding of cannabis plant form.

That’s the wonderful thing about each microcredential — most of the time they can be taken by anyone and do not require prerequisites or previous training. Microcredentials can help you get into an industry you’ve always been interested in and take your career to the next level. Learn new skills at your own pace while you continue to work or build your business. Instructors are available throughout each microcredential giving participants the guidance and support to succeed.

5

CANNABIS RETAIL

You can earn microcredentials and badges representing various competencies and from multiple organizations.

They help you tell your professional story in a way that is complete and validated.

6

BEVERAGE PRODUCTION These credentials familiarize students with the sensory attributes of different beverages, and how they are produced and packaged. Explore production, quality control, and introduction to sensory attributes, filtering and packaging.

Ready to add a microcredential or badge to your resume?

Visit oldscollege.ca/microcredentials or email mycreds@ oldscollege.ca to get started.

These credentials lay the foundations of cannabis knowledge through a research-based approach ideal for retailers, educators, and others to enhance their theoretical and practical skills in this burgeoning industry.

Winter/Spring 2022 29

Hands-On Learning

Technology in the Classroom From drones to robots, Olds College students receive high-tech, hands-on learning experiences that heighten their education and allow them to engage with their industry. Students in a range of different programs at the College have the opportunity to get their hands on some of the latest technologies in their classrooms.

Animal Health students working on the robot dog Diesel.

Students learning about the Farmbot from instructor Ken Fry. 30 Olds College Horizons

Instructor George Gaeke flying a drone at the Pitstra Farm.

Drones in Agriculture

Diesel the Robotic Dog

In the Land and Water program, students learn a variety of drone applications for agriculture and environment management by witnessing a drone flight demonstration. Students are able to learn how to plan, fly and process drone missions, then provide usable results to internal and external clients. Students also process and analyze the imagery collected using Pix4D Mapper and ArcGIS Pro software, making 2D and 3D orthomosaic and topographic maps. The layers are then used to create sitemaps where Trimble GPS data is overlaid and the local topography and features are shown and described. Students also use drone imagery to calculate volumes for compost and manure piles, as well as thermal energy to determine potential moisture issues in crops. Members who are a part of the Olds College Drone Club are able to extend their knowledge further by gaining their Pilot Certificate Basic Operations.

Diesel is a robotic dog with very lifelike features that performs a variety of simulations for the Animal Health Technology (AHT) students at Olds College.

He breathes, has a pulse, and can function as an injured or ill pet. New to the AHT program in 2018, Diesel provides hands-on learning and experience in trauma cases that cannot be created with live patients.

Diesel can perform pulse simulations, cardiac arrest, Pneumothorax (collapsed lung), Gastric Dilation Volvulus (twisted stomach), and various other wounds. This allows students to perform CPR drills, intubation, suturing and bandaging. Diesel even has veins and can be filled with fake blood to simulate a traumatic bleed so students can practice stopping the bleed and IV placements. Diesel allows AHT students to receive hands-on experience facing emergency situations and procedures that many do not experience until they start working in their field.

FarmBot the Horticulture Robot Have you ever seen a robot that can plant seeds, water plants and remove weeds? Horticulture students at the College get to experience and work with the FarmBot alongside Dr. Ken Fry, Instructor at Olds College. The FarmBot enhances the student experience by providing a concrete example of both the hardware and software available to automate a variety of tasks. Accessing the growth habit data of particular plant species, the FarmBot is able to avoid weeding plant parts as it grows. It also features a soil moisture sensor in order to water the plant only when necessary, thus saving water. Students are able to observe the advantages and limitations of the FarmBot, thereby learning and assessing the appropriateness of automated technologies for horticulture needs.

The Owl Remote Learning Environment The Owl creates a hybrid teaching environment for students unable to attend in-person class. During COVID-19 times, the Owl has come in handy for students who cannot physically attend class.

Used by the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology, the Owl allows students learning from home to get the full-experience of being in the classroom with its 360 degree camera view. Thanks to the Owl, a positive and inclusive learning environment can be created for students who are unable to physically be in class, thus tailoring to students’ needs and enhancing their overall learning experience.

To learn more about the programs, hands-on learning and classroom technology that Olds College has to offer, visit oldscollege.ca/programs.

Winter/Spring 2022 31

4500 - 50 Street Olds, Alberta, Canada T4H 1R6