Olds College introduces new Ag Communications certificate

Oct 13, 2022

20 students will be accepted into the program for Fall 2023

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

A post-secondary school in Alberta launched a new program for people interested in communicating within the agriculture industry.

Olds College is providing an Agriculture Communications certificate program beginning in the Fall 2023 semester.

Interested students can apply now. Only 20 will be accepted into the inaugural program.

The one-year program, offered online, will help prepare students for careers in marketing and communication through individual courses on subjects like social media, crisis communications and media production.

“Our students will learn both the fundamentals of marketing and communications, along with specific competencies in agriculture advocacy,” Debbie Thompson, VP of academic & student experience at Olds College, said in a statement.

Agriculture is a complex industry with many stories.

From innovative research to farmers applying new technologies to make their operations more sustainable, the industry needs skilled communicators to ensure these stories are told.

“Agriculture has important stories to tell,” Bertrand Bickersteth, a communications instructor in the Werklund School of Agriculture, said in a statement. “Graduates from this program will be equipped to work in the industry to share these stories in meaningful ways.”

In addition to the online learning, students will complete a 14-week internship within the agriculture and agri-food industry, giving them an opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world settings.

Video: Canada's Agriculture Day 2025

Let's celebrate Canadian agriculture.

Well, number one, you don't eat without farmers. Farmers put food on the table. And what could be more important than that?

Well, I think it's important that Canadians understand exactly what takes place, what happens to produce this food, no matter what sector you're talking about.

An awful lot of work goes into that. It's important to understand that meat does not come out of a showcase, and milk does not come out of a bottle. It's produced by farmers and hard work.

Canada has the best farmers in the world. And agriculture is vital to Canada.

In 2024, our agriculture and agri-food sector represented $150 billion of Canada's GDP, nearly $100 billion of our exports, and one in nine jobs.

From grains to fruits to dairy and beef, we are truly blessed with an incredible bounty. Having spent my whole life in agriculture, I see so much potential for the sector.

This time last year, I was proud to open our first-ever agriculture and trade office in the Indo-Pacific, the world’s fastest-growing economy, to cement our presence in the region and grow our exports even more. We've also been making historic investments to help our farmers to boost their yields, protect the planet, and earn a fair living.

The world wants more top-quality, sustainable food, and I know our Canadian farmers can deliver. And it's so important that you do that with pride. We need you.

Quite simply, you eat the most top quality food in the world. You do that because of the quality of farmers and ranchers you have in this country.

Just say thank you to a farmer or a rancher. They work very hard, yes, for a living, but also with a sense of pride in what they produce.

That's what Canada's Agriculture Day is all about.