For Jake Leguee, his sibling Sarah and their brother-in-law, Erik Nikolejsin, farming is more than a livelihood—it's a way of life. As co-owners and operators of Leguee Farms, sustainability and transparency is at the forefront of everything they do on their operation. For them, it’s about making things better for the next generation and the future.
and Jake Leguee.
The siblings have been co-owners since 2012, when they formed Leguee Farms Partnership. Nikolejsin joined shortly after in 2017 and they have been hard at work ever since. It’s that hard work that earned them the prestigious honour of being named Saskatchewan’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2023.
The award is part of the Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program, a program designed to recognize farmers under the age of 35 who exemplify excellence in their profession.
Leguee Farms traces its roots back to 1956 just outside of Weyburn, Sask., when Don and Elsie Leguee started farming. Originally a mixed grain and livestock operation, the farm slowly phased out livestock and focused on the grain side of things.
“Today, we farm 15,000 acres, growing canola, durum, spring wheat, lentils, peas and flax,” said Jake Leguee. “Along with the family team of Russ (my father), Sarah, Erik and myself, we have full-time and seasonal employees to help us get the work done.”
“After being nominated, the application process is heavy, with a lot of detail required on the background and success of the farm business,” Leguee said. “It’s incredibly rewarding. It's not often that you have the opportunity to study your business from the outside like that, trying to see it from another's eyes.”
As part of the program, the trio gathered in Regina in June of 2023 to present to a panel of judges and Outstanding Young Farmer’s alumni about their farm and what they’re doing to be sustainable. As they put it, it was an anxiety-inducing experience to talk about one’s operation like that, but a valuable experience overall.
“It's a great way to get some outside perspective, from the judges, to help determine if you're on the right track,” Leguee explained. “Having the opportunity to learn from so many amazing farm operations out there, was incredibly useful to take home to my farm.”
All three of them were humbled to receive such an award, but when you start to look at their passion and involvement in the ag industry, it’s clear why they were chosen as the 2023 Outstanding Young Farmers.
Leguee Farms maintains an ongoing commitment to progressive thinking, consistently exploring avenues for improvement and embracing sustainable approaches like diverse crop rotations, soil testing, zone appropriate crop treatment, and more.
“We have all been humbled enough times by Mother Nature and the markets to know how much of our income is outside of our control. But there is a lot that is in our control. There is a lot we can do to improve our businesses, our communities and the agriculture industry,” Leguee added.
It’s that constant drive for innovation and improvements that have built Leguee Farms into what it is today—something that has lasted for three generations and something they hope can continue for many more.
Beyond just farming, the three of them are very active in the community and within the agriculture sector. Sarah and Jake are involved with Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, SaskWheat and the Global Farmer Network. The family is eager to share their story with everyday consumers, as evident in Jake’s popular blog, ‘A Year in the Life of a Farmer.’
As part of the Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program, the trio will travel to Quebec for a week in November to compete in the national competition. There, they will meet the winners from the six other regions where they will compete for a chance to become Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers.
Runner Up – Russ and Beth Wildfong
Russ and Beth own and operate Wildfong Enterprises in Craik, Sask. A 10,000 acre grain farm growing canola, durum and lentils. In addition to their busy farm life, they also run a business called Wildfong Concaves where they manufacture ag parts for combine harvesters, using Canadian-sourced products. Both Russ and Beth keep busy with their two children and the local community.