Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alberta offers 2-year diploma courses. In their second year, students in the Crop Technology and Animal Science Technology programs manage our crop, bison, dairy, equine, and 3 beef herd (purebred, commercial and extensively managed) enterprises. Students are guided by instructors (advisors) and farm staff to make production and financial decisions. This workshop will give participants an overview of the learning opportunities provided to students through our hands-on learning model that closely reflects industry and farm operations, along with some of the challenges included in this learning model. Participants will understand the structure which allows approximately 140 students, 10 instructors, and 6 farm staff to work together.

This workshop will discuss teaching in a hands-on environment and some of the rewards and challenges experienced as we work with students. Student-Managed Farm powered by New Holland (SMF) is a graded class and we will provide insights into how we have worked through ways to objectively evaluate students in a subjective classroom environment.

During this workshop, experienced advisors will help participants work through some real situations which occur when a group of 18- to 25-year-olds are given decision-making responsibility for an over $3 million operation. We will share some of the learnings that we have found as we worked through the process of what is not only an invaluable exercise that gives students real-world agriculture experience, but also provides excellent training in working in teams and group decision-making, focusing on developing skills for their career.