Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan names 2025 Champion Award winner

In a fitting celebration of Agriculture Week in the province, Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan announced today that the winner of the 2025 Champion Award is Sandra Hessdorfer. The award was presented during a #CelebrateAg luncheon in Saskatoon.

Each year, the Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan Champion Award recognizes a recipient who has engaged consumers about agriculture and worked to build public trust in farming and food in our province and beyond.

Originally from BC, where her family raised livestock and had an orchard, she later moved to Alberta before settling in Saskatchewan in 2006. Here, she purchased her own acreage and began working with Big Sky Farms before joining the local Co-op Agro, where she met her husband, Chris. Today, they farm together near St. Benedict, SK, raising crops and cattle with their two sons, Corbin and Riley.   

Sandra Hessdorfer has been passionate about farming her entire life. When working as an Educational Assistant, she did not let a worldwide pandemic stop her from teaching people about agriculture, and began a YouTube channel with videos of life on the farm. She is lifelong learner and is an alumnus of both the Next Gen Mentorship Program through Agribition and the Learn to Lead program with SaskOilseeds. 

Sandra is a 4-H leader, a former 4-H Saskatchewan employee, and serves on the Education Committee for Canadian Western Agribition and as the Past Chair of Saskatchewan Women in Agriculture. 

In her current role as Agriculture Education Officer, Sandra brings agriculture into classrooms across Horizon School Division, delivering presentations, supporting school programs, and organizing an annual Student Ag Day for all Grade 10 students. 

“Sandra brings the world of farming and food to life for our students,” said Justin Arendt, Superintendent of Operational Services with the Horizon School District. “She shares her passion for agriculture with energy, humour and warmth, helping young people understand where their food comes from and why it matters.” 

“Sandra’s passion for agriculture is evident in everything she does. One of her biggest strengths is her ability to connect people from different backgrounds and have them work together to promote the ag industry,” said Anna Karlsson, Chair of Saskatchewan Women in Agriculture, which nominated Hessdorfer for the award. 

“Every year we have the ability to celebrate true leaders in our industry and Sandra is someone who has fundamentally moved the dial on public trust,” highlighted Clinton Monchuk, Executive Director of Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan. “Sandra has worked to bring food and farming to Saskatchewan youth, lead the progression of Women in Agriculture, all while being active with her family farm, 4-H and community. Sandra is truly someone we should all aspire to be like.” 

The presentation was part of an event to celebrate Agriculture Week in Saskatchewan, October 5-11. Hon. Daryl Harrison, Minister of Agriculture brought greetings from the Province and Dr. Cami Ryan gave a presentation on strategies for agriculture communicators to combat misinformation. Clinton Monchuk outlined additional #CelebrateAg activities, such as an online awareness campaign and month-long photo contest. More details about AgWeek in Saskatchewan are available here: https://farmfoodcaresk.org/events-and-programs/ag-week/

For more information on Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan and the Champion Award, please visit: farmfoodcaresk.org