Brant County Welcomes A New Agriculture Program

Wednesday, 7 October 2020 08:00

Conestoga College's Agricultural Equipment Operator program will be featured at the Brant County campus. It'll provide education and training on the latest agriculture equipment.

BRANT COUNTY - The County of Brant is excited to welcome the new Conestoga College Agricultural Equipment Operator program.

On Friday the governments of Ontario and Canada announced the investment of $180,000.00 for the development of a new college program that will provide education and training on the latest agriculture equipment to be hosted in the County of Brant by Conestoga College.

MPP for Brantford-Brant Will Bouma says agriculture is by far the biggest single industry in Brant and Brantford.

"To see the Governments of Ontario and Canada come together to support the development of a new college program to train in the latest agricultural equipment can only strengthen our goal of food self-sufficiency in Ontario."

This funding comes from the Canadian Agriculture Partnership. The federal and provincial governments will assist in the creation, launch, and delivery of this pilot program at Conestoga's Brantford Airport Campus, located in the County of Brant. MP for Brantford-Brant Phil McColeman says the Agriculture Equipment program is a perfect fit for the County and region.

“Conestoga’s Airport Campus is a premier training centre, delivering the skills that lead to meaningful, well-paying jobs.”

Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the County of Brant Russell Press says they are thrilled to have this new program available in Brant County.

"We are very pleased that this new program, which we are very proud to have been involved in from the beginning, will be delivered in the County of Brant. The County of Brant has long been identified with rural living, agricultural output, and the value of farming. This initiative further advances our strategy of support and development within the Agriculture sector; a sector we are proud of in terms of our history, as well as, for the bright future of this sector within the County of Brant.”

The County of Brant is also involved in several initiatives that aim to strengthen its agriculture sector, including an On-Farm Diversified Uses project that Brant's Planning Division is undertaking.