Agribusiness alumna Makayla Moen was drawn to Lakeland's Vermilion campus because of the rodeo team and opportunity to study both business and agriculture simultaneously.

She liked the community so much, she ended up staying.

Now, using the lessons she learned during her time at Lakeland, Moen works with local farmers, ranchers and commercial members as a credit analyst in the lending department at the Vermilion Credit Union.

Moen started her business studies at another post-secondary institution but found that it didn't quite fit. She had grown up with her family in Elrose, Sask., and had always been involved in agriculture and found herself missing the comforting familiarity. After hearing good things about Lakeland's rodeo team and agribusiness program, she made the decision to transfer.

“I knew it just wasn't quite perfect for where I wanted to be,” she explains, adding that Lakeland made the transfer process really easy. “I think that was the best decision I ever made, transferring to Lakeland.”

The biggest difference she found on campus had nothing to do with rodeo, however; it was the instructors she met.

“They really encourage you to get involved. It helps socially and you meet a lot of other students. I have connections now with people from all over Canada and made so many good friends.”

While completing the agribusiness program's livestock stream, she was also involved with the rodeo team and the agribusiness case study competition team, and was a Resident Assistant.

The instructors didn't just encourage her to get involved, though. They also got involved themselves, which Moen had not experienced in her previous studies.

“It's not just class time, if there's an event going on at the school, the instructors are there. They know your name and where you're from. You're not just another student, they really care and are there to help each student reach their full potential.”

After graduating in 2018, Moen began working at the Vermilion Credit Union, and says everything she learned at Lakeland has helped her along the way, from training to the work she does now.

“Coming out of college and getting a job was scary,” she says. “But whenever I felt like I didn't know what I was doing, I'd remember what I learned in class or on assignments dealing with similar situations and it set me up to succeed really well. There wasn't a course or a class that wasn't relevant. I feel like 20 years down the road, I'll still somehow remember my instructors' voices and the lessons I learned.”

Even the lessons that don't directly apply to the work she does now still help her relate to the members she serves.

“If you're having a conversation with a farmer, it's nice to have that knowledge of agronomy or livestock production for example. It really helps me connect with the member. A farmer doesn't necessarily want to deal with someone who doesn't know agriculture and it helps that I come from an agricultural background.”

She says she's happy to have been given the opportunity to stay in Vermilion and for deciding to transfer to Lakeland.

“If it wasn't for Lakeland, I wouldn't be where I am,” she says. “I 100 per cent recommend the agribusiness program. It's important for people to know just how involved you get to be at Lakeland. You're not just sitting at a desk all day. You're at the Student-Managed Farm - Powered by New Holland feeding cattle or you're planning the Pop-Up Shop. You're doing a retail store case study or even organizing Band in the Sand. You're using your own creativity to learn. It's very involved and I miss it.”