This category recognizes an up-and-coming Innovator to the agricultural sector who has made significant contributions to innovation in their field.

Jeremy Matuszewski, President, Thunderstruck Sales and Marketing

With over 20 years in sales and marketing, Jeremy has developed creative strategies to drive product visibility and sales, focusing on unconventional marketing methods that help businesses grow. In 2016, he identified an opportunity in the agriculture sector, where many farmers had groundbreaking solutions but lacked resources to bring them to market. He founded Thunderstruck Sales and Marketing to bridge this gap, specializing in identifying high-impact agricultural products and refining their marketing and distribution strategies.

His company has helped farmer innovators turn great ideas into thriving businesses, ensuring their solutions reach those who need them. The applicant’s latest innovation, the Razor Edge concave, enhances threshing efficiency, reduces downtime, and increases yields. This product is successfully tested in North America and Australia, with a patent for its variable-spacing design.

Beyond product development, Jeremy focuses on mentorship, collaboration, and sharing knowledge within the agriculture community. By building partnerships and engaging with farmers, he has contributed to creating a ripple effect of value that benefits the entire industry.

Jeremy is motivated by solving real-world problems farmers face, improving productivity, and making farming operations more efficient and sustainable. His collaborative work with farmers and focus on practical, sustainable solutions has made a meaningful impact on the industry. His belief is that helping one farmer succeed can lead to broader advancements in agriculture, and that legacy is worth building.

This category acknowledges an innovator who has made a positive impact on their local community through agricultural initiatives, education or outreach.

Sara Shymko, Executive Director, Ag in the Classroom – Saskatchewan

Sara Shymko is the Executive Director of Ag in the Classroom – Saskatchewan (AITC-SK) and has been leading the organization since 2006. Raised on a mixed farm near Jasmin, Sask, Sara’s deep passion for agriculture is at the heart of her work, where she strives to provide meaningful agricultural experiences to children, helping them understand, appreciate and respect agriculture’s importance both locally and globally.

With a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Saskatchewan, Sara’s career has taken her to Uganda and Australia, but her commitment to agriculture education in Saskatchewan is where she has made a lasting impact. Under her leadership, AITC-SK has grown from a small, underfunded organization to a prominent educational resource, integrating agricultural lessons into classrooms and influencing curriculum development. She has connected farmers with students, providing teachers with resources that shape young minds and foster a future generation that values agriculture.

Sara’s passion, leadership and dedication to agricultural education make her a remarkable Community Innovator. Through her work, she’s helped bridge the gap between agriculture and the classroom, ensuring that children grow up with a strong understanding of the food system and the people behind it.