Elevation Ag sits at a powerful spot along Highway 16 between the Battlefords and Saskatoon. Owned by Luke Walker and Greg Orchard, this full-service ag retail has seen tremendous growth since they purchased it in 2021.
“Luke and I have known each other forever; we grew up on neighbouring farms but have never worked together,’ says Orchard. “The opportunity to buy Kare Ag came about and I knew this was a great opportunity, knew I wanted to do it, and knew I couldn’t do it alone,” he continues. Indeed, in every successful business one of the greatest strengths comes from knowing your limits and finding people who complement them.
“I think having two different owners with two very different personalities is a key reason for our success; we do things very differently,” says Walker. Success has followed Elevation Ag, as they opened their second location in Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan, in the spring of 2026.
The Road to Ag Retail
Orchard grew up in the area on the family farm, and ag retail was always a fascinating path for him—so much so that while attending college, he wrote a paper about one day owning an ag retail.
“I just love finding solutions for people,” says Orchard. While the family farm had to come first, he spent many years in sales roles across various ag industry companies before finally seizing the opportunity for ownership.
Walker’s story takes a different road. Growing up in the area, he found love and settled down young as a father. He waffled over a future in farming before ultimately deciding to leave the farm entirely.
“Within three months of making that decision, this opportunity came up,” says Walker.
As co-owners they share key roles in the organization, catering to the unique strengths each brings. For Walker, that’s all things people – “I love coaching and getting the best out of people”, while Orchard's passion is selling and dealing directly with customers.
Employee Focused, Community Driven
Buying an existing retail and molding it into their ideal operation didn’t happen overnight. Kare Ag was already a successful venture, and Walker and Orchard built on that foundation—expanding and renovating facilities to improve the service they could offer customers. Existing staff, and adding new ones, were a pivotal part of the company’s evolution.
“Our mission statement came from talking with employees and putting a bunch of post-it notes on the wall,” says Walker. “Building relationships, delivering service, and elevating success are the core values we really believe in. We want to know our growers and their farms as well as they do, and we want to know their business well enough to help them succeed.”
The team at Elevation Ag is active in the communities where they live and serve. They’re regular faces at the Radisson curling rink, coaching school sports, playing rec hockey, and making full use of local facilities.
“Our communities need to see people working and living in the community. We’re not going anywhere, we’re investing in our communities with our time,” says Walker.
What’s in a Name?
Elevation Ag isn’t your typical ag retail name, and it’s one Orchard and Walker spent considerable time thinking through. In the end, it came down to what they want the company to represent—not just in the short term, but for future generations of farmers.
“Elevate is just where we’re going. We’re going to a different level with ag service,” says Orchard. Walker agrees, saying “it made sense for where we’re at and what we’re trying to do. I hope that for our entire career we’re always elevating and looking forward.”
Relationships Come First
Like many in agriculture, some of their favourite parts of the job are the friendships built along the way.
“Our best days are when we get phone calls completely unrelated to selling product and farmers call us because they know we have some experience with something and might be able to help them out,” says Walker.
These dynamics make sure the Elevation Ag team keeps the customer top of mind, and treat them as not just a business partner, but people who they genuinely enjoying serving.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the Industry
Farm size and scale across the industry continue to shift, even compared to just five years ago. Larger operations bring a different risk profile, different priorities, and sometimes a reduced need for traditional supplier relationships. At the same time, those farms also demand a higher level of precision, efficiency, and understanding.
“The needs of large farms are different,” says Orchard, “but I think we’re earning their business anyhow.”
While consolidation has changed how some customers engage, strong partnerships with Elevation Ag are still earned through performance and trust. As suppliers merge and input costs are scrutinized more closely than ever, everyone is working within tighter budgets, making it essential to deliver clear value and consistency.
Volatility has also become a defining feature of today’s agricultural landscape. Rather than a temporary cycle, uncertainty now feels like the new normal, shaping how both farmers and retailers plan. Retail consolidation mirrors what has already happened in the grain elevator system, with producers often travelling farther for fewer service points.
“Building a new location in a small community like we’re doing in Blaine Lake is bucking this trend a bit,” says Walker. “We don’t want to just put a salesperson into an area – putting up the bricks and mortar means something to a community and the farmers in the area.”
Establishing and maintaining a local presence reinforces trust and stability at a time when those qualities can feel increasingly rare. For farmers and communities alike, that commitment speaks volumes—underscoring the belief that even as the industry evolves, relationships remain at the center of doing business well.
Trust at the Centre
Trust is at the centre of Elevation Ag.
“We’re not here to sell you something once, we’re here to sell you something for the duration of your time farming,” says Orchard—and that philosophy depends on strong trust from their customers, earned, maintained, and respected.
At the same time, they recognize that farming is constantly evolving, and so is the knowledge on their team.
“We’re continually learning, improving, and pushing ourselves to get better so we can keep pace with the needs of today’s operations,” says Walker.
They approach this responsibility with both humility and gratitude, and recognize the privilege it is to serve the communities where they live.
“We don’t take the business we’ve been given for granted, and we’re thankful every day for the opportunity to work alongside the farming communities we serve,” says Walker.
What’s Next
With the expansion of the Blaine Lake location, the Elevation Ag team remains focused on responsible growth.
“We’re always going to be looking for ways to service our customers better and we’re not going to put a damper on that. We want to grow responsibly but not at the expense of service to our customers,” says Walker.
Wherever the road may take them, customers and relationships will always be the guiding map.
