Collaborative partnerships brings PAMI to Assiniboine campus

As Assiniboine looks to the future of agriculture in the Prairie Innovation Centre, the college’s concentration on ag programming leadership and industry engagement is more in focus than ever, as illustrated by recent co-location with the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI).

Charley Sprenger, a Project Leader with PAMI has been situated at the college’s Victoria Avenue East campus since fall 2022, allowing PAMI to start building collaborative relationships with students and faculty. Her presence on campus has created opportunities to enhance the hands-on learning experiences of the students and help them to come up with practical solutions to real-world problems facing the agricultural and mining sectors.

“As a strong advocate for innovation, research, applied academics and industry, Assiniboine Community College is at the forefront of the Canadian agriculture sector which aligns well with who PAMI is,” said Lorne Grieger, Director of Technical Sales with PAMI.

PAMI provides innovative engineered solutions for agriculture, mining and transportation clients. They study, design and test machines and machine components with hands-on lab and in field testing. The solutions the team provide help their clients ensure their operations are functioning efficiently using the most up to date STEM (science technology, engineering and math) principles.

Being situated on campus has allowed Charley to connect with faculty, coordinate guest lecture opportunities and collaborate on applied research projects that are happening on campus―efforts that will be further supported once the Prairie Innovation Centre opens its doors.

“Assiniboine strives to be a go-to problem solver for ag-related practical challenges, and the Prairie Innovation Centre will provide a space for industry and academia to seize new training opportunities,” said Tim Hore, Dean, School of Agriculture and Environment. “We’re thrilled to be well established in this work with many existing partnerships, and this partnership with PAMI is a great example.”

The co-location with PAMI will help provide students the opportunity to learn about current industry issues and use critical thinking skills to address real world examples and scenarios that Sprenger brings into the learning environment.

“Charley is an important team member whose positivity and dedication to STEM excellence is only outshone by her exemplary research and leadership abilities,” said Grieger.

Much of the team at PAMI have a connection with primary agriculture, which gives them a current, in-depth understanding of the issues farmers face and the practical solutions, education and training the industry needs.

No exception, Sprenger has a background in farming cattle. Her dad is an engineer, and inspired her to pursue her Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, after which she obtained her Masters of Science in Engineering. She has a keen interest in science, math, and problem solving.

“I am lucky to be able to work so closely with the faculty and students at the college, to help forge a path for the future of agriculture in our province and country using the latest technology and resources available,” said Sprenger.

New and expanded agriculture training is needed now, at a time when the labour gap in agriculture is growing to a point where it’s expected that one in three jobs in Canada will go unfilled by 2029. The Prairie Innovation Centre will combine indoor and outdoor learning spaces for seamless hands-on experimentation and training to extend and transfer knowledge to enhance the competitiveness of the industry and primary agriculture producers in Manitoba.

“Agriculture in Manitoba has a bright future and we will achieve great things through our partnership with Assiniboine,” said Grieger.

The college continues to engage Collaboration Zone partners who will have a high level of involvement in the Centre and the projects it pursues.