Photo: (Left) Rikki Ducharme, manager of Indigenous student support services, and (right) Shawn McKerry, dean of the Emergency Training Centre, accept ASTech awards. McKerry accepted the SMF award on behalf of Geoff Brown, dean of agriculture.
On Nov. 4, 2022, Lakeland College’s Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland (SMF) and Rikki Ducharme, manager of Indigenous student support services, were both honoured with awards at the 23rd annual ASTech Awards, presented by Technology Alberta.
The awards were in recognition of community excellence and innovation in student-led initiatives. They are designed to bring together Alberta’s innovative leaders in government, industry, academia and entrepreneurship to celebrate and collaborate. They are hosted by Technology Alberta, a group dedicated to nurturing a sustainable advanced technology sector in Alberta and making Alberta’s tech companies a vendor of choice internationally.
The SMF was recognized in the education sector of the Regional Innovation Awards for Vermilion. As part of their second year of studies, animal science technology and crop technology students manage commercial-scale crop and livestock enterprises. Students work together to make production, marketing, financial management and other decisions that are applied to their specific SMF unit. With access to modern ag facilities and equipment, a commercial, purebred, dairy and research cattle herd, bison and equine herds, plus 2,500 acres of crop and pastureland, the real world comes to Lakeland’s ag students before they graduate.
“The School of Agricultural Sciences at Lakeland College is extremely proud to receive this ASTech Award in recognition of our Student Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland education model,” says Geoff Brown, dean of agriculture at Lakeland. “I would like to thank Alberta Technology for this great recognition and support for technology and innovation in the province.”
Ducharme received the Lloydminster region’s community champion in Indigenous student services and Indigenous led initiatives award. At Lakeland, Indigenous supports include social, wellness and cultural events, as well as academic and financial.
“It was an honour to represent Lakeland at the ASTech Awards,” says Ducharme. “To be recognized as a regional champion in Indigenous student-lead initiatives was so exciting because it showcases how a grassroots approach allows our students to share their experiences and needs in a safe and supportive environment. We are thrilled to be recognized as an institution that inspires innovation through Indigenous-lead activities.”
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