Congratulations to this year’s recipient of the Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME) Ken Wood Memorial Award, Kenneth Murray, Agricultural and Heavy Equipment diploma student.

Murray, an outstanding student who graduated from the Agricultural and Heavy Equipment Certificate program last year and served as the Class of 2024 valedictorian, has returned to Olds College of Agriculture & Technology to pursue his Agricultural and Heavy Equipment diploma.

“Growing up on my family’s multigenerational grain farm in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan, I’ve learned that agriculture is more than just a career — it’s a way of life that strengthens our community,” says Murray. “I’m very grateful to be attending Olds College and honoured to have been chosen to receive this award.”

Murray started working on his submission for the Ken Wood Memorial Award over a year ago when one of his close friends was the recipient of the award in 2023. His five-page essay was based on why a personal investment into agriculture is so important — and highlighted his contributions to agriculture and how he supports his community and neighbours.

“When it comes to investing in agriculture, you are supporting far more than an industry itself. You are nurturing new growth and supporting small families all over the world. You are supporting the small businesses that make up our country and contributing to a brighter future. You are giving the next generation the opportunity and tools they need to take on the next big stages of their lives. I love the work that I do on my family’s farm, and I take pride in supporting the agriculture industry. I am only one person, but even so, I truly see the difference that my actions make in the lives of many that are close to me.” ~ Excerpt from Kenneth Murray’s RME Ken Wood Memorial Award submission

Brad Barros, General Manager Aftermarket Alberta for RME, and David Leduc, Recruiter for RME, both came to Olds College to personally present Murray with the award. They were happy to have a chance to talk with Murray and hear about his background and future aspirations which included opportunities to join RME in the future.

“We have lots of people that work at RME that are graduates or currently enrolled at Olds College, even myself is an alumni of the College,” says Barros. “I find that we continually invest in the College and its people because we see kids from across Canada that come here to learn more about agriculture. Olds College is a huge part of our success at RME, and we enjoy supporting the College and its students through scholarships, programming and equipment.”

About the Ken Wood Memorial Award

Ken Wood was a long-time employee at Rocky Mountain Equipment, known for his dedication to the apprenticeship program and his mentorship of many aspiring mechanics. The award, valued at $7,034, covers tuition and fees for the second year of the Agricultural and Heavy Equipment diploma program.

This award is presented annually to a student completing their Agricultural and Heavy Equipment diploma at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. To be eligible, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8 and demonstrate active involvement in their community.