OLDS — Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is the 2025 Olds College of Agriculture & Technology's Partner of the Year.
College officials made that announcement July 29, the first day of AgSmart, the college’s annual three-day agriculture educational exhibition.
“This prestigious award, the highest honour the college bestows, recognizes organizations demonstrating exceptional support and commitment to our vision of advancing agriculture for a better world,” a college news release says.
“Farm Credit Canada, a federal Crown corporation, has been a loyal and consistent supporter of Olds College for many years, due to their shared commitment to agriculture.
“The impact of the long-standing partnership is significant. Notably, FCC makes history as the first organization to receive the Partner of the Year award for a second time, having previously been recognized in 2020.”
Over the years, FCC has been a “significant fiscal contributor to the college,” the release noted.
“The Smart Farm Operations Centre build would not have been possible without the support of FCC, and their commitment to research did not end there.
“Now their partnership fuels vital research, including the AgExpert Field project, the Forage Quality and Quantity on Converted Marginal Areas project, Monitoring the Transformation of Marginal Cropland into Perennial Vegetation and The Land Restoration project.”
FCC’s support also resulted in creation of a producer panel.
The news release described that as a “crucial initiative designed to bridge the gap between innovation, testing and adoption — ensuring that cutting-edge research aligns with practical, on farm needs and that producers continue to shape the direction of agricultural technology.”
FCC also helps Olds College share research findings with the broader agricultural industry, as well as students on campus.
Todd Ormann, vice-president of external relations and research at Olds College, indicated there’s good reason FCC was named Partner of the Year for a second time.
“This recognition five years later is because FCC isn’t a one-year partner, they have been a consistent support over the years,” he’s quoted as saying in the news release.
“We are proud to call FCC a partner of ours, and we are thankful for their long-term vision and support for Olds College. We hope for many more years of collaboration.”
Todd Klink, FCC’s executive vice-president of marketing and public affairs indicated the partnership works for both organizations.
“Collaborations of this kind allow FCC to continue to deliver on its commitment to support the next generation of farmers and continue to get high-quality food onto the tables of Canadians and folks around the world,” he’s quoted as saying in the news release.
“Olds College is a natural partner, as they share this determination to see the agriculture and food sector thrive.”
