Band in the Sand is back - with a few years to make up for.

And for the agribusiness diploma students who helped plan this year's event at the Vermilion campus, it was about more than having fun and getting a little dirty. It was about putting their business lessons into practice, taking advantage of real-world, hands-on learning opportunities, and testing the limits of teamwork.

Thanks to their efforts, there was a lot to celebrate. With 2,000 people in attendance at Band in the Sand 2022, the students raised $56,000 that will support Lakeland's agricultural clubs next year.

“We threw the biggest Band in the Sand in the history of Band in the Sand,” says Kailey Wirsta, one of the agribusiness marketing students and project lead. “We sold all our tickets. The turnout was great. Sales were higher than they've ever been.”

Band in the Sand is an annual concert event in the Equine Centre - with its sandy floor - that features a variety of musical acts. It's organized as a class project in the agribusiness program and draws guests from all over the region - and sometimes even farther.

This year's event was even bigger than it's been in previous years, as it's the first time in two years that students have been able to plan the event in its traditional format. COVID-19 protocols meant students in recent years had to create a virtual version of the musical event. This one felt something like a homecoming.

To plan the event, students worked together, dividing into teams dedicated to logistics, finances, promotions, production and leadership. Together, they were responsible for every aspect of the event, from booking a venue space to implementing marketing plans, finding musical acts, and ensuring there were lights and other equipment available. The night of the event, they ensured everything from the actual event to the green rooms ran smoothly.

“Band in the Sand 2022 marked a return to hosting this event in person and on campus, and our students did a fantastic job organizing it,” says Cole Ambrock, agribusiness instructor. “From booking the entertainment to marketing it, taking care of event-day logistics and more, it's a hands-on, real-world learning experience they can add to their resumé. This year, our students were faced with unique challenges, which included working with changing health and safety protocols. I am proud of how they rose to meet every challenge, hosting an amazing, safe and successful Band in the Sand.”

After the event, Wirsta and assistant project lead Breanna Elder reflected on the important lessons and skills they learned from the entire experience.

“Communication was such a big thing,” says Elder. “When you work with a large group of people, things can get a little muffled. We started off a little rocky but in the end, it really came together.”

“Communication falls into leadership,” Wirsta agrees. “We needed to make sure everyone knew their role, knew what was going on and we needed to trust other people to do their jobs.”

Those lessons in leadership will serve them well in the workforce, Wirsta says.

“As an employee, it's important that if you don't know something or if you need something, you have to be able to communicate that to management,” Wirsta explains. “You have to be able to ask for help. As a manager, it will be a huge help to know how to manage a team in a positive environment, making sure you have a team that people enjoy being a part of - we learned how important it is to be those kinds of leaders. That was the biggest part I got out of this class.”