Alumni Profile – Jake Ayre
Growing up on his family farm near Minto, Jake Ayre was always interested in and involved with agriculture in one way or another, but was unsure as to what he would study after high school.
Some friends were taking the Diploma in Agriculture program at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and told him the two-year program featured world class instructors and professors, industry experts and current or retired farmers.
“After attending various ‘Aggie’ events and meeting other individuals in the Faculty, I knew that I had found my place, and my home,” Jake says.
How the class bonded and became one great big family is a program highlight for Jake. He also recalls how the positive support provided by the academic staff created an environment for student success.
“That itself was one of my personal favorite things about our class, nobody was ever too busy to help out a fellow Aggie,” an observation which become a core concept of his valedictorian address to fellow Diploma in Agriculture graduates of 2017.
Jake reflects the program was flexible enough to allow him to take crop courses although he was a business major.
“As well, I took advantage of the Special Project Course in my final year. My project was communications based, and provided me with a medium to learn and gain experience outside of the classroom. If a student is looking for a way to explore a topic or area in a unique way, I would point them in this direction,” he adds.
Jake plans to work and travel and, over the longer term, intends to return home to take over the family farm and business.
His advice to those considering the program is, “Do it. You won’t regret it. Ag-Diploma was the best two years of my life. I made more friends than I can count, made many great memories and learned more than I could ever imagine.”
The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences offers diverse programs where students are able to focus on what matters to them, whether it’s environmental stewardship, animal and plant care, commodity markets, human nutrition, or food safety. Along the way, students build the skills and knowledge that can take them from the field, to the research lab, to the boardroom. Come join us in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Science and help us feed change while feeding your mind and your future
See more stories about students and alumni, and learn more about our programs.