Lethbridge Polytechnic is celebrating a transformative $2.8 million gift from the estate of Joe and Laverna Hranac, the second largest donation in the institution’s history.
The gift will support operations at the Lethbridge Polytechnic Research Farm, enabling the continuation and expansion of applied agriculture research and innovation. It also enhances the polytechnic’s capacity for student-focused, industry-connected agricultural research.
“This legacy gift from Joe and Laverna Hranac ensures our students and researchers can continue to work alongside industry partners to solve real-world agricultural challenges,” says Dr. Brad Donaldson, president and CEO of Lethbridge Polytechnic. “It’s a lasting investment in education, innovation and the agricultural community that helped shape the Hranacs’ lives.”
Lethbridge Polytechnic has been conducting applied research in agriculture for more than 30 years, most recently within the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE). CARIE has managed operations on the 385-acre research farm since 2020 as part of a lease agreement with the Government of Alberta.
“The Hranac family’s gift – to support the research farm – strengthens our ability to respond to emerging challenges in southern Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food sector, specifically in the areas of integrated food production systems, irrigation science and post-harvest technology,” says Dr. Andrew Dunlop, associate vice-president – research. “Their generosity also supports the polytechnic’s commitment to hands-on, applied learning that is deeply connected to industry.”
Born and raised in southern Alberta, Joe and Laverna Hranac were lifelong sugar beet, grain and canola producers who farmed land south of Chin and Cranford. Joe passed away in 2008 and Laverna in 2022.
Though they had no children of their own, the Hranacs were closely connected to their extended family who say their gift to the polytechnic was inspired by a shared belief in the power of education and a desire to invest in students and agriculture for generations to come.
“Joe and Laverna’s roots were based in farming, and along with that they carried a love of education and family throughout their lives,” says Joe’s niece, Cindy Powell. “They believed in working hard, helping others and creating opportunities for the next generation. This gift reflects their vision of what’s possible and the kindness they shared with everyone around them.”
Joe and Laverna Hranac’s generous contribution highlights the lasting benefits of planned giving. Estate gifts like theirs help shape the future of education and innovation, creating opportunities for students and researchers that extend far beyond a single lifetime. Lethbridge Polytechnic is deeply grateful for donors who include the institution in their estate plans, ensuring their legacy lives on through hands-on learning, industry collaboration and community advancement.
For more information on planned giving, visit lethpolytech.ca/donate.