Innovation
Leading Tomorrow's Agricultural Industry
Every year, Canada’s Farm Show bring some of agriculture’s best and brightest together in one space to network, connect, and collaborate.
These are the individuals, organizations, and companies that continue to invent and re-invent solutions to ongoing and new problems, ensuring the agriculture industry remains a strong and driving force behind our national economy.
The Innovation Showcase is a highlight of Canada’s Farm Show for all attendees. Program submissions are qualified by Canada’s Farm Show Innovation Committee and evaluated by a panel of judges who bring a vast knowledge of the agriculture industry. Judges also have a practical and tangible understanding of how innovation can lead to productivity improvements on the farm. The highest-ranked innovations will receive an Innovation Award at the annual President’s Reception.
Launch Pad Innovations
At Canada’s Farm Show, we invite our exhibitors to showcase their latest and greatest innovation in equipment, technology and service in the agriculture industry. Each submission is judged by an independent panel several criteria, including:
- Appeal and design
- Novelty
- Utility and function
- Ingenuity
- Quality and scope
- Additional features
- Value
- Marketability
The top 3 finalists receive a professional video of their invention and a prize package valued at $2,500.00.
24 Hour Start Up @ AgTech
The 24 Hour Startup was created to connect innovators with the designers, developers, and entrepreneurs that are crucial to bringing an idea to life. The need and opportunity for technological advancement in the agriculture industry continues to grow as the demand for feeding the world increases.
Agtech is one of the fastest growing industries in Canada, and Canada’s Farm Show is proud to be partnering with Cultivator to host the 24 Hour Startup.
Learn more!
Check out what happened last year!
The 24 hour start up event @ AgTech aims to:
Connect
Meet other motivated individuals in the industry, expand your network, and maybe even meet your next co-founder or mentor! It’s amazing to see not only the products but the relationships that come from this event each year!
Ideate
Take that idea you’ve kept sidelined and bring it to life! Don’t have an idea? Join a team.
Build
You can only learn so much from reading and talking about entrepreneurship – the best way to learn is by doing it!
Pitch
Teams pitch to a panel of expert judges and see if their startup might survive beyond the weekend!
The 2022 Innovation Award Winners
Presented by Farms.Com
VeriGrain Sample Acquisition & IMS
Veri Grain™ is an inventory intelligence system which allows producers to track grain quality and quantity as it is sampled while being loaded in and out of storage. A digital record is created using the VeriGrain app to which grain characteristics can easily be added and shared. Grain samples are stored in bar coded containers and tamper-evident bags for easy management and traceability.
Soileos Bioactive Crop Nutrients
Offering a suite of bioactive crop nutrition products that enhances yields, increases crop quality, improves soil health, and amplifies nutrient density. Lucent BioSciences’ patented process upcycles agriculture and food processing cellulose-rich co-products such as: lentil, pea, wheat, and oat hulls into a sustainable delivery agent for nutrients.
ULTRA SR
At 60 feet wide with 750 bushels of total capacity, the Ultra SR, made by SeedMaster Manufacturing Ltd., increases maneuverability, and contours to the land to ensure precise seed and fertilizer placement.
Are You an Innovator?
At Canada’s Farm Show Regina, SK presented by Viterra, we invite our exhibitors to showcase their latest and greatest in Equipment, Technology and Service in the Agriculture Industry.
Each Innovation must be unique and new to the market. A priority will be placed on innovations that are unique or significantly different from products that are currently available in the marketplace.
Companies are invited to submit applications of their newest ideas and advancements to Canada’s Farm Show Regina, SK AgTech Innovation Program. This year will mark the 45th year of the program and we are excited to be able to showcase these new innovative products in our AgTech Innovation Pavilion.
The top 3 finalists will receive a professional video of their invention and a prize package valued at $2,500.00. All Innovations displayed in the AgTech Innovation Pavilion will be eligible for half-price booth space.
Outstanding Young Farmer Program
The Outstanding Young Farmers Program recognizes next-generation farmers who demonstrate excellence in their profession.
