BYOB (Build Your Own Business) Conference Coming Up

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

If the field of agri-business has ever crossed your mind as a career opportunity, you might benefit from the upcoming series of three conferences on business-building resources, says Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) Agri-Business Development Specialist Ron Monette.

“We want to talk about the opportunities that exist for rural business and to provide information on the entities that can assist entrepreneurs in exploring those opportunities," says Monette. "As a result, we will provide information on opportunities that may exist and have been looked at and developed in the area around each of the three locations.”

The “BYOB” (stands for “Build Your Own Business”) conferences will take place at the Bella Vista Hotel in Humboldt on January 18, at the Watrous Community Centre on January 25, and at Rosthern’s St. Odillion Catholic Church Hall on February 1.

Are you one of those energetic, budding Saskatchewan entrepreneurs waiting for the opportunity to develop your idea into a thriving business that contributes to your community’s well-being?

“Most of us have thought about it,” states Dianne Olchowski of the Sagehill Development Corporation in Bruno, one of the conference organizing partners. “Some of us have put the idea aside for various reasons, but sometimes the itch to start your own business just won’t go away, and you just have to do something about it."

To provide as much information as possible, SAF's Agri-Business Development Branch has teamed up with a number of local organizations with compatible mandates to create events that are full of value for participants. Partners include three local Regional Economic Development Authorities (REDAs), among others.

“The Sagehill Development Corporation, which is our local Community Futures organization, the Carlton Trail REDA out of Humboldt, the Saskatoon REDA, which covers Rosthern, and the Long Lake REDA, which covers Watrous, have all come on board," Monette says. "Other groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce in Humboldt, are also supporting our effort.”

Local entrepreneurs and enterprises will share their successes at these events, explains Monette.

“In Watrous, we have representatives from Drake Meats and Wagon Wheels Farms coming forward; in Rosthern, it is a local pet food manufacturer that has been invited, along with Parenteau Gourmet Foods; in Humboldt, Champêtre County of St. Denis will attend, as well as Country Log Ranch, which has created a goat dairy.”

The conferences would not be complete without a few guest speakers:

“At different locations, Al Scholtz will share his insight on rural entrepreneurship," says Monette. "Tom Allen of the University of Saskatchewan will talk about marketing strategies for rural businesses. We’ll also have Melanie Boldt of Pineview Farms, a natural meat producer, processor and marketer of poultry, sausages and other processed meats near Martensville. Kevin Hursh will wrap up each event with a talk about opportunities in rural Saskatchewan.”

Each day's opening speaker will encourage participants to think outside of the box and to recognize the specific opportunity that is right for themselves, their families and their communities. The second speaker of the day will build on the first presentation by focusing on what comes next.

“What critical actions need to be taken to ensure your chosen opportunity has the best possible chance of success as a thriving, sustainable business? The importance of knowing the marketplace for an opportunity and how to access that market is a critical element of this process,” believes Monette.

Each event will also have a lunch time speaker focusing on each of the local communities' recent activities regarding business development.

“Following a hot lunch,” continues Monette, “participants will meet a series of entrepreneurs who have already successfully developed their agri-business opportunity. They will identify how it worked for them, what some of the most critical issues were in developing their business, and how they successfully dealt with those issues.”

The next session will focus on the event partners, who will explain to the audience what their organizations do, with particular emphasis on how they can help entrepreneurs at the early stages of business development.

The final speaker will wrap up the event at each location with a call to action based on his or her personal experience, empowering participants to follow their dreams.

To register, call the Saskatoon Agriculture Business Centre at 306-933-6128.

For more information, contact:

Ron Monette
Agri-Business Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 933-6128