Organizations develop and deliver Agricultural Equipment Technician 20L and 30L for high school students
April 16, 2018 – Canada Equipment Dealers Foundation, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Sun West School Division and the Western Equipment Dealers Association are working together to introduce grade 11 and 12 students to agriculture-related careers. Through online delivery, Sun West Distance Learning Centre will be offering a 20 and 30 level agriculture elective for high school learners across Saskatchewan.
Agricultural Equipment Technician (AET) 20L and 30L will each include 50 hours of online theory, 40 hours of practical work study at an agriculture dealership and a 10-hour boot camp at Sask Polytech. High school learners will be introduced to both the technical and interpersonal skills needed for a career in the agriculture sector, as well as future employment opportunities. Upon completion, the AET 20L and 30L courses translate to Practical and Applied Arts (PAA) credits on their high school transcript.
Western Equipment Dealers Association identified the need for more learners to be introduced to education and career opportunities in the agricultural sector and have supported the initiative through the Canada Equipment Dealers Foundation. “The purpose of our Foundation is to support educational programs for dealers and their employees, establish scholarship programs at technical colleges and raise awareness of the industry. This program checks all the boxes,” says John Schmeiser, Western Equipment Dealers Association CEO.
“Agriculture is a major contributor to Saskatchewan's overall economy,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech president and CEO. “As global population rises and export opportunities for farm products increase, Sask Polytech is excited to be a part of a high school program that encourages more high school learners to pursue an education and career in the agriculture sector.”
“Students often graduate without fully understanding of the diversity or abundance of career opportunities available to them. We believe that by introducing them to some of these options – particularly those related to key industries in our province – during high school, we can help them to make better informed and more confident career choices,” says Sun West Superintendent, Darren Gasper.
“There is a current shortage of one to two agriculture equipment technicians in nearly every dealer location across Saskatchewan. Creating awareness of the need for technicians along with the vast number of good paying stable career opportunities at our dealerships is our goal,” says Larry Hertz, vice-president, Canada for the Western Equipment Dealers Association.
To register, visit www.sunwestdlc.ca. AET 20L will be available in as of September 2018 and AET 30L will become available in January 2019.
About Western Equipment Dealers Association
WEDA represents over 2,000 farm, industrial and outdoor power equipment dealers in every Canadian province with the exception of Quebec – as well as nine states in the U.S. – Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. As the largest equipment dealer association in North America and the largest regional trade association of its kind in North America, WEDA offers members a comprehensive array of dealer-oriented legislative, educational and communications services, ranging from lobbying to legal, accounting and marketing support. WEDA also provides products and services that include industry and manufacturer relations, as well as industry information and intelligence. The Association’s many programs are either available only to members or provided at a reduced cost for members.
About Sask Polytech
Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves 28,000 distinct students through applied learning opportunities at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, and through extensive distance education opportunities. Programs serve every economic and public service sector. As a polytechnic, the organization provides the depth of learning appropriate to employer and student need, including certificate, diploma and degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic engages in applied research, drawing on faculty expertise to support innovation by employers, and providing students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.
About Sun West School Division
As Saskatchewan’s largest online school, Sun West DLC supports more than 3,000 learners across the province each year. Both home-based and in-school students take advantage of the opportunity to learn with the DLC at a pace, place and time that suits their individual learning needs. There are more than 160 online courses ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and registrations are accepted year round. In addition to the comprehensive suite of digital resources, Sun West DLC employs more than 70 full-time educators to provide instructional support, feedback and encouragement to learners throughout their learning experience.