By Alice McFarlane

Saskatchewan farmer/educator named Farm & Food Care 2025 Champion

Oct 8, 2025 | 11:18 AM

Each year for the past decade, Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan has recognized someone who engages the public about agriculture.

Sandra Hessdorfer, the recipient of the Champion Award, is involved in all areas of the industry.

Hessdorfer and her husband have a grain farm and raise black angus cattle near St. Benedict, about 125 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, Sask.

Her day job is the Agriculture Education Officer with the Horizon School Division. She delivers presentations at each school and organizes the annual Student Ag Day in Humboldt where nearly 600 Grade 10 students and teachers from across the division attend the annual event. Post-secondary institutions and agricultural companies have displays and talk to students about potential career opportunities.

“I support schools and also create opportunities for our students that will give them an opportunity to see what agriculture looks like, job opportunities, where their food comes from, and maybe teach them exactly what goes behind their food, and do some myth busters with them,” Hessdorfer said.

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When asked about receiving the honour, she said it was surreal.

“I don’t know if I really deserve it, but it’s so nice to be recognized for the work that you do in your day-to-day life that maybe you don’t realize you’re even doing,” she said. “It made me really think about what all I’ve done in the industry and all the people I’m connected to and I just I can’t thank them enough.”

Sandra Hessdorfer was awarded Farm and Food Care Champion for 2025 at a special event in Saskatoon (supplied photo/Farm & Food Care Sask)

Originally from British Columbia, 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 raising crops and cattle with their two sons, Corbin and Riley.

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.

Justin Arendt, Superintendent of Operational Services with the Horizon School District said Hessdorfer brings the world of farming and food to life for our students.

“She shares her passion for agriculture with energy, humour, and warmth, helping young people understand where their food comes from and why it matters.”

The presentation in Saskatoon yesterday was part of an event to celebrate Agriculture Week in Saskatchewan, Oct. 5 to 11.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com