Assiniboine Community College recently welcomed nine high school students to experience ag-related trades and training and career opportunities.

The students came from the DRCSS, Grandview School, Goose Lake High in Roblin, Birtle Collegiate, and Strathclair School, and they spent the day with current ACC students and instructors discovering what a career in agriculture-related mechanical trades would look like.

Chairperson of Mechanical Trades at ACC, Kevin Poirier, said the day was very hands-on.

“It was a fantastic way to introduce and make students aware of some of the pathways that are options for them going forward, especially in the ag industry where there’s a huge need,” said Poirier. “If you go the path of agricultural trades training, there’s a good chance that you’re going to get gainful employment upon graduation.”

The Western Equipment Dealers Association initiated this “trades boot camp” because of the need for skilled workers in ag-related trades jobs, and more specifically career opportunities for Agricultural Equipment Technicians (AET). The program allows post-secondary institutes to introduce high school students to related career opportunities.

The course requires students to complete 50 hours of online curriculum, including access to online instructors, followed by the boot camp where students experience the College environment and work alongside instructors and AET apprentices.

Students complete the course with 50 hours of hands-on experience in the service shop at their local farm equipment dealership.

Along with working to help fill employment needs for ag employers like the participating dealerships, the boot camp experience benefits the students considering trade training.

Poirier hopes that the students that participate in the program, eventually walk the halls of an ACC campus.