Grainswest - Fall 2026

Fall 2026 Grains West 42 “Coming here, you see there’s a lot more happening, there are different ways to approach things.” The students who made the trip confirmed it was an eye-opener. Gareth Meagher, 20, grew up in Calgary. A self- professed city boy, he’d always been interested in farming and now studies precision and digital agriculture. At Agritechnica, Meagher was struck by the scale and specialization of European equipment. “The show is nothing I’ve ever seen before,” he said. “It just keeps going and going and going.” He also sought out innovation in drone technology and autonomy, comparing models on display to those he’d used at home. A highlight was a discussion about home country farm practices with a group of British ag students. Their experience with tractors topped out at 300 hp, a fraction of the 1,000-hp machines common on Prairie farms. Cash Arntsen also entered agriculture without a family farm background. The 22-year-old from Swift Current, SK, became interested in the sector while working in ag retail. This led him to study precision agriculture and data-driven decision-making. Arntsen was intrigued by European farming systems. He noted European regulations, infrastructure and field size influence equipment design and adoption. “We may grow the same crops, but a lot of the way they do things is very different than how we do things back home,” he said. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Also in attendance was Cheryl Loadman, a business professor with the University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of Business. Too often, she said, students overlook the agricultural sector because they associate it solely with farming, rather than with trade, innovation and global markets. “I cannot teach that in the classroom no matter how hard I try,” she said. With Loadman was a group of the institution’s business students. Paired with Canadian exhibitors through STEP, they spent the week engaged with clients to learn about export markets and to participate in business negotiations. Zainab Khan found the experience was a revelation. The USask fourth-year marketing student previously had three potential employers in mind: Spotify, Pinterest and Aritzia. Agriculture didn’t make the list. “To me, agriculture was just farming and not relevant to business,” said Khan. “But being here, I see a whole new horizon.” Khan was paired with Jeremy Matuszewski, owner of Manitoba company Thunderstruck Ag. Throughout the week, Matuszewski introduced her to senior women in the industry and included her in key business meetings. “Business is all about making the right connections,” he said. USask third-year management student Parker Thiessen arrived at Agritechnica with some industry familiarity. His father owns Saskatchewan equipment manufacturer Redekop. To broaden his experience, he chose to work the show with Bourgault to observe decision- making and delegation in real time. “I’m taking a look at how everything’s coming together,” he said. “Who’s in charge, who’s calling the shots and who’s making the things come together.” Like Loadman, Edwards School of Business associate dean Maureen Bourassa said the experience reinforced something no classroom can replicate. “Business is relational,” she said. “The world, at its core, still counts on those human relationships. That’s how business deals are made.” TRIP CO-ORDINATION The Olds College trip was organized by Lawrence Rowley, a former New Zealander who lives in Calgary. Fifteen years ago, he founded Leader Tours, an agritourism business aimed at farmers. “Agritechnica is pretty much a bucket list item for most grain farmers,” he said. “They really want to go and see the show.” Leader Tours offers much more, though. Rowley has created packages for farmers who wish to visit Argentina, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand and Uruguay. Every itinerary features a customized blend of farm visits and sightseeing. Rowley handles flights, accommodation, local farm contacts and works with a partner network in each country to arrange farmer introductions and behind-the-scenes access. The trips allow participants to compare their own climate adaptations, equipment, management approaches and production systems to those of farmers whose operations look nothing like their own. BRING IT HOME At the Agritechnica DLG International Visitors’ Lounge, three central Alberta ag industry leaders gathered in this space set aside for professional meetings and networking. Frank Creasey of the Red Deer District Chamber of Commerce, Jesse Smith of Tourism Red Deer and Stacy Felkar of Agri-Trade Equipment Expo made the trip to study the show, its draw and economic impact. What might this global fair teach them about the operation of their regional event, Agri- Trade? Agri-Trade has built its own international aspect for years. The annual trade show has featured a German pavilion, and exhibitors from Australia, China and the U.K. have recently joined. In 2025, it drew visitors from 15 countries. Tourism Red Deer offers farm tours to such international guests. “Last year, we went to a fourth-generation family farm just outside of central Alberta,” said Smith. “Some of the international guests were just blown away by the operation.” The ambition is to create “experiences within experiences” said Creasey. Such layered programming draws international visitors deeper into the region, its farms and its businesses. Interest in Canadian agriculture extends well beyond Alberta’s borders. FEATURE