Olds College renovations and expansion

By Nathan Cooper Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA

As many of you have already heard, our provincial government recently announced more than $21 million in funding for some major renovations and expansions at Olds College. While much of the focus has been on the economic stimulus and job creation aspect of the project, I think the real story here is about Olds College itself.

Since it first opened its doors as the Olds School of Agriculture and Home Economics in 1913, Olds College has served the greater farming community with distinction. Like our hardy pioneering ancestors, the college persevered through hard times, then grew and diversified during good times. And like our farm families, the college has always looked forward, harnessing the power of science and technology to help our agriculture industry reinvent itself time and time again.

Today, our farmers are increasingly turning to larger, more efficient, and infinitely more complex equipment. Meanwhile, advances in digital and communications technology now allow farmers to micromanage their operations like never before. 

All of this new equipment and technology is great, but only if you can make it work in the real world. That’s where Olds College is essential. This fall, Olds will host the first of several agriculture technology programs in development, offering hands-on learning at the college’s Smart Farm. Think of the Smart Farm as a 2,000-acre laboratory where scientists, researchers and developers, farmers and students can design and test new gizmos to help farms get the most out of their operations. If you’ve ever looked at a piece of equipment and thought “there’s got to be a better way,” this is your Disneyland.

The key to Olds College and its Smart Farm is that it is focused on the problems to be solved – including with the technology itself. That is what keeps the work grounded, as does engagement with some of the region’s top producers.

The innovation underway at Olds College is truly remarkable. Our government sees real potential, not only in the technology but also in the people driving it forward. Our recent investment in Olds College is meant to help take things to the next level. 

As many of you have already heard, our provincial government recently announced more than $21 million in funding for some major renovations and expansions at Olds College. While much of the focus has been on the economic stimulus and job creation aspect of the project, I think the real story here is about Olds College itself.

Since it first opened its doors as the Olds School of Agriculture and Home Economics in 1913, Olds College has served the greater farming community with distinction. Like our hardy pioneering ancestors, the college persevered through hard times, then grew and diversified during good times. And like our farm families, the college has always looked forward, harnessing the power of science and technology to help our agriculture industry reinvent itself time and time again.

Today, our farmers are increasingly turning to larger, more efficient, and infinitely more complex equipment. Meanwhile, advances in digital and communications technology now allow farmers to micromanage their operations like never before. 

All of this new equipment and technology is great, but only if you can make it work in the real world. That’s where Olds College is essential. This fall, Olds will host the first of several agriculture technology programs in development, offering hands-on learning at the college’s Smart Farm. Think of the Smart Farm as a 2,000-acre laboratory where scientists, researchers and developers, farmers and students can design and test new gizmos to help farms get the most out of their operations. If you’ve ever looked at a piece of equipment and thought “there’s got to be a better way,” this is your Disneyland.

The key to Olds College and its Smart Farm is that it is focused on the problems to be solved – including with the technology itself. That is what keeps the work grounded, as does engagement with some of the region’s top producers.

The innovation underway at Olds College is truly remarkable. Our government sees real potential, not only in the technology but also in the people driving it forward. Our recent investment in Olds College is meant to help take things to the next level.