Winner Announcement: 2023 UFA Student Pitch Competition
United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd. (UFA) and Olds College of Agriculture & Technology are pleased to announce the winner of the 2023 UFA Student Pitch Competition is Justin Andersen.
Olds College and UFA would like to thank the other two semi-finalists, Gregory Bundshok and Jeryd Gordon, who have spent several months working hard to perfect their pitches and did a great job.
“This has been one of the biggest accomplishments I have ever received in my life, and that is completely due to the opportunities provided through Olds College of Agriculture & Technology and UFA,” says Andersen. “My gratitude for the chances provided for me and the other competitors cannot be expressed through words. This has been a wonderful experience, and I would like to express my utmost appreciation for everyone involved in the UFA Student Pitch Competition. I cannot wait to continue my entrepreneurial journey and see where this chance will take me.”
This year marks the fourth UFA Student Pitch Competition with Olds College, and is a Dragon’s Den style competition where Olds College students are asked to come up with an exciting innovative ag idea that solves an ag problem or advances the ag industry. Students work with Olds College to develop the idea, and then pitch their business model to a panel of judges from UFA. The competition is part of the five-year innovation partnership between UFA and Olds College.
Olds College President, Ben Cecil, and the Board of Governors were in attendance to watch the live Pitch Competition on campus.
“Our partnership with UFA proves industry partnerships are good for the students, good for the College and good for the communities we serve,” says President Ben Cecil. “These learning experiences provide students the opportunity to explore new ideas, engage with exceptional mentors and industry partners, express their entrepreneurial creativity, and apply their learning into the real-world. Seeing the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of our students at the College truly exemplifies how we are working together towards Olds College’s social purpose of transforming agriculture for a better world. I’d like to thank UFA for their ongoing support in agriculture innovation, education and our students.”
Read more about the 2023 UFA Pitch Competition and winner announcement
Gregory Bundschoks
Greg is a fourth-year horticulture student obtaining his Bachelor of Applied Science Degree at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. He is the Founder of CHBO & Ceres Esoteric Inc., and describes himself as an edible plant cultivation risk analyst with an evolving specialty around the politics of food. Greg is passionate about personal development, nutrition and his relationship with plants. Growing up on a hog farm, Greg has strong values around hard work, responsibility, dependability, respect for life, discovering the world of food, food production and food processing. A unique relationship with the herd produced a greater respect in what goes into putting food on people's plate
Jeryd Gordon
Jeryd is from Camrose, Alberta and is a third-year student at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology completing his Bachelor of Applied Science in Agribusiness Degree. He has a passion for agriculture and for people, and hopes to utilize that passion for the betterment of the agriculture industry and those who are involved within it.
Justin Andersen
Justin is a farmer who grew up in the small community of Delia, Alta. He is currently enrolled in his second year of Precision Agriculture - Techgronomy at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology and is working toward his degree in BASc - Agribusiness. Justin has a strong desire to help farmers and make a positive impact on the agriculture and food industries.