Sarah Weigum of Alect Seeds in Three Hills has been named Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025.
The regional event was held in late July at AgSmart and hosted by Olds College. Weigum will represent Alberta at Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers competition in November 2025 in Toronto.
Weigum specializes in pedigreed seed production and retail sales. She co-owns the business with her parents, who started the farm and seed business in the 1980s.
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Weigum returned to the farm in 2011 after studying English literature at university, working in communications in British Columbia and Ottawa, and cooking for a tree planting camp.
She used those diverse experiences and skills to improve marketing, expand her customer base and connect with professionals across the grain and seed industry.
Alect Seeds produces wheat, barley and peas but also niche crops such as fab beans, flax and fall rye.
Through field days, writing for farm publications, involvement in grower groups and many conversations on the phone and in the community, Weigum has supported farmers who want to grow crops outside the box.
She is president of Alberta/British Columbia Seed Growers and is also a board member for her local seed plant co-operative.
READ MORE: Check out last year’s regional OYF nominees from across Canada HERE.
“The Alberta Outstanding Young Farmers have once again put on an incredible event, attracting alumni, sponsors, friends and family. This year‘s winner, Sarah Weigum, demonstrates the values that our program stands for: excellence, sustainability and passion,” Amy Cronin, president of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmer Program, said in a press release.
“Sarah operates a seed business and exemplifies the spirit of collaboration, creating a model that can be used by other farmers as well. She is an advocate for agriculture and takes pride in being a journalist who put some of the most technical information into articles that the industry can easily understand and adopt.”
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers is an annual competition aimed at rewarding farmers who demonstrate excellence in their profession and promote agriculture’s contribution.
It is open to participants aged 18 to 39 years old, whose major source of income comes from agricultural sources. Participants are selected from seven regions in Canada, and two national winners are chosen each year.
