Dalhousie’s enduring partnership with a major agricultural equipment manufacturer and local dealership has played a pivotal role in enhancing student education in the Faculty of Agriculture and underscored the university’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the field.
Over the past 15 years, Case IH — alongside dealership Tidal Tractor — has provided 141 tractors and other advanced farm machinery units to the Faculty.
“It’s clear this partnership serves as an example of the power of collaboration,” said Dr. Heather Bruce, dean of the Faculty. “Working closely with industry partners like Case IH and local dealership Tidal Tractor has allowed us to enrich the student experience and drive innovation within the Faculty of Agriculture. This is a model we hope to continue expanding, building more relationships with industry leaders who share our commitment to education and excellence.”
The partnership first began when Dalhousie’s farm was facing a challenging situation with the prohibitive cost to repair an aging piece of equipment. Gary Maddison of Tidal Tractor and Robert Meier of Case IH saw an opportunity to do more than just fix a piece of equipment; they created a program that would provide state-of-the-art machinery and a chance for Dal’s students to experience the latest in agricultural technology.
Dean Dr. Heather Bruce, Case IH and local dealership Tidal Tractor renewed their partnership agreement for an additional five years ensuring a rich student experience continues for years to come.
Milestones and meaningful impact
This was the beginning of what would become a game-changing relationship between Dalhousie, Case IH, and Tidal Tractor. In May of 2011, the first two units arrived — a Scout utility vehicle and a Farmall 105U. Now, as the Faculty celebrates the arrival of the 141st unit, it embarks on the road to its 150th in 2026.
To visually track progress and commemorate the achievement, a special display in the Ruminant Animal Centre lobby was installed featuring tractor treads leading to a sign that celebrates this partnership. This sign serves as a tangible reminder of how far the partnership has come and where it’s headed.
“For Case IH, we are incredibly proud to continue our collaboration with Tidal Tractor and Dalhousie,” said Robert Meier, territory sales manager with Case IH. “It’s not just about the tractors; it’s about the people behind the scenes. The team at Case IH, Tidal Tractor and Dalhousie have worked together for 15 years to create something truly special. This partnership has given students the tools to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry, and for that, we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Student experiences and the road ahead
Willem Smith, a third year Agricultural Business student from Ottawa, had no prior farming experience before applying for summer work on the Dal campus farm.
“This experience has beyond exceeded my expectations for hands-on learning opportunities as well as the ability to operate some pretty fantastic machinery provided by Tidal Tractor and Case IH,” explained Willem. “The ease of use really stood out to me. I was able to move between machines with transferable skills. I’ve learned a lot through this experience. It’s been fantastic.”
Units delivered to Dal over the course of the partnership include 13 Scout utility vehicles, five mowers, five skid steers, four round balers, and 114 tractors, representing an approximate value of $2 million dollars in lease payments. More than 3,000 students have had the chance to experience Case IH tractor during their time in the Faculty.
“While the numbers are impressive, it’s the relationships that have made this partnership so successful,” said Jean Lynds, Dal’s farm mperations Manager. “It’s the commitment of the people at Case IH, Tidal Tractor, and Dalhousie that has allowed us to continually push the boundaries of what’s possible and give our students the best opportunities to learn and grow in this field.”
Dean Bruce and Patrick VanOostrum, president of Tidal Tractor, recently renewed their partnership agreement for an additional five years, ensuring a rich student experience continues for years to come.
Dean Heather Bruce and Patrick VanOostrum, president of Tidal Tractor.