Olds College of Agriculture & Technology

06/02/2026

That's a wrap on Skills Canada 2026, and we couldn't be prouder of our competitors. From provincial gold to the national stage, Olds College students continue to raise the bar.

Congratulations to Pre-employment Welding student, Logan, on capturing national gold, and to Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship students Sam and Maia for taking provincial gold, and to each of them representing Alberta among Canada's best competitors.

We're proud to celebrate their hard work, talent and commitment to excellence.

Read more: https://ow.ly/cyo850Z6UhF

06/02/2026

Smart Farm Weather Update! 🌧️
The agriculture gods have answered everyone's prayers — it's raining! 🌾💧

Rainfall totals:
Olds College Station: 53.8 mm (2.12 inch)
Field 18: 55.6 mm (2.12 inch)
Delong SE: 58.0 mm (2.28 inch)
Pitstra: 39.0 mm (1.54 inch)

Since May 31, we've had almost 100 (99.8) mm, or 3.93 inches, of rain at the campus station. Wind gusts have reached over 55 km/h.
Across the QE2 at field 18, there's been 130.2 mm of rain, over 5 inches!

A welcome shot of moisture across the farm. Let's hope it keeps the crops growing strong!

06/02/2026

Join us for The Art of Community, a space to explore how we build connection, inclusion and belonging where everyone feels valued, heard and empowered.

📅 June 17 | 1–3 p.m. | WATC 301/302 — Everyone is welcome!

06/02/2026

Calgary is in the middle of a forest tent caterpillar outbreak, and our very own Ken Fry was the expert CBC News turned to for answers.

Ken, an entomologist with Olds College, explains that these outbreaks happen about once a decade and can last two to three years — so this is a rare one worth paying attention to.

His take? Don't panic. The caterpillars are actually doing the trees a service, clearing out the weak and leaving the strongest standing — and a sight like this doesn't come around every year. Lethbridge Herald

Proud to have Ken's expertise representing Olds College on the national stage.

🔗 Read the full CBC article:

Municipalities and experts are advising Albertans of soaring caterpillar populations this spring. Clusters of forest tent caterpillars are frequently seen on trees across North America, particularly during what entomologists refer to as cyclical outbreaks.

06/01/2026

We're currently evaluating EveAg — a product from EVE Plant Nutrition Canada — to understand how it can improve productivity and nutrient use efficiency in wheat and canola grown under Alberta conditions. Nutrient use efficiency is one of the most important levers in sustainable agriculture. When crops can do more with what they're given, farmers win and the environment wins.

Alberta's growing conditions present unique challenges — variable soils, short seasons and weather volatility. That's exactly why research like this needs to happen here, not just in a lab or in a different climate zone.

We're excited to see what the data shows — and to share what we learn with producers across the Prairies.

Learn more about the project: https://ow.ly/RS6b50Z1SEF

05/29/2026

NEW COURSE ALERT — and spots are already filling fast!
Olds College is thrilled to launch Introduction to Sheep Shearing — a brand new, hands-on weekend workshop designed for anyone looking to manage their flock!

📅 June 27–28, 2026
⏰ Day 1: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Day 2: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

What you'll learn:
✅ Ergonomic shearing set-up for safety & efficiency
✅ Sheep handling — the footwork & positioning pros use
✅ Long-blow shearing patterns for a clean, professional fleece
✅ Equipment set-up, tension adjustment & field troubleshooting
✅ Wool skirting, sorting & packaging to maximize your clip's value

Spots are extremely limited for this inaugural course — small class sizes mean maximum hands-on time with the instructor.

Register today at: https://ow.ly/a9LI50Z5L4m

05/29/2026

What if agronomists didn't have to wait days for lab results to make critical crop decisions?

At the Olds College Smart Farm, our researchers are putting the Picketa Systems LENS to the test — a light-based device designed to deliver real-time, in-field plant nutrient analysis on the spot.

Through extensive tissue sampling across multiple crop types at both our Alberta Smart Farm and the 800-acre Steckler Farm in Saskatchewan, our team is rigorously validating the device's outputs against traditional lab results — ensuring it meets the high standards western Canadian producers deserve.

Precision agriculture isn't just about technology. It's about giving producers the right information, right when they need it.

Learn more about our Smart Ag research:
https://ow.ly/l3AT50Z5fpb

05/28/2026

From 1956 to present day — generations of Olds College alumni came together at the Red Deer Pro Rodeo on May 22 for our first alumni event outside of a reunion in seven years.

Over 60 alumni and guests gathered at the Chalet at Westerner Park for food, drinks, live music from fellow alum Kenzie Duboiz and Dane Von Hagen, and plenty of stories and laughter before heading into the arena together.

"The energy, friendships and sense of community throughout the event truly reminded us how special and lasting the Olds College connection is." — Tammy Sakundiak, Alumni Engagement

Missed out? Keep an eye on your inbox — more events are coming. And mark your calendars for the Alumni Reunion on July 18, 2026! 🗓️

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/oIGy50Z4ul6

05/26/2026

We're honoured to be featured in BetaKit's Most Ambitious — a spotlight on nearly 100 innovators strengthening Canadian sovereignty. 🇨🇦

The Olds College Smart Farm is proud to be recognized among Canada's most ambitious innovators. Our work at the intersection of agriculture and technology is about more than innovation — it's about building a stronger, more resilient future for Canadian farmers and the communities they feed.

Thank you to BetaKit for telling these stories of Canadian ambition. The best is yet to come. 🌱

👉 Read our feature: https://ow.ly/x7eR50Z3PKL