Boreal growing farmers: new College Boreal agricultural technician program will train the next generation of farmers.

• Author: Myers, Ella
• Position: TRAINING & EDUCATION

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Daniel Lapointe grew up on a dairy farm and Brian Vaillancourt grew up on a bison farm.

The two didn't stay on their family farms, but the College Boreal professor and dean of the School of the Environment and Natural Resources, respectively, are continuing the tradition in a different way.

The two are heading up Sudbury's new agricultural technician program, training a new generation of farmers.

"We're hoping to be a part of what drives the agricultural sector," said Vaillancourt. "It's hard to get youth interested in farming, but in the North they are talking more about farming."

"That's what we're responding to," said Lapointe. "All of the importance put on agriculture, the low price of land, and that people want to grow local food."

The program is unique in Northern Ontario, and will have two focuses: animal sciences and plant sciences. Students will have to choose one to specialize in, although they won't specialize too narrowly.

The students will be learning a variety of growing methods including traditional, hydroponic, and sustainable methods that are adapted to modern agricultural and environmental trends.

Management courses that cover finances, human resources and labour will accompany more hands-on courses in plant and animal management.

The school is hoping to have a rooftop greenhouse built for the project, similar to the existing greenhouse the college's forestry program uses.

Besides work in the greenhouses, much of the hands-on training happens during a mandatory summer work placement.

The placements are paid positions on farms that can be in the area, or anywhere else in Canada.

Along with the placement, the program has an incubator component that sets students up to jump into the workforce.

"I think it's important that what will distinguish this program from others in the province, and in Canada, is we're integrating the incubator aspect," said Vaillancourt.

Students will have to complete a project that acts as a business on a small scale, whether it's growing greenhouse tomatoes or raising chickens.

"They will be seeing the entire cycle, including financial planning and time management," said Vaillancourt.

The college does have an active farmer on board as their program adviser, although, oddly enough, he is a self-described "city slicker"...