Youth from across the region gathered at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology on July 6, 2026, for the Summer Synergy Judging Camp. The event, hosted in partnership with the Olds Regional Exhibition and sponsored by the Calgary Stampede, gave young people ages 9 to 21 a chance to build practical skills in livestock evaluation.
Participants learned from college industry experts in three livestock categories: beef cattle, horses, and sheep. The hands-on training covered how to assess animal health and determine when livestock are ready for market. These are foundational skills for anyone interested in a career in farming, ranching, or food production.
A highlight of the camp was a behind-the-scenes tour of the Olds College National Meat Training Centre and the Olds College Retail Meat Store. The tour showed young participants the complete farm-to-table process, from live animal to retail sale. It was a rare opportunity to see how classroom learning connects directly to the food system.
The Summer Synergy program is one of Canada’s largest and highest-profile rural youth livestock events, drawing support from the Calgary Stampede, 4-H Alberta, and seven Junior Beef Breed Associations. The Calgary Stampede alone awards more than $58,000 in youth scholarships each year through the program, and Summer Synergy serves as a qualifying event for those awards.
The judging camp is part of the larger Summer Synergy 2026 event, which runs from July 6 to 9 at the Olds Regional Exhibition grounds. In addition to the camp, the event features livestock shows and scholarship competitions that give rural youth a platform to showcase their skills. Results from the 2026 camp were published on July 13.
