Green Certificate Program

"The program was well-developed and served as a fantastic tool in connecting academic achievement with practical, real-world skills. Watching students earn high school credits for their dedicated work with horses was inspiring. It highlighted how experiential learning - especially in agricultural and equine settings - can empower students in unique and lasting ways.

I'm grateful I had the chance to contribute to such an impactful program, and I carry those memories with pride. Congratulations on 50 years of equipping young people with the tools, confidence, and credit to pursue their passions.”

"I took the equine Green Certificate course during high school which offered me 15 credits that went towards my graduation. It was effective and essential knowledge needed for working within agriculture. I still use components of the education provided to me within my work. This course is a fantastic tool and opportunity to be able to complete. This education in agriculture, and niche topics within that, provide education unmatched by any school system. I highly recommend anyone interested in pursuing the course to do so and utilize all of its education and material to the fullest extent.”

"I successfully completed the feedlot program in 2000/2001. Growing up on a feedlot operation it made sense to get credit for something we did daily. I have continued to be a Green Certificate tester for the last 15 years, testing in the feedlot, cow calf and equine programs. No longer active in the feedlot or the cow calf industry, but raising our daughters in the rodeo world has allowed me to keep a connection to the agriculture industry through the program. It is an amazing program and our girls will definitely be a part of it when they are of age.”

"The GCP has been a big part of my life. It started back in 2018 in my final year of high school when I found out about it and took the equine program. I had really become passionate about ag. After completing my program, I was asked to become a tester. I have been a tester for seven years and it has been amazing to see the next generation of farmers and ranchers that are to come. I appreciate all Green Certificate has done for me and I cannot wait to continue to see it change lives in our industry.”

"I've worked with students in the Green Certificate for 10 years as an off-campus coordinator, and my daughter even completed the equine strand. To see the students show their knowledge and passion for agriculture has been a highlight of my career as an educator, and it has allowed me to get to know them, and their families, in a different setting. The Green Certificate program has fostered stronger bonds with the school and within the community.”

"The Green certificate program provided me with real insight into my future career path, and each time I went into testing made me even more confident in my ability and knowledge. Every test was not only exhilarating but also helped me recognize the direction I wanted to take in the Ag field. With this program the opportunities for students like me to increase their knowledge of agriculture will have a huge impact on the Ag industry now and in the future!”

"As a student, I struggled with finding electives that I was interested in. When I heard about the Green Certificate Program through school, I became interested because it not only allowed the freedom to choose what I wanted to study but also because it was a self-directed learning program. My mom and aunt taught me directly in the field, and I still use this knowledge to this day. The test day consisted of talking through what I had learned with people in the field of study. It was not stressful at all and helped me make connections with other beekeepers.”

"During my Grade 10 year I participated in the equine section of the Green Certificate Program in 2021-2022 and it was an eye-opening, life changing experience! Working with horses was amazing and getting to witness practices like shoeing with farriers, feeding practices and medical first aid was awesome. Getting hands-on experience while practicing bandaging and making a poultice on the horses is a memory I will never forget. It was such a good mix of in-person and text-based learning. One day you’re out in the field with live animals and the next you’re studying everything about them.”