McEwen’s Fuels and Fertilizers stands as a trusted leader in agricultural solutions, offering a comprehensive range of products and services, including fertilizer, seed, crop protection, agronomy expertise, Flaman rentals, custom application, bulk fuels, and lubricants. With 11 conveniently located branches surrounding Edmonton, McEwen’s is committed to supporting farmers with local service, expert advice, and the resources they need to succeed.
From an Edmonton airport location supplying aviation fuel, to multiple small northern Alberta towns, McEwen’s was busy fueling Canadians in the ‘80’s. Through the ‘90’s McEwen’s brought in seed and fertilizer sales to supplement their lubricant operations on a small scale. With Bob owning a farm, there was always a strong connection to agriculture and an understanding of the needs of rural prairie communities.
In the early 2000’s Esso changed its business model, removing most of its card locks and reducing or eliminating its distribution contracts. Not to be daunted by this major change for their business, McEwen’s pivoted their operations to make crop protection, seed, and fertilizer the primary focus. The company has grown significantly over the last twenty years after the shift, hiring agronomists and adding locations.
In 2024, McEwen’s merged with another family-owned business, Ray Agro and Petroleum, an organization with a similar heritage and values. This merger brought Ray Agro into the McEwen’s family and expanded the network with three additional locations, strengthening their ability to serve customers across the region.
“When I started with McEwen’s I was agronomist number two with a company with seven locations,” shared Lucas Bell, Marketing Manager with McEwen’s Fuels and Fertilizers. “Now here we are today with eleven locations and twelve dedicated agronomists.”
The growth has been a natural response to the rapid pace of evolution in the ag industry combined with a strong focus on meeting customer needs.
“Crop protection products have evolved, seed varieties have advanced, and fertilizer has become more complex,” Bell explained. “As farms have grown larger and the industry more intricate, farmers have less time to be agronomy experts themselves. McEwen’s recognized this and said, ‘We need the right people to provide that expertise.’ That’s where our team steps in, bridging the gap with agronomy support and serving as trusted experts.”
“We have eleven locations spread in an area where some might choose to have only three large ones,” said Bell. “But we want to be present in those smaller local communities, hire local people, be a part of the fabric of the community and provide a high level of service across the board to our customers. We’ve intentionally chosen more smaller locations with a local facility; it keeps us connected, as well as providing employment in rural areas.”
This ties into McEwen’s motto of ‘Being an essential element in your crop production’.
“For us it boils down to being there for our customers and being their trusted advisor,” said Bell. “Being local and being there to support their needs when they need it. We’re committed to being a high-service independent local retailer.”
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“4H clubs are in almost every small town and are so essential in helping to build the leaders of tomorrow,” said Bell. “We’re proud to support them.”
“It’s important to us to give back to our neighbours. In a small town we help each other out, and that carries over into us being there when our communities need support whether that is the minor hockey association, or a school club, or curling fundraiser.”
“We find great people, and they choose to stay because McEwen’s is a great place to work,” Bell shared. “Some of our managers have been with us for over 25 years, and many of our agronomists have seven or eight years under their belt. These are dedicated professionals who know the area, understand our customers, and deliver consistent, reliable service.”
“It’s really nice coming to work every day when you enjoy what you’re doing and you enjoy who you work for,” said Bell. “I have really enjoyed the last decade.”
Bell’s role at McEwen’s has evolved significantly over the years. He’s held multiple positions, but one skill has remained central: problem-solving.
“When I was an agronomist, it meant finding solutions on the ground for farmers, like tackling a weed issue,” Bell explained. “Today, I focus on supporting our sales team, helping them navigate challenges and coaching them through the problems they face every day.”
For Bell, leadership and the ability to help people find solutions are critical. Agriculture has always held a special place in his life, both parents came from farming backgrounds, and his father still works in the grain business.
“What drew me to ag and keeps me here is the people,” Bell said. “Other industries just aren’t the same. Our industry is full of down-to-earth people, and working with them every day makes this career so rewarding.”
