Close to 100 students from across the region attended a one-day information workshop at Olds College to find out more about the many careers open to them in the agriculture industry.
Held at the Alumni Centre on April 24, the See Yourself in Agriculture Careers Expo was open to students in grades 7 to 12.
During the day, agriculture experts hosted information sessions for the students, outlining career and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Those experts came from Crop Protection Services, Alberta Farm Care, Dow Agro Services, AFSC, Viterra, and Ag for Life.
Topics discussed included agriculture finance and insurance, entrepreneurship, plant breeding, and crop protection.
Heather Hanlon, Ag for Life director, agriculture education programming, said there are a great variety of agriculture careers open to students these days.
“Students often don’t know that there are a lot of careers in agriculture, in the industry,” said Hanlon. “They often think that it’s just farmers, which obviously are a very important part of the industry, but there are also so many other careers for so many different skill sets.
“They can work with a team or on their own. There are lots of options out there.”
Students at the conference included those from Didsbury, Carstairs, Cremona and Olds. The conference included a tour of Olds College facilities.
Jolee Shand, a Grade 9 student from Cremona, called the conference a worthwhile experience.
“I want to be a vet,” said Shand. “I’m learning that there are lots of career areas out there that are available to us.”
Alana Julius, also with Alberta based charity organization Ag for Life, said there are more than 60,000 people currently employed in agriculture in Alberta – and the industry is expanding.
“With pressure to produce more food and the demand for sustainable practices, advancing technology and innovation will open even more opportunities for future workers,” said Julius.
“The opportunities within the agriculture industry that await those with an entrepreneurial spirit have never been so abundant, as farms diversify and innovate to keep up as the industry evolves. “Larger organizations working together to support this growth can offer rewarding careers that can take employees all over North America.”
Hanlon said technology is becoming more and more important in agriculture, opening new opportunities for students to consider.
“Technology and innovation are big right now, and also careers related to sustainability,” said Hanlon.
Meanwhile, Ag for Life recently launched its new rural safety unit, designed to encourage and promote rural and farm safety.
“Agriculture is reported to be one of the most hazardous industries in Canada, with many agriculture workers and their families suffering serious incidents and fatalities each year,” Luree Williamson, CEO Ag for Life, said in a press release.
“With an estimated reach of over 30,000 children, youth and adults per year, the mobile unit is the perfect vehicle for delivering farm safety education and helping to build stronger, safer rural communities.”
The unit has seven interactive stations offering users the opportunity to learn while they engage with digital, tactile and mechanical interactive displays, she said.
Safety topics dealt with include hazard identification, large animals, large equipment, utilities, risk assessment, chemicals and protective equipment.
The Rural Safety Unit will operate between April and October each year, with school programs are geared towards grades 4-12 and community event programming tailored for families, she said.
