Tyler Case, BComm, MBA, FEA

Program Director and Multi-Generational Producer

Tyler Case is a faculty member at the Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan in the field of Entrepreneurship. He brings a practitioner’s perspective to his work through a lifetime of involvement with his family farm. Tyler has a community focus and engages in the local economy through governance roles, interactive workshop presentations and the advising of local organizations on the topics of continuity and economic development. He leads experiential learning opportunities that integrate the functional areas through capstone courses in business planning and strategy. Tyler’s scholarly work explores the development and application of strategic management methods in the areas of agribusiness, family enterprise and local venture development.

"Saskatchewan farmers have always been leaders—driving innovation, strengthening rural communities, and helping feed the world. This program is designed to support that tradition by providing participants with opportunities to develop their leadership skills, expand their networks, and gain new perspectives on the future of agriculture. Over the course of this executive education program, participants will engage with industry experts, collaborate with fellow producers, and explore the challenges and opportunities shaping our sector. Thank you for investing in your leadership development. I look forward to learning alongside you and seeing the positive impact you continue to make in your farm operations, communities, and Saskatchewan’s agriculture industry." 

Aaron Haight, BComm, JD

Aaron Haight is a partner in the Saskatoon office of MLT Aikins, specializing in the areas of tax,  succession and estate planning. He advises clients on corporate and partnership reorganizations, share and asset transactions, joint venture arrangements, estate planning and indirect tax matters, including GST/HST and PST.

As a co-owner of Hundred Acre Sky Farms, a family grain farming operation, Aaron brings firsthand agricultural experience to his practice. His active involvement in the agriculture industry provides clients with practical insight into the legal, business and family considerations involved in buying, growing and selling a business or transitioning it to the next generation. Aaron attended law school at the University of Toronto, where he was awarded the Angus MacMurchy Gold Medal for achieving the highest cumulative average in his graduating class. Following law school, he clerked for the Honourable Madam Justice Andromache Karakatsanis at the Supreme Court of Canada.

Raised on a mixed grain and cattle farm south of Saskatoon, Aaron holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of Saskatchewan. During his undergraduate studies, he served as a team captain of the Saskatoon Hilltops and won national championships in 2010 and 2011. 

Brett Elmgren, MA, CPHR

Brett Elmgren is the President and Founder of Axom Leadership Inc. His work focuses on supporting leaders to find personal empowerment to drive transformational change. Brett Elmgren is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources with over 13 years of professional HR experience working for Saskatchewan’s largest organizations. Most recently Brett Elmgren held the position of Director of Talent Development for Nutrien, and was responsible for leading the global leadership development strategy for over 25,000 employees. Brett played a senior leadership role in bringing together the merger between PotashCorp and Agrium resulting in the creation of Nutrien, by leading the organization design and talent selection process.  Brett holds a Masters Degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

David Engdahl , CPA, CA 

David Engdahl, CPA, CA, is a Partner with MNP's Agriculture Services team in Saskatoon. A 1999 graduate of the University of Saskatchewan's College of Commerce, David grew up on a mixed grain farm and later farmed alongside his family until 2010. 

With 27 years in public practice, including the past 14 years as a Partner with MNP, David works almost exclusively with primary agricultural producers. He helps clients navigate operational challenges, business and tax planning, estate and succession planning, and a wide range of other business decisions. 

Passionate about educating young farmers and others in the agriculture industry, David has served as a sessional lecturer for AREC 254, Ag Business Taxation, at the University of Saskatchewan's College of Agriculture for the past 12 years. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and helping foster the next generation of agricultural leaders. 

David lives in Saskatoon with his wife and their three children. 

Dr. Eric T. Micheels, PhD

Eric Micheels is an Associate Professor and incoming Department Head (July 2026) in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, and a Fellow in Agribusiness Co‑operatives at the Centre for the Study of Co‑operatives. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in agribusiness management, marketing, and applied agricultural economics.

Eric’s research focuses on farm and agribusiness management, marketing strategy, and innovation. His work examines how farms and agribusiness firms search for, adopt, and exploit organizational and technological innovations to improve operational efficiency and financial performance. A particular emphasis of his research is on learning, absorptive capacity, and managerial decision‑making in primary agriculture and agri‑food value chains.

His research has been published in leading journals including the Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Agricultural Systems, and the International Food and Agribusiness Management Review. In addition to his research activities, Eric has served in editorial and professional leadership roles, including as a Managing Editor for the International Food and Agribusiness Management Review and as a conference chair of the International Farm Management Association congress.

Eric received a B.S. in Agribusiness