Jett Schwaier/CHAT News

By Jett Schwaier

EDUCATION

Video: The Yuill School of Agriculture brings a new era of agriculture learning to Medicine Hat and Cypress County

Oct 14, 2025 | 8:30 PM

Prairie Rose Public Schools announces the creation of the Yuill School of Agriculture in partnership with Neubauer Farms and Medicine Hat College.

The school of agriculture is an important step in advancing agricultural education and workforce development in Alberta.

This school offers students in Grades 10-12 a comprehensive, hands-on learning program blending classroom instruction with real-world agricultural experience.

The students enrolled in the program will have opportunities to work with livestock, agriculture technologies, and greenhouse operations to earn dual credits in these courses.

The superintendent of Prairie Rose Schools, Reagan Weeks, said we have been working on this for over two years, and it’s remarkable to have partners come together to bring the program together.

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“There are several plans and partnerships in place with Medicine Hat College to help us develop research and to ensure that students have dual credit opportunities as they move forward within the ag sector,” Weeks said.

“There will be a mechanic shop that will specialize in working on things like tractors. And there will be a shop for veterinarians,” she added.

“There will be a commercial kitchen where we’ll be able to finish off all of the products that are grown on this land, which will include animals and a variety of crops.”

Weeks said the Yuill Family Foundation’s contribution is incredible.

“There’s no way any of this could have happened without their support, we are so fortunate to have a family that’s willing to contribute to that degree for this overall community,” Weeks said.

The Yuill Family Foundation has donated land valued at over $1 million and an additional $600,000 for the construction of the facility.

Support from the Government of Alberta is also helping fund the facility by offering $750,000, giving students access to high-quality learning environments.

Construction is expected to begin in the Spring of 2026 and is set to open in the Fall of 2027.

An advisory board member of the Yuill Family Foundation, Kirk Ewasechko, said the collaboration to put this facility together is impressive.

“To see like-minded people, and how many hands can make light work, is how remarkable this will turn out to be,” Ewasechko said.

“That enthusiasm for an obvious project, that’s going to be of such great benefit to so many people over time.”

Ewasechko said the crops in Southern Alberta are world-class.

“You look at the pulses, the lentils, through the various cereal crops, and root crops that are grown from here to Lethbridge, it’s gonna be another part of our legacy,” Ewasechko said.

Nichole Neubauer, the Director of Agriculture Education, said the agriculture industry is the bread and butter of Southeast Alberta.

“Today’s announcement truly has the potential to be transformative for agriculture in this region,” Neubauer said.

“I think [this school] sets a real standard, and the work that is done becomes a template that others can also utilize,” she added.

“We can do applied research right here that could actually have a potential impact on how farmers farm, on how they raise livestock, and or raise honeybees.”

Representatives from Cypress County also attended the event.

Neubauer said it is gratifying to see so many representatives come to show their support.

“It was incredible to have everyone from trustees, everyone from the Yule Foundation, Cypress County, and leaders in industry here to support this project,” Neubauner said.

“What that says is that it’s needed, and that people are really excited to see it happen.”