Features

The OAC community mourns the passing of alumnus Clay Switzer, OAC '51. Clay served as a dedicated faculty member, former Dean of OAC, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, setting a standard of leadership and selflessness.

Clay was a remarkable individual whose passion for OAC was evident in everything he did. His dedication to nurturing agricultural education and commitment to the community were unparalleled. He forged a successful career, impacting countless lives through his work and mentorship.

The future of farming might bring “robocrop” cultivators to our fields or drones that circle overhead, searching for signs of disease. It might integrate machine learning to spot ideal plant genomics or diagnose soil problems. Research and development of these technologies is already underway at the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), as University of Guelph researchers look for smarter ways to produce more food with less.

Over 700 members of the OAC community came together on Saturday night to celebrate the College’s 150th anniversary during U of G’s annual Alumni Reunion Weekend. The OAC Celebration Dinner, held in the U of G’s Guelph Gryphon’s Athletic Centre gave a chance for alumni to reconnect with classmates and alumni throughout the decades in an atmosphere that resembled OAC’s infamous “Good Times Banquet.”  

June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day, recognizing and celebrating the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada. Since much of Canada’s resources and extraction occurs on Indigenous territory, U of G’s BIESP student Marah LaForge believes it’s critical that braiding together Indigenous and Western perspectives is critical to long term environmental sustainability. An Indigenous student from the GTA, Marah’s experiences in the BIESP program has helped her blend knowledge systems to mitigate the impact of climate change and protect the environment. 

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In the lush countryside of Leamington, Ontario, Joe (OAC ’51) and Barb Maxwell reflect on their legacy of supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders - one that’s deeply connected to the U of G’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC).

U of G’s Ridgetown Campus once again has a dedicated entomologist that will boost its teaching and research impact. Leading entomologist, Dr. Jocelyn Smith is Ridgetown’s new Assistant Professor in Field Crop Entomology. Dr. Smith will continue to be based out of the Ridgetown Campus as she joins OAC’s School of Environmental Sciences.

Lara-Nicole Cochrane, an agriculture diploma graduate from U of G's Ridgetown Campus, chose the program for its strong agri-food focus and close-knit community. Her two years were packed with hands-on learning, research collaborations, and a life-changing trip to Belize. Discover Lara-Nicole's unique Ridgetown journey!