The Smart Farm at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology wants to highlight and acknowledge the ‘behind the scenes’ technical and logistical expertise on the farm team. They’re involved in every aspect of keeping the Smart Farm operating, thriving, and ready for applied research and student experience activities!
Someone from the farm team is always on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. After daily meetings starting at 7:30 a.m., the farm team disperses to conquer the endless farm-related tasks.
Jason Bradley serves as the Senior Manager of the Olds College Smart Farm, leading agricultural operations across a 3,300-acre mixed crop and livestock enterprise that seamlessly integrates advanced ag-tech into the teaching and learning enterprise and applied research at the Olds College of Agriculture and Technology. Jason’s career spans nearly four decades of hands-on farm management, technology commercialization, and ecosystem building. With a passion and practice in regenerative agriculture systems, Jason focuses on driving profitability, improving functional soil health, and enhancing the nutrient density of the food being grown.
Alex Baker is the Lead Hand at the Olds College Smart Farm, where he oversees and coordinates daily operations. Alex holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (B.Sc. Agr.) from the University of Guelph, where he majored in Animal Science. He values working with the diverse and dynamic teams that a college environment attracts and enjoys balancing the traditional practices of mixed livestock and crop production with the non-traditional demands of academic and research settings.
Outside of work, Alex operates a commercial and purebred sheep operation alongside his wife, four children and mother. Together, they enjoy exhibiting and marketing purebred replacement stock, as well as training and trailing border collies.
Thomas is the Smart Farm Operations Coordinator at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology and is responsible for fielding requests that come to the farm. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Mount Royal University and also brings value to the farm team, as he lives on a mixed farm himself. He loves that there is never a dull moment and always something on the go on the farm, and enjoys the opportunity to interact with all departments across the College.
Outside of work at the College, Thomas enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, tinkering with vehicles and participating in escape rooms.
Cara is the Administrative Assistant for the Smart Farm – she is the go-to person for all things administration on the farm. Cara loves the people she works with and enjoys learning something new every day. Cara is also an alumni of Olds College of Agriculture & Technology with a certificate in Office Administration. When Cara isn’t working, she loves to garden, travel and spend time with family and friends.
Darrell has been with the Olds College Smart Farm since 2019, and his role focuses on the health and well-being of the cattle. He supports cattle operations which includes helping manage the feedlot, feeding cows, supporting calving and maintaining fences. He also has a big hand in helping students at the College get hands-on experience with the cattle through labs and calving through their programs, such as Animal Health Technology (AHT) program. Darrell says the highlight of the farm team is working with animals everyday and getting to help students gain the experience they need in their programs.
Darrell has extensive experience managing grain and hay farms and cow/calf operations as well as working with cattle at the local auctionmart. He owns his own small cow operation outside of town and is grateful calving season at home occurs at a different time of year than at the College. Darrell is also an alumni of Olds College of Agriculture & Technology and took Beef Production.
Roger has been with Olds College of Agriculture & Technology since 2010, and is primarily responsible for animal husbandry. He heads the sheep department and also works with the cows regularly. Roger designs the breeding program for the sheep, and works closely and mentors student teams during lambing season. He is dedicated to his work and is on the clock 24/7 during lambing and calving season. Roger enjoys working with the animals and is quick to say his colleagues on the farm team make for a great working environment. He also highlights working at the College is a continual learning experience for everyone.
Roger thoroughly enjoys animal husbandry and is never far away from livestock. He has spent his whole life on a local farm that breeds and raises national champion Clydesdale horses. His parents were in the Clydesdale business, and Roger has passed his love for horses to his own children who have won championships in driving Clydesdales. His numerous certificates in animal reproduction and animal nutrition for both bovine and equine come in handy at the College and his home farm. Roger is regularly touring state fairs with his champion Clydesdale horses and definitely has a passion for livestock.
As a Smart Farm Technician, Eliana assists all farm operations with a special interest in working with and helping manage the sheep flock on the Smart Farm. She enjoys working with the variation of livestock, especially the sheep and horses. Eliana gained a diploma in Equine Science at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. Outside of work, Eliana enjoys hiking, snowboarding and horseback riding.