Alberta celebrates 50 years of Green Certificate Program in agriculture
EDMONTON – For half a century, Alberta’s Green Certificate Program has been helping high school students gain hands-on skills and launch careers in agriculture.
Established in 1975 as the first program of its kind in Canada, the Green Certificate Program allows students to earn high school credits while training in a variety of agricultural fields. The program partners with the agriculture industry and four regional colleges – Northwest Polytechnic, Lakeland College, Olds College and Lethbridge Polytechnic – to deliver practical, on-the-job learning opportunities.
Jessi Selte, Minister Sigurdson, Dr. Wainright, MLA Roswell and Jennifer Stoby celebrate 50 years of Alberta’s Green Certificate Program
“Since the start of the Green Certificate Program, thousands of students have graduated with the skills and training they need to start a career in agriculture,” said RJ Sigurdson, Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation. “The program empowers trainees to learn at their own pace, giving them hands-on experience on a local farm or agri-business. It continues to support employment in our rural communities, spark new ideas and engage the next generation in the ever-changing world of agriculture.”
Students can choose from 11 primary agricultural career paths, ranging from field crop production to dairy, poultry, swine, sheep and equine production. Trainees develop skills under the supervision of experienced industry professionals and, upon completion, earn 16 high school credits alongside practical experience.
“Lakeland College values the half-century of our involvement with the Green Certificate Program,” said Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College. “We’ve benefited as much as the farmers, ranchers and trainees, and seen generations of families connected through the program as students, instructors and coordinators.”
Jennifer Stoby, regional coordinator at Lakeland College, added that the program “creates strong connections between students, trainers and testers. Many graduates go on to post-secondary agriculture education and careers. It has withstood the test of time and continues to give youth a chance to learn in a vital industry.”
Past participants say the program provides valuable real-world experience. Kaylie Lawrence, an instructor at Lakeland College, said, “The Green Certificate course was a unique opportunity to earn high school credits while caring for my sheep. The testing model felt like a conversation, which helped me improve my speaking and future interview skills.”
Jessi Selte, another regional coordinator, said the program “uses student initiative to create employable and well-informed individuals, many of whom go on to run their own agri-businesses or take over family farms and ranches.”
Alberta’s government congratulates all past and present participants, instructors and industry partners who have contributed to 50 years of agricultural education.
Quick facts about the Green Certificate Program
Offered free to students in more than 253 high schools across 333 communities.
Approximately 450 students graduate each year with a Green Certificate credential.
In the past decade, about 5,000 students have completed the program.
Training is supervised by experienced farm personnel and Green Certificate coordinators.
Courses include beekeeper production, cow-calf beef, dairy, equine, feedlot beef, field crops, greenhouse, irrigated crops, poultry (broiler chicken, broiler hatching egg, table egg, turkey), sheep and swine production.