One of Canada’s top research colleges was part of a tour of Alberta by U.S. state senators and representatives organized by the provincial government to promote trade in energy and agriculture.
“I love to see the enthusiasm they have here at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology because they want to make it work,” said Annette Sweeney, a State Senator from Iowa who is a former teacher and retired beef and grain producer. “They want to make sure their students have a successful future.”
Olds College’s inclusion on an itinerary that featured Banff’s world-famous mountain scenery, and a Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast with Premier Danielle Smith, highlights its importance in Alberta, said Pat Fox, Outreach and Partnerships, U.S. West for the provincial government’s Seattle office.
Alberta’s agricultural exports to the U.S. totaled $9.3 billion in 2024, followed by China at $2.4 billion, Japan at $1.4 billion and Mexico at $570 million.
“Making sure we maintain and continue to improve our relationships with the U.S. from an agricultural perspective is a very important priority for the province,” said Fox during the stop July 8 at Olds College.
“I’ve already heard from members of our delegation from the U.S. that they’re finding this visit here to be a very valuable experience. Olds College is a leader in agriculture and agricultural technology, and educating future workforces to continue to develop this industry is a top priority for Alberta.”
The delegation included Sweeney and her husband, David; Colorado State Representative Matt Soper and his wife, Sarah; Illinois State Representative Marcus Evans; Montana State Representative Ken Walsh and his wife, Mary Beth; and Utah State Senators Wayne Harper and Todd Weiler, along with the latter’s wife, Elizabeth.
Also in attendance were President Tiffany Melvin and Vice-President Rachel Connell of the North American Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO). The organization includes the governments of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, alongside businesses and educational institutions, all working to strengthen North America’s economy through better trade, supply chains and workforce development.
Joining them were CEO Felipe Gomez Garcia and Operations Director Luis Jorge Gomez Garcia of the prominent Mexican food company Grupo Industrial Vida S.A. de C.V.
The tour included several Alberta government officials besides Fox: Assistant Deputy Minister Tristan Sanregret and Executive Director Chris Ryan, both of the International Relations division of the Executive Council; Julia Bareman, Managing Director of Alberta’s U.S. offices in Washington, D.C.; Bin Lau, Director, U.S. Midwest, for the Chicago office; Rebekah Dowd, Senior Business Development Officer at the Dallas office; and Lisa Elliott, Director of Operations and Projects for the provincial government.
Sweeney was impressed by the dual credit program at Olds College, which allows high school students in Grades 10-12 to earn post-secondary credits while completing their high school diplomas. It aims to provide valuable career exploration and a head start on their post-secondary education, helping them transition smoothly into their chosen fields.
“We have community colleges in the U.S., and what Olds College is doing is similar to that kind of model, but it’s reaching out even further,” said Sweeney. “It will really help get students started on the right foot for their careers.”
The delegation began its campus tour at the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology, a state-of-the-art facility completed in 2022 at a cost of $14 million. “We’re excited to be able to advance agriculture for a better world, and as you look at our campus and facilities, you’ll see why,” said Peter Mal, Vice-President of Student Experience at Olds College.
He pointed to the recently-launched renovation and expansion of the W.J. Elliott Building, a project made possible via a $63 million investment by the provincial government to meet Alberta’s growing demand for skilled trades education.
Olds College offers a variety of trades programs and apprenticeships, providing hands-on training with experienced, journeyperson-certified instructors. These programs often lead to certificates, diplomas and eligibility for provincial journeyperson certification, preparing students for in-demand careers in fields like heavy equipment, agriculture and welding.
Other initiatives include the Bachelor of Digital Agriculture degree program, launched in 2023, which is the first of its kind in Canada. This four-year program focuses on developing future leaders in agriculture by equipping them with skills in digital tools, sustainable practices, data analysis and technology management, including a required industry internship.
“You’ll see first-hand our 3,000-acre Smart Farm,” Mal told the delegation. “You will tour our retail meat shop at the National Meat Training Centre, which offers a certificate in meat processing from slaughter to retail. We’re applying innovation and hands-on approaches to learning every day, which is why we’re one of Canada’s top research colleges.”
The delegation toured the Smart Farm, which is a living laboratory within the campus for crop, livestock and agricultural equipment research. It contains some of the most intensely studied fields on Earth.
The HyperLayer project gathered four terabytes of data from sources like soil sensors and the International Space Station. Researchers leveraged this data using artificial intelligence to create advanced digital tools capable of predicting factors like soil conditions.
Their initial goal was to accelerate the adoption of precision agriculture by reducing the need for costly and time-consuming soil sampling. Olds College now uses these tools to validate new digital farming technologies.
The delegation also visited the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP), which drives applied research to boost production efficiency, animal health and welfare, and environmental sustainability for the Canadian livestock industry. This is achieved by rigorously testing and validating emerging smart agriculture technologies.
One such innovation is the imPulse Una, an AI stethoscope that is being tested in collaboration with Level 42 AI Inc., parent company of Vibrome, Canada. It promises a non-invasive, affordable solution for the early detection of health concerns like internal parasites and pregnancy in sheep, simply by analyzing their internal body vibrations and acoustic signals.
The delegation also toured a ZipPod, an insulated steel structure similar to a shipping container. It was prefabricated by Canadian manufacturer ZipGrow, Inc. and shipped to Olds College as a fully operational hydroponic farm.
It uses automation, drip irrigation, vertical farming and LED lighting to grow plants indoors without soil or sunlight. It’s part of a new research program for controlled environment agriculture at Olds College that will help Canadians grow crops like leafy greens and strawberries locally year-round, even in winter.
Olds College launched its first intake of students in 2024 for its Controlled Environment Agriculture Certificate program, which is the first of its kind in Canada. This four-month program equips students with practical skills in optimizing indoor plant growth, including vertical farming and hydroponics, to address the growing demand for expertise in this sector.
The delegation’s visit inspired Mary Beth Walsh, a rancher, wife of the Montana state representative, and Community Reinvestment Act Officer at Opportunity Bank of Montana, to share new ideas for agricultural education back home. “I think there are some things we could take away from Olds College and what they’re doing right now.”