Margery Steckler and her late husband, George, pledged 800 acres of land west of Craik, Saskatchewan to Olds College in 2022, and Marge recently traveled back to Craik for the first time since 1971 with two Olds College team members. Olds College is expanding its operations on the land in Craik this growing season, and it was important to accompany Marge there to showcase the work that is being done, meet partners on the project and catch up with some familiar faces from back in the day.
Farming runs deep for Marge and George. Committed to the advancement of agriculture, farmers and education, this Didsbury couple has become a familiar name at Olds College over the years. In 2019, George and Marge commemorated their retirement from 47 years of farming with a generous gift of 310 acres of farmland to the Olds College Smart Farm — now known as the Steckler Farm. They also gifted a $100,000 endowment fund to Olds College, funds which provide five bursaries of $1,000 annually to students enrolled in agriculture programs. A few years later, the Stecklers pledged the additional 800 acres of land west of Craik which formed the Olds College Saskatchewan Smart Farm.
Marge hadn’t been to their land in Craik since 1971 when the Steckler family relocated to Calgary. Ken Miller, Manager of Special Projects at Olds College, is leading the work on the Olds College Saskatchewan Smart Farm and went there a few days in advance in order to get everything organized for Marge's tour around the farm. Mykaela Bauer, Development Officer with Olds College, accompanied Marge on the entire trip from driving her to the airport and flying with her from Calgary to Saskatchewan to meet Miller at the airport.
Marge toured for three days with both Bauer and Miller in Saskatchewan. She was able to see the work being done on the family homestead – and she even caught up with previous neighbours, including the team from Wildfong Enterprises currently farming the land at the Steckler property.
While in Saskatchewan, Marge was also able to attend Ag in Motion — Western Canada's Outdoor Farm Expo. Thanks to Brandt, getting around Ag in Motion was a breeze as the agriculture company supplied her with a John Deere Gator™ during her visit.
The expansion of the Olds College Smart Farm into Saskatchewan provides a platform for the College to partner with post-secondary institutions, industry and local producers by providing agriculture technology training and research opportunities that align and support the needs of Saskatchewan learners, producers and agriculture industry.
Marge always speaks very highly of the College and is always quick to say how the Steckler's decision to donate to Olds College was the best decision they could have made. This came up quite frequently during the recent trip to Saskatchewan, and Marge said it becomes more and more clear each day.
A special thank you to Marge for the incredible gifts she and George have given to Olds College. Thank you to Ken Miller and Mykaela Bauer for taking the time to tour Marge back to Craik and the land. And thank you to Brandt — specifically Brent Nicol and Ian Henderson — for always getting Marge back out in the field where she feels close to George and is able to remember the good ol’ days farming with her husband.