Across rural Canada, agriculture retailers continue to prove that their impact reaches far beyond the field. Through Raise the Barn, WinField® United Canada’s community building initiative, independent ag retailers partner with local organizations to turn shared challenges into lasting solutions, strengthening the places where they live, work, and grow.
Raise the Barn celebrates the power of people coming together. Built on agriculture’s long-standing tradition of community support, the program invites eligible independent ag retailers to collaborate with local charitable organizations on projects focused on mental health, hunger, education, or community spirit. Together, these partnerships help bring meaningful change to life in rural communities.
It All Comes Down to the Votes
For Raise the Barn 2025, four round one winners were each awarded ten thousand dollars to support their local projects. From there, the contest moved to public voting, which took place November 12 to 26, 2025. Through the incredible support of their communities, one finalist ultimately earned an additional twenty-thousand-dollar Grand Prize, for a total of thirty thousand dollars to further expand their impact.
WinField United Canada extends a heartfelt thank you and congratulations to every community that rallied around their project. The passion, daily votes, social sharing, and conversations showcased just how deeply these initiatives resonated and how powerful collective action can be.
Congratulations to the 2025 Grand Prize Winner!
Tri Community Childcare Centre - Core Ag Inputs in Warner, Alberta
Farming families often face long hours, seasonal demands, and limited access to childcare. Recognizing this challenge, Core Ag Inputs partnered with the Tri Community Childcare Society to help address one of the most pressing barriers facing rural families, affordable and accessible childcare.
This grassroots initiative will deliver high quality care through the government’s $15-a-day childcare program while offering early learning opportunities, nutritious meals, and a welcoming space where families can connect, reduce isolation, and support mental well-being. The project includes renovations to an existing building including a new roof, exterior upgrades, and comprehensive interior renovations with a targeted opening in Spring 2026.
Born from conversations among parents, farmers, educators, and local businesses, the project reflects a shared commitment to sustainable rural development and a stronger agricultural workforce.
Scott Lyndsay from Core Ag Warner is very excited about how the Core Ag and Tri Community Childcare Society teams came together to support the success of Raise the Barn.
“What a ride, the team at the Tri Community Daycare Society knocked it out of the park. I was blown away by the support from across Alberta. I even had friends create a group chat to remind each other to vote every day. Thank you to the WinField United Canada team for this incredible program and to our local communities for the overwhelming support. The shares and comments really showed how far this reached,” says Lyndsay.
Christine Knaus of Tri Community Childcare Society is proud of Raise the Barn and how it offered an opportunity for the community to work together.
“Raise the Barn has truly brought our three communities together around a shared vision for accessible, high-quality childcare. What began as a practical project has grown into a source of pride and unity, reminding us how powerful collective action can be,” says Knaus.
Through Raise the Barn, Core Ag Inputs and its community are helping families thrive while strengthening the future of agriculture in southern Alberta.
Celebrating the 2025 Finalists
Food Farm Program - Synergy AG in Lumsden and Balcarres, Saskatchewan
Synergy AG partnered with Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan to expand the Food Farm program, a hands-on learning experience that connects students directly to agriculture. Grade three and four students explore the full food cycle through interactive stations led by volunteers, farmers, and Synergy AG staff.
Over the past five years, more than eight hundred students have participated in Lumsden alone, with demand continuing to grow. Prize funding supports transportation, volunteer meals, garden upgrades, and hands on learning tools, helping inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Sara Shymko, Executive Director of Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan celebrates the impact of community collaboration through Raise the Barn.
“Winning the Raise the Barn contest reflects the power of collaboration and community in helping young people discover the importance of agriculture,” says Shymko.
"There was a lot of rallying of our community, the Synergy AG locations, and Ag in the Classroom,” shared Amber Bateman, Sales Agronomist at Synergy AG’s Lumsden location. “Unfortunately, we didn't win the Grand Prize, but we're proud of our communities for digging deep and coming together to get behind the project. We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported us."
The team at Synergy AG banded together to help Ag in the Classroom create education stations and gardens for students.
"We had lots of support from the Synergy AG locations and the surrounding communities. Working with the Ag in the Classroom team has been great from day one,” said Dave McIntyre, Location Manager at Synergy AG Lumsden. “Even though we didn't win the Grand Prize, we’re excited to use the $10,000 for education stations and gardens for students to plant into, and to tackle one of the biggest challenges: providing transportation so classes can come and learn."
Supporting this project is truly a team effort. Synergy AG provides the location for the garden, one of their owners supplies equipment for demonstrations, and their team volunteers time to run various learning stations.
"The exciting thing for our team is being able to offer these children new experiences in a world some of them have never been exposed to,” shares Bateman. “In the fall session just passed some of the children had never seen a tractor start before and experiencing that just blew their mind."
Community Childcare Funding - Shur Gro Farm Services in MacGregor, Manitoba
In the RM of North Norfolk, limited childcare options have long challenged families and employers alike. Shur Gro Farm Services partnered with the North Norfolk Child Care Cooperative to help bring affordable, local childcare closer to home.
With a donated building and years of community fundraising already underway, prize funds support operational costs and mortgage payments, helping the centre open its doors in 2026 as part of Manitoba’s $10-dollar-a-day childcare program.
North Norfolk Child Care Co-operative admires how the Raise the Barn donation will help countless families.
“This donation, along with any others, brings us closer to making our dream of a childcare centre in our rural farming community a reality. This donation will positively impact countless current and future families, and we will be forever grateful for this opportunity from WinField United Canada and to Shur Gro Farm Services for nominating us,” says a representative from North Norfolk Child Care Co-operative.
Owen Stanton from Shur-Gro appreciates the important impact the Raise the Barn Project will have on childcare options in his community.
“With no childcare options currently available, this support would be truly transformative for North Norfolk. Shur Gro Farm Services is proud to stand behind this project and the future it provides for the families of North Norfolk,” says Stanton.
Zamboni and Facility Upgrades - Prairie Giants Crop Supply in Inglis, Manitoba
In the small town of Inglis, the skating rink and community hall are central to daily life. Prairie Giants Crop Supply partnered with the Inglis and District Community Club to pursue critical facility upgrades including a replacement Zamboni, accessibility improvements, air conditioning, and rink refrigeration. These upgrades support physical activity, mental well-being, and the gatherings that keep rural communities connected.
Even though Prairie Giants Crop Supply did not take home the Grand Prize, Taylor Kurtenbach, Sales Agronomist, highlights how their Wild Card win reinforces the importance of funding for volunteer-run organizations.
"We are so grateful to have been awarded the $10,000 to go towards the Inglis Zamboni and Facility Upgrades project! This money will allow the Inglis and District Community Club to pay off a large portion of the new Zamboni, which will help keep the community skating rink thriving for years, and generations, to come,” says Kurtenbach.
Building a Better Tomorrow
From childcare and education to recreation and community connection, Raise the Barn continues to highlight what’s possible when agriculture retailers and communities work together toward a common goal.
A big thank you to everyone who submitted an entry, voted, shared with friends, and rallied behind these projects. The level of engagement and community pride shown throughout Raise the Barn 2025 was truly inspiring!