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS
The Saskatchewan Outstanding Young Farmers Program is run by the Outstanding Young Farmers alumni. The nomination criteria includes:
- Individual, couple or managing partner/shareholder
- Makes majority of farm management decisions
- Derives a minimum of two-thirds gross revenue from farming
- Less than 40 years of age as of January 1, 2023
Each year, an honouree is selected to represent each of the seven regions across Canada. These seven honourees are then recognized for their achievements at the National Outstanding Young Farmers event.
Saskatchewan's 2022 Outstanding Young Farmer
Each year, one farming family is selected from each of the program’s seven Regional Recognition Events to represent their respective region at the National Recognition Event.
Cody Straza & Allison Squires of Upland Organics Ltd. of Wood Mountain – Balgonie, SK
Cody Straza & Allison Squires own and operate Upload Organics Ltd. Near Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan, along with their three sons: Declan, Gavin, and Caden.
Cody grew up on a farm in the Wood Mountain area and completed an Engineering degree at the University of Saskatchewan. Allison was born in Newfoundland and met Cody while completing her PhD in Toxicology at the University of Saskatchewan. A few years after getting married, they realized their goal of owning their own farm in 2010 when they bought their first land together and started Upland Organics.
Being involved with several organizations on the local, provincial, national, and international levels has allowed Cody and Allison to actively give back to their community, as well as meet other innovative and successful farmers. Learning from others and through their own on-farm experimentation, they have successfully adopted farming techniques that include reduced tillage, intercropping, cover cropping, pollinator strips, and rotational grazing. Using these practices, they have shown it is possible to improve their soil and be excellent stewards of the environment while also realizing financial benefits.
Through their innovation and outreach, Cody and Allison have become leaders in organic agriculture. They have received several awards for their efforts and look forward to continuing to give back to the agriculture sector in Canada. Their ultimate goal is to pass on a thriving operation to the next generation of farmers. To do this, they are focused on doing more with less while identifying opportunities to expand their market with value added and diverse enterprises. They see many opportunities within the agriculture industry and are excited about what the future holds for the next generation of farmers.
Saskatchewan's 2022 Outstanding Young Farmer Nominees
Lee & Ashley Eastmond of Wheatland Cattle Company – Mortlach
Over the years, the operation has changed from being strictly cow/calf, to backgrounding and in 2017, to taking calves out to finish. The operation also offers custom feeding, silaging and bale hauling.
Lee and Ashley are always challenging themselves to become better, think outside the box and ignite changes within the operation. Developing the feedlot and taking calves to finish has catalyzed the operation to where it is today. In 2020, they recognized that consumers had a desire for quality, locally-produced beef, and were growing more comfortable with online shopping and direct delivery, so the couple pulled up chairs around the kitchen table and began formulating a plan. Following considerable research and strategizing, they launched “Kattle Kountry Beef” with Lee’s parents and haven’t looked back.
In August 2021, Lee and Ashley purchased a local butcher shop and rebranded as Butcher Block on the Prairie. This acquisition made the operation fully vertically integrated. The philosophy of “from our family farm to your fork” is the very essence of Kattle Kountry Beef. Every roast, steak and package of ground beef can be traced back to the animal’s birth on their farm. Wheatland Cattle Company is VBP+ (Verified Beef Production) Certified, upholding the highest standards in animal health, welfare, environmental respect, and sustainability.
Garret & Jocelyn Poletz of P Cross Ranch Ltd. – Biggar
In the last ten years, they have built a diverse cattle operation which includes a 3000 head backgrounding feedlot, 500 head cow-calf program and a salt and mineral business. They rely heavily on corn production, which gives them the ability to feed large amounts of cattle on minimal acres. They operate over 7000 acres with 3500 acres being owned land. They have three daughters Haylee, Hannah and Houstyn.
Both Garret and Jocelyn believe it’s critical to be involved in the industry through networking and organizations. Garret is currently on the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association board and is the group’s representative to the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. He credits a big part of their success from the relationships they have made in the industry. They are always looking to try new ideas and are constantly “thinking outside of the box”. Jocelyn is currently an agriculture and commercial lender and since obtaining her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2009 has spent her entire career working full time in the agriculture sector. They are both extremely passionate about the industry and strive to help others succeed by sharing their extensive experience and knowledge.