Olds College has received a gift of $16M, the largest ever personal donation to an Alberta college or technical institution.

it comes from Canadian entrepreneur, oilfield industry leader and dedicated philanthropist, David P. Werklund and his partner, Susan Norman.

Werklund's donation begins with $2M in cash, supplemented by a matching component where Werklund will provide one dollar for every three raised, up to $4M.

The final element is a $10M estate gift that will ensure the sustainability of the institute over time.

Werklund's upbringing on a rural Alberta farm instilled in him a deep respect for protecting and nurturing the land which sustains life through food production and job creation. He credits his success in business, strong work ethic and core values with that upbringing as well.

"Susan and I are thrilled to lead the way in support of this made-in-Alberta solution for specialized education, research and partnerships in Smart Agriculture," commented Werklund. "Our vision is that students will experience a world class education centered around best practices in smart and sustainable agriculture - practices that are environmentally responsible, fully leverage current technologies and ignite their passion for agriculture."

The donation is designed to provide incentives from other individuals, industry and governments.

This donation will result in the creation of the Werklund Agriculture Institute and will specialize in Smart Agriculture. A statement from the college says: "With a vision to be the  world's premier destination for an integrated agricultural leadership learning experience, the institute will engage students, researchers and industry in smart and sustainable agriculture and agri-business solutions, leadership and education to contribute to Western Canada's leadership position as an agriculture and food powerhouse.

Two additional donations were announced at the Olds College Gala on March 24. The Students' Association of Olds College and the Olds College Alumni Association have each committed $1.25M toward the Beyond campaign, to kick off the matching component of the Werklund donation.