Lakeland College’s bin yard capacity has increased, thanks to a donation from Meridian Manufacturing Ltd.

The college announced on April 14th,  that Meridian Manufacturing donated a new 5,000-bushel grain bin to its Vermilion Campus.

“Meridian’s generous donation of this grain bin is an important step in our Student-Managed Farm Revitalization plan,” said Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, Lakeland College’s president and CEO. “Ensuring our agricultural sciences students have access to the equipment, facilities and technology they need to make critical decisions on our Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland (SMF) is an essential part of their educational experience. With this donation, Meridian is investing in more than just a bin yard – they’re investing in the agricultural leaders of tomorrow.”

It was Crop Tech students who saw the need for increased storage and advocated for it. Now that the grain bin has arrived, students will have longer to market grain, which will help hone their marketing skills and potentially capitalize on stronger prices. The new bin has an aeration system which cools and dries grain, which enhances learning opportunities.

“Meridian is proud to support the next generation of agricultural leaders through our donation of a grain bin to Lakeland College’s SMF,” said Jacob Welde, Meridian’s marketing manager. “We are very excited to contribute to a program that provides such valuable, hands-on learning opportunities. At Meridian, we believe that real-world experience is essential in shaping confident, capable farmers—and the SMF is a perfect example of this in action.”

The colleges Student-Managed Farm Revitalition Plan (SMF) is part of the Farm Master Plan, which was finalized in 2023. This revitalization of SMF creates a new benchmark for agricultural education in the province and aligns with industry best practices.