Big Exchange - Learning in a Rural Context

Do rural learners learn differently? 

What qualities help rural learners?  What qualities hinder rural learners?

How can we improve on rural learning?

Many rural non profits work in rural education and training in some capacity, but often it can have it's challenges.  At Green Hectares we have been working in this space for over 10 years and we still have many questions and much to discuss.  Join us on March 25 to learn and discuss how learning happens in a rural environment.   We are hosting another Big Exchange Roundtable where we have three experts to ground our conversation in real world experience. Read their biographies below.

Despite her prediction that her life was over, Jackie Northey was transplanted to Rural Alberta with her siblings and parents at the age of 14 when her father purchased a farm in his small hometown community.  Four years later at the age of 18, Jackie started her 44 year serial volunteer habit.  Jackie volunteers, engages and advocates for rural and agricultural communities and organizations nationally, provincially and regionally. Her extensive experience includes adult education, strategic planning, capacity building, rural development, communications and non-profit governance.   Jackie oversees programs and strategy, leading organizations forward by facilitating transformative thinking and discussion.   Jackie and her husband still reside in Bashaw, with a strong conviction of the importance of family and community, never more evident than watching their own children raise their young families in the community as well.

Jamie Galloway is the Vice Principal of Altario School. She grew up on a large cattle ranch just south of Czar, then went off to university to become a teacher.  She was asked to go teach in Altario and have been there ever since. She lives with her husband on her ranch just west of Kirriemuir, Alberta. At Altario they have worked to develop an Agriculture Academy in their school and she oversees that program.  Each year they raise a number of animals at the school and students take part in all elements of the agriculture lifestyle, from chores to nutrition decisions to financial matters, and all other things that running an agriculture operation requires. 

Josie Van Lent is currently the Dean of Agriculture Technology and Applied Research at Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alberta. Prior to that, she was the Dean of Agriculture Sciences for 13 years. She enjoys working to advance ag technology, ag research and academics within the school of Agriculture and to the Student Managed Farm. She spent the first half of her career working for Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development as a District Agriculturist and Beef Specialist. Following she was employed in the crop service industry as an agronomist, first with Webb’s Crop Services in Vermilion and then as manager of the crop input division for the United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) in northeastern Alberta. Josie and her husband are also partners in a commercial livestock and grain farm, with bison, elk, beef and crop enterprises. 

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