Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alberta, has earned one of the world’s top honours for its hands-on farming program. The college’s Student-Managed Farm transformation project received the Platinum Impact Award from the International Association of Facilitators on June 25, 2026, and made the public announcement on July 13.
The Platinum Award is the highest recognition from the international group, given to organizations that show real, measurable results using expert guidance. Lakeland was one of just seven winners worldwide, sharing the spotlight with groups from Belgium, Singapore, Finland, Tanzania, and India.
Todd Sumner, vice president of academic and research at Lakeland, says the project focused on improving how the farm operates. “Since 2010, we’ve doubled our landmass, tripled the number of students in our programs, and added a commercial bison herd to our offerings,” he said.
The Student-Managed Farm, run with equipment partner New Holland, covers 3,700 college-owned acres. Students manage real commercial-sized bison, beef, crop, dairy, and equine businesses. Lakeland is the only college in Canada where students take on that level of responsibility.
The transformation work was led by Trina McCarroll of McCarroll Consulting. Her goal was to make the farm’s service delivery model stronger by building clarity and a sense of belonging among staff and faculty.
The award adds to a big year for the Vermilion campus. On June 29, the Alberta government announced more than $7 million to expand and modernize agricultural training at the college. That money will help upgrade facilities and give students even more real-world experience.
Lakeland College opened in 1913 as the Vermilion School of Agriculture and became Canada’s only interprovincial college in 1975, serving both Alberta and Saskatchewan. Today, the Student-Managed Farm is a cornerstone of that legacy, giving students a direct hand in running a working farm while they learn.