Bell grew up on an acreage near Onoway, Alberta, and now lives just outside Morinville, close to McEwen’s head office, still deeply connected to the community he serves.
Bell’s current role emerged from these changes.
“Ten years ago, crop protection was straightforward. Products were easy to source, available year-round, and prices stayed fairly stable,” Bell recalled. “Your competitors were simply the brick-and-mortar store down the road.”
As the marketplace evolved, McEwen’s recognized the need for someone deeply connected to the market year-round.
“That’s what led to my role,” Bell explained. “We needed a dedicated resource to monitor the market, secure the right products at the right time, at the best possible price, to help ensure we deliver the best value to help our farmers succeed.”
“Going forward, that land will be dedicated to testing out anything and everything that our farmers and our agronomists are interested in,” shared Bell. “It’s going to provide some great opportunities to get very technical and accurate information about how products and different application methods perform in our area.”
The farm will also have an event space suited for hosting knowledge sharing events and training days. It’s a bold step that reinforces McEwen’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve in agricultural excellence.
Featuring: Lucas Bell, Marketing Manager with McEwen’s Fuels and Fertilizers
From Fuel to Fertilizer: The McEwen’s Story
McEwen’s was founded in 1980, making this year their 45th anniversary of being in business. Brothers and founders Bob and Jim McEwen saw the opportunity to open an Esso agency, with a focus on providing fuel and oil to the local market in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. Through a network of card locks, they built a foundation for a lasting business.From an Edmonton airport location supplying aviation fuel, to multiple small northern Alberta towns, McEwen’s was busy fueling Canadians in the ‘80’s. Through the ‘90’s McEwen’s brought in seed and fertilizer sales to supplement their lubricant operations on a small scale. With Bob owning a farm, there was always a strong connection to agriculture and an understanding of the needs of rural prairie communities.
In the early 2000’s Esso changed its business model, removing most of its card locks and reducing or eliminating its distribution contracts. Not to be daunted by this major change for their business, McEwen’s pivoted their operations to make crop protection, seed, and fertilizer the primary focus. The company has grown significantly over the last twenty years after the shift, hiring agronomists and adding locations.
In 2024, McEwen’s merged with another family-owned business, Ray Agro and Petroleum, an organization with a similar heritage and values. This merger brought Ray Agro into the McEwen’s family and expanded the network with three additional locations, strengthening their ability to serve customers across the region.
“When I started with McEwen’s I was agronomist number two with a company with seven locations,” shared Lucas Bell, Marketing Manager with McEwen’s Fuels and Fertilizers. “Now here we are today with eleven locations and twelve dedicated agronomists.”
The growth has been a natural response to the rapid pace of evolution in the ag industry combined with a strong focus on meeting customer needs.
“Crop protection products have evolved, seed varieties have advanced, and fertilizer has become more complex,” Bell explained. “As farms have grown larger and the industry more intricate, farmers have less time to be agronomy experts themselves. McEwen’s recognized this and said, ‘We need the right people to provide that expertise.’ That’s where our team steps in, bridging the gap with agronomy support and serving as trusted experts.”
Built Intentionally Local
McEwen’s believes in being present in the communities they serve.“We have eleven locations spread in an area where some might choose to have only three large ones,” said Bell. “But we want to be present in those smaller local communities, hire local people, be a part of the fabric of the community and provide a high level of service across the board to our customers. We’ve intentionally chosen more smaller locations with a local facility; it keeps us connected, as well as providing employment in rural areas.”
This ties into McEwen’s motto of ‘Being an essential element in your crop production’.
“For us it boils down to being there for our customers and being their trusted advisor,” said Bell. “Being local and being there to support their needs when they need it. We’re committed to being a high-service independent local retailer.”
Investing in Local Futures
Community support is important to the McEwen’s team, each community that McEwen’s serves is unique, and the needs present vary from town to town. One consistent area that McEwen’s gives back is in supporting local 4H clubs.“4H clubs are in almost every small town and are so essential in helping to build the leaders of tomorrow,” said Bell. “We’re proud to support them.”
