Ever-changing Ag. Sector Perfect Fit for Lamont Student

Ever-changing Ag. Sector Perfect Fit for Lamont Student

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

“It’s no secret to anyone that the agriculture sector is constantly changing in terms of what technology is available and how farmers can use it to get the most out of their operations,” says Braydon Nimchuk.

That was the primary reason for the Lakeland College student to enrol in the post-secondary institution’s latest offering, the Bachelor of Agriculture Technology Degree program.

“I felt that by taking this program, it would provide me with the further skills and knowledge that I was looking for in order to keep up with the ever-changing industry.”

Nimchuk, who grew up in the Lamont area, has been around agriculture his entire life. He says, “The program teaches students many different things such as working with GPS technology in farm equipment, the economics of technologies available to producers and how we as up and coming students can be sustainable in agriculture.

Brayden Nimchuk when he graduated from Lakeland College’s Crop Technology Program in June of 2022.

(Lakeland College/Submitted Photo)

For one of our classes called “Innovation Leadership in Agriculture” we were provided with the opportunity to host a tradeshow called “Farm 4.0: The Future of Agriculture”. The event happened on April 13, and it was a great way for students to be able to connect with companies in the industry and gain the experience that it takes in order to plan an event such as this.

Additionally, a main focus of the day was for the practicum students of last year’s degree class to come back and present what they have been working on in their practicums for the last eight months. To be a part of an experience like this was very cool and very interesting to be able to experience what it takes to put on an event like this, and to professionally be able to connect with companies in the industry.”

The Bachelor of Agriculture Technology Degree program is run over the course of two years. Nimchuk explains that, “For the first year, students attend classes at the college campus in Vermilion. The second year of the program requires students to find an eight-month practicum placement with a company within the industry. Being that it is a technology degree, students are encouraged to for their placement to be centered around technology in agriculture so that they can take their skills that they learn in the first year and apply it into real world agriculture situations.

Braydon Nimchuk combining during field lab.

(Lakeland College/ Submitted Photo)

I just completed my third year of schooling at Lakeland which was the first half of the degree program. In a couple weeks I will be starting my practicum placement, where over the next eight months I will take the skills that I learnt in my classes and use them in order to gain the experience that will be required in order for me to complete my practicum, and ultimately graduate from the degree program that I am currently in.

Once I complete the degree program, it is honestly hard for me to say what my career plan is and where I will end up with my education. I absolutely will be staying within the agriculture industry, but in terms of what that will exactly look like for a career path is hard to say. Due to there being so many changes and advancements in the industry, there are always so many opportunities that come up and choosing one path this early is still pretty challenging.

What I do know, however, is that I can’t wait to see where the industry will take me, and what opportunities will arise for me so that I will be able to put my education from Lakeland College into real world practice.”