September 20, 2004
Contact: Dave Stephen
Phone 604-864-4611
Fax: 604-859-6653
E-mail:
dave.stephen@ucfv.ca
Dairy farm workers in B.C. now have the chance to receive formal training and become certified dairy technicians. The University College of the Fraser Valley is offering the classroom component of a two-year Dairy Technician apprenticeship program starting October 22.
The classroom training is open to people already indentured as apprentices in the dairy industry. Students must have an apprentice number and a worker trades identification number. People currently working on dairy farms who are interested in becoming apprentices must apply to the provincial Industry Training Authority by September 30.
The training will be offered over 20 Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from October through March at the UCFV Chilliwack campus. Attendance is compulsory. UCFV agriculture professor and local farmer Paul Gumprich will be the main instructor, along with guest speakers. Tuition is $475.
“The nice thing about this training is that the students can do a morning milking and still make it to class for the day,” commented Dr. Norma Senn, UCFV’s Agriculture director. “The program will cover topics such as basic animal care and health, reproduction, farm safety, food safety, and basics of the dairy industry. It’s got a very practical focus.”
Students who complete two years of classroom and on-the-job training will be eligible to write an exam for their Dairy Technician trades ticket. This is the first time this newly developed program is being offered in B.C., under the supervision of the new provincial Industry Training Authority.
“We’re offering this in response to requests from the industry,” notes Senn. “It’s a provincially approved curriculum based on other dairy apprenticeship programs in Canada. The credential will be recognized nationally.”
The apprenticeship program is open to high school students who can take advantage of the “day release” opportunities offered to apprentices.
UCFV’s Milker
Training program, which starts in January, will ladder into the Dairy Technician
apprenticeship program.
“Once someone’s taken milker training and secured employment, they’ll be able to move into the Dairy Technician program and receive some advanced credit,” says Senn. “Similarly, people who complete the apprenticeship will be eligible to ladder into our more advanced Livestock Production certificate and diploma programs, again with some advanced credit.”
For more information contact UCFV’s Agriculture department at 604-795-2813, or shelley.hayes@ucfv.ca
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