“It’s important to us to give back to our neighbours. In a small town we help each other out, and that carries over into us being there when our communities need support whether that is the minor hockey association, or a school club, or curling fundraiser.”
The McEwen’s Difference: People
What truly sets McEwen’s apart is its people, the driving force behind the company’s success. In a time when many industries face high employee turnover, McEwen’s continues to enjoy exceptional retention.“We find great people, and they choose to stay because McEwen’s is a great place to work,” Bell shared. “Some of our managers have been with us for over 25 years, and many of our agronomists have seven or eight years under their belt. These are dedicated professionals who know the area, understand our customers, and deliver consistent, reliable service.”
Building A Career
Bell has been with McEwen’s for nearly a decade. After graduating from the University of Alberta, he spent several years with BASF, worked briefly with another retailer, and joined McEwen’s in 2016, where he found not just a job, but a calling. His passion for independent retailers and commitment to serving farmers have kept him firmly rooted in the McEwen’s family ever since.“It’s really nice coming to work every day when you enjoy what you’re doing and you enjoy who you work for,” said Bell. “I have really enjoyed the last decade.”
Bell’s role at McEwen’s has evolved significantly over the years. He’s held multiple positions, but one skill has remained central: problem-solving.
“When I was an agronomist, it meant finding solutions on the ground for farmers, like tackling a weed issue,” Bell explained. “Today, I focus on supporting our sales team, helping them navigate challenges and coaching them through the problems they face every day.”
For Bell, leadership and the ability to help people find solutions are critical. Agriculture has always held a special place in his life, both parents came from farming backgrounds, and his father still works in the grain business.
“What drew me to ag and keeps me here is the people,” Bell said. “Other industries just aren’t the same. Our industry is full of down-to-earth people, and working with them every day makes this career so rewarding.”
Bell grew up on an acreage near Onoway, Alberta, and now lives just outside Morinville, close to McEwen’s head office, still deeply connected to the community he serves.
Navigating a Changing Ag Landscape
The crop protection industry has shifted dramatically, with post-patent products entering the market and new players like brokerage firms and direct-to-farm companies increasing competition. Every day, McEwen’s faces pressure to deliver value while navigating heightened scrutiny on crop protection products. How these products are sold, and what retailers can access, has become one of the biggest challenges in the business.Bell’s current role emerged from these changes.
“Ten years ago, crop protection was straightforward. Products were easy to source, available year-round, and prices stayed fairly stable,” Bell recalled. “Your competitors were simply the brick-and-mortar store down the road.”
As the marketplace evolved, McEwen’s recognized the need for someone deeply connected to the market year-round.
“That’s what led to my role,” Bell explained. “We needed a dedicated resource to monitor the market, secure the right products at the right time, at the best possible price, to help ensure we deliver the best value to help our farmers succeed.”
Dedication to Research
One of the most thrilling initiatives on the horizon for McEwen’s is the launch of its very own research farm. When Bob McEwen, one of the company’s original founders, retired from farming in 2025, McEwen’s Fuels and Fertilizers was given the opportunity to step in to transform the 2,000 acres of land into something extraordinary for their customers. Going forward, this farm will be dedicated exclusively to field trials, giving McEwen’s the ability to test, innovate, and bring cutting-edge solutions directly to their customers.“Going forward, that land will be dedicated to testing out anything and everything that our farmers and our agronomists are interested in,” shared Bell. “It’s going to provide some great opportunities to get very technical and accurate information about how products and different application methods perform in our area.”
The farm will also have an event space suited for hosting knowledge sharing events and training days. It’s a bold step that reinforces McEwen’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve in agricultural excellence.
Good Things Still to Come
As McEwen’s celebrates 45 years of growth and innovation, the company remains deeply committed to its roots, serving local communities, supporting farmers, and driving progress in Western Canadian agriculture. With a dedicated team, expanding services, and bold initiatives like the research farm, McEwen’s is not just keeping pace with change, it’s shaping the future of farming.Featuring: Lucas Bell, Marketing Manager with McEwen’s Fuels and Fertilizers
