Source: Facebook
For more than a century, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has helped turn Alberta’s agricultural strengths into new skills, careers, technologies, and opportunities. Today, the institution is combining its deep roots in the sector with a growing focus on innovation, applied research, and hands-on learning.
Olds College opened in 1913 as the Olds School of Agriculture and Home Economics. Since then, it has evolved into a specialized post-secondary institution offering industry-driven programs in agriculture, agricultural technology, horticulture, land and environmental stewardship, animal health, equine studies, food production, business, and the skilled trades.
That growth continues. During the 2024-25 academic year, Olds College enrolled more than 3,500 learners through its three schools, Industry Training and Continuing Education programs, and dual credit offerings. The Class of 2025 was the largest graduating class in the College’s history, with 1,277 students eligible to graduate.
At the centre of the College’s approach is a commitment to preparing students for the realities of the workforce. According to Olds College, 93 per cent of graduates are employed, while 94 per cent of its programs include a work-integrated learning opportunity. The College also distributes approximately $1.5 million in scholarships, bursaries, and prizes each year, helping learners access the education and training they need to succeed.
One of the clearest examples of this hands-on approach is the Olds College Smart Farm. Spanning more than 3,300 acres across two provinces, the Smart Farm serves as a living laboratory where students, researchers, producers, and industry partners can test new technologies and explore practical solutions to challenges facing agriculture. Its assets include crop and forage land, livestock facilities, greenhouses, laboratories, a brewery, and the National Meat Training Centre.
Through the Olds College Centre for Innovation, applied research focuses on areas such as autonomous equipment, agricultural sensors, data use, livestock and crop production, environmental stewardship, and controlled-environment agriculture. In 2024-25, the College conducted 84 industry-driven applied research projects. Since 2018, it has discussed potential collaborations with 415 organizations, with more than 260 going on to participate in projects.
The College’s influence also reaches well beyond its campus. In 2024-25, tours and conferences welcomed more than 3,000 visitors from 34 countries, reflecting growing interest in Olds College’s approach to agricultural education, technology, and research.
Looking ahead, the College’s 2025-28 strategic plan, Deep Roots, Bold Futures, prioritizes leadership in agricultural education, support for students and employees, and stronger partnerships with industry, government, alumni, and the broader community.
By bringing education, industry, and research together, Olds College is helping prepare the people and technologies that will shape the future of agriculture. From its beginnings as a provincial agricultural school to its position today as Canada’s Smart Agriculture College, the institution continues to demonstrate how Alberta expertise can help address challenges and create opportunities at home and around the world.