Manitoba school developing ag operator program

Aug 14, 2018

Courses could focus on maintenance and safe work practices

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

A post-secondary school in Manitoba is developing a course to help the next generation of ag equipment operators.

Assiniboine Community College has been discussing the idea with stakeholders like Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) to understand what elements would make up an ag operator program.

“We’ve been having some discussions about what that might look like, and we’ve started developing the framework of what we think might need to be included in a program of that nature,” said Tannis James, director of continuing studies at the college, Discover Westman reported.

KAP passed a motion during its January annual general meeting to work with educators to develop an ag operator course for students.

On Thursday, Assiniboine Community College presented a curriculum outline to KAP.

Students would complete 500 hours of studies plus practical training.

The course load included safe work practices, equipment maintenance, mobile equipment startup and basic operations, GPS guidance, livestock equipment, grain equipment and safe transportation.

No start date has been announced yet, but the school may offer the program as part of its winter semesters.

Doing so allows students to practice their skills in the spring, James said.

“Ultimately the goal is for us to have a program available that meets the needs of those employers that are going to be hiring our graduates,” she told Discover Westman.

Farms.com has reached out to James for more information on the potential ag operator program.

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