“We’re friends and are a part of their team now. We’re part of their farm and that’s the best feeling,” says Walker.
“Luke and I have known each other forever; we grew up on neighbouring farms but have never worked together,’ says Orchard. “The opportunity to buy Kare Ag came about and I knew this was a great opportunity, knew I wanted to do it, and knew I couldn’t do it alone,” he continues. Indeed, in every successful business one of the greatest strengths comes from knowing your limits and finding people who complement them.
“I think having two different owners with two very different personalities is a key reason for our success; we do things very differently,” says Walker. Success has followed Elevation Ag, as they opened their second location in Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan, in the spring of 2026.
The Road to Ag Retail
Orchard grew up in the area on the family farm, and ag retail was always a fascinating path for him—so much so that while attending college, he wrote a paper about one day owning an ag retail.
“I just love finding solutions for people,” says Orchard. While the family farm had to come first, he spent many years in sales roles across various ag industry companies before finally seizing the opportunity for ownership.
Walker’s story takes a different road. Growing up in the area, he found love and settled down young as a father. He waffled over a future in farming before ultimately deciding to leave the farm entirely.
“Within three months of making that decision, this opportunity came up,” says Walker.
As co-owners they share key roles in the organization, catering to the unique strengths each brings. For Walker, that’s all things people – “I love coaching and getting the best out of people”, while Orchard's passion is selling and dealing directly with customers.
Employee Focused, Community Driven
Buying an existing retail and molding it into their ideal operation didn’t happen overnight. Kare Ag was already a successful venture, and Walker and Orchard built on that foundation—expanding and renovating facilities to improve the service they could offer customers. Existing staff, and adding new ones, were a pivotal part of the company’s evolution.
“Our mission statement came from talking with employees and putting a bunch of post-it notes on the wall,” says Walker. “Building relationships, delivering service, and elevating success are the core values we really believe in. We want to know our growers and their farms as well as they do, and we want to know their business well enough to help them succeed.”
The team at Elevation Ag is active in the communities where they live and serve. They’re regular faces at the Radisson curling rink, coaching school sports, playing rec hockey, and making full use of local facilities.
“Our communities need to see people working and living in the community. We’re not going anywhere, we’re investing in our communities with our time,” says Walker.
What’s in a Name?
Elevation Ag isn’t your typical ag retail name, and it’s one Orchard and Walker spent considerable time thinking through. In the end, it came down to what they want the company to represent—not just in the short term, but for future generations of farmers.
“Elevate is just where we’re going. We’re going to a different level with ag service,” says Orchard. Walker agrees, saying “it made sense for where we’re at and what we’re trying to do. I hope that for our entire career we’re always elevating and looking forward.”
Relationships Come First
Like many in agriculture, some of their favourite parts of the job are the friendships built along the way.
“Our best days are when we get phone calls completely unrelated to selling product and farmers call us because they know we have some experience with something and might be able to help them out,” says Walker.
These dynamics make sure the Elevation Ag team keeps the customer top of mind, and treat them as not just a business partner, but people who they genuinely enjoying serving.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the Industry
Farm size and scale across the industry continue to shift, even compared to just five years ago. Larger operations bring a different risk profile, different priorities, and sometimes a reduced need for traditional supplier relationships. At the same time, those farms also demand a higher level of precision, efficiency, and understanding.
“The needs of large farms are different,” says Orchard, “but I think we’re earning their business anyhow.”
While consolidation has changed how some customers engage, strong partnerships with Elevation Ag are still earned through performance and trust. As suppliers merge and input costs are scrutinized more closely than ever, everyone is working within tighter budgets, making it essential to deliver clear value and consistency.
Volatility has also become a defining feature of today’s agricultural landscape. Rather than a temporary cycle, uncertainty now feels like the new normal, shaping how both farmers and retailers plan. Retail consolidation mirrors what has already happened in the grain elevator system, with producers often travelling farther for fewer service points.
“Building a new location in a small community like we’re doing in Blaine Lake is bucking this trend a bit,” says Walker. “We don’t want to just put a salesperson into an area – putting up the bricks and mortar means something to a community and the farmers in the area.”
Establishing and maintaining a local presence reinforces trust and stability at a time when those qualities can feel increasingly rare. For farmers and communities alike, that commitment speaks volumes—underscoring the belief that even as the industry evolves, relationships remain at the center of doing business well.
Trust at the Centre
Trust is at the centre of Elevation Ag.
“We’re not here to sell you something once, we’re here to sell you something for the duration of your time farming,” says Orchard—and that philosophy depends on strong trust from their customers, earned, maintained, and respected.
At the same time, they recognize that farming is constantly evolving, and so is the knowledge on their team.
“We’re continually learning, improving, and pushing ourselves to get better so we can keep pace with the needs of today’s operations,” says Walker.
They approach this responsibility with both humility and gratitude, and recognize the privilege it is to serve the communities where they live.
“We don’t take the business we’ve been given for granted, and we’re thankful every day for the opportunity to work alongside the farming communities we serve,” says Walker.
What’s Next
With the expansion of the Blaine Lake location, the Elevation Ag team remains focused on responsible growth.
“We’re always going to be looking for ways to service our customers better and we’re not going to put a damper on that. We want to grow responsibly but not at the expense of service to our customers,” says Walker.
Wherever the road may take them, customers and relationships will always be the guiding map.
“We’re friends and are a part of their team now. We’re part of their farm and that’s the best feeling,” says Walker.
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