The 50 year Reunion of the Ag Mech program at Olds College was held on November 9th & 10th with over 200 alumni and guests in attendance throughout the weekend. Saturday’s events included an Equipment Showcase and Campus Tours, complete with Dinner & Dance in the evening. Alumni from all across North America gathered to reminisce and celebrate the program that meant so much to them. Included in the festivities were members from the first graduating class, who joined faculty and recent graduates from the class of 2018.
When the doors of Olds College first opened over 100 years ago, students were instructed in all facets of farming in Alberta. This included learning to repair the equipment used on the farm to help increase efficiency and production on the farm. After all, there were no ag technician shops to call when you had an equipment failure – you had to take care of broken equipment on your own.
By 1968, equipment had become so specialized that there was simply too much to teach in the confines of an agriculture program. Students needed a dedicated program to learn how to repair the ever growing and evolving equipment that they used. It was at this time that Olds College established a new program that would forever change the landscape of our College. Since that first year in 1968, Agricultural Technicians and Heavy Duty Technicians have become a cornerstone of the Trades and Apprenticeships offerings of Olds College. Equipment has continued to grow, the agriculture industry continues to rely on increasing efficiency and higher yields to ensure profitability, and as such, agricultural and heavy duty mechanics are more important than ever.
Today, the Agricultural & Heavy Equipment comprehensive program provides students with a thorough understanding of the fundamentals in engines, hydraulics, braking, electrical, starting, charging, fuel systems and more. It provides an excellent opportunity for students to be fully introduced into both the Agricultural Equipment Technician (AET) and Heavy Equipment Technician (HET) trades. We are proud to offer a program that is supported by our industry.
We thank all our sponsors and volunteers that made this event a success!
Title Sponsor
Growler Sponsor
Diploma Sponsor
Lab Sponsors
