OLDS — RME, formerly known as Rocky Mountain Equipment, is the 2024 Olds College of Agriculture & Technology Partner of the Year.
The college made that announcement July 30, during AgSmart, its the fifth annual outdoor on-campus agriculture innovation and practices show.
The Partner of the Year award is bestowed to firms or individuals that have been key partners for the college.
Todd Ormann, Olds College’s vice-president of development, made the presentation.
He told the crowd that RME is one of the college’s key supporters and collaborators, providing state-of the art equipment for students to learn on and for research. They also provide financial support through scholarships.
He also noted that plans are in the works to build a new trades building “and they’re obviously a big part of that.”
In a video that was shown during the presentation, Ormann, Dennis Beaudoin, dean of the college’s school of trades and skills as well as RME chief sales and operations officer Jim Wood all talked about the way the partnership is a win/win for both and for the agriculture industry as a whole.
Wood said in terms of dealerships, RME is number 1 in Canada, number 2 in North America.
“By us donating the latest in up-to-date equipment, the students are able to learn with the newest technology,” Wood said.
“And they also become early adopters of the technology because they’re learning on the latest thing, versus, you know, three or four-year-old technology.”
“The criteria is to help Olds College in transforming agriculture for the whole world.
“We want to make sure that we’re providing quality education for all of our students so that they can go out into the world and help us to go and increase the agriculture production.”
Ormann said, “They’re essential for the trades organization in terms of getting this equipment, engagement with that group.
“They’re essential on research because they provide us with equipment and they provide us with assets, not just on the ag side, but also on the construction side.
“And then from a student perspective, they also provide us with scholarships. “So there are very few areas of the college that RME does not support."
Wood said, “We’re very involved in recruiting and just trying to get the younger generation involved in the industry as well, so I think for the most part, our partnership with Olds College helps us do that."
“For us it’s rewarding,” he added. “We provide scholarships to Olds College, now we provide equipment to Olds College. And it just gives us a chance to give back.
“The way I look at it personally is if we can provide equipment, Olds College can take that money that they would use to buy the equipment and put it into other resources, such as instructors or programming.”
Olds College president Ben Cecil said the college probably works with about 50 partners on an ongoing basis.
“Literally nothing that we do, none of the successes that we enjoy, would be possible without the amazing partners that stand alongside us,” Cecil said.
“The very best of our partners find ways to contribute in all of these areas and then some. These are the partners who are chosen as our partners of the year."
Mayor Judy Dahl and several town councillors were on hand for the announcement.
