education


Internet led to good start at UFV


First-year student Curtis Balogh has high praise for horticultural course. By Grant Ullyot


A


sk Curtis Balogh what got him interested in agriculture and he says that while attending the University of Calgary he spent a lot of time on the prairies visiting


local farms,


He has just completed the first year of his two-year horticultural course at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), having decided he wanted to go to an ag school closer to home (which he says is “somewhere between West Vancouver and Squamish”).


Balogh says his choice of UFV was made after research using the Internet.


“I tried to figure out which agriculture course I might be interested in. I went through the list at UFV and liked the options offered in both the one-year program and the diploma program. I was particularly interested in the second- year business classes, which explained what was involved in owning and/or operating a horticultural business.” It is his plan to eventually own his own business. “My end goal is to someday buy some land, as I personally believe that owning land is a privilege and a very important endeavour.” What does he think of the course?


“I love it. It is very hands-on and very, very interesting. You


learn a lot, especially someone like myself who has had no previous experience with the industry.


GRANT ULLYOT


Curtis Balogh is developing an interest in the business side of farming.


“All the professors you are learning from are not just teachers but also work in the industry, so you have a lot of connections once you graduate. And while you are in school you are always being exposed to what is going on out there and not just sitting around reading books. “I am out there doing things; exploring what is going on in the Fraser Valley; being introduced to the newest growing techniques and management requirements.” Balogh says about a month ago the class visited Rainbow Greenhouse in Chilliwack. “We have a class that focuses on greenhouse production. We also have a state-of-the-art greenhouse on campus that incorporates the


British Columbia Berry Grower • Summer 2016 17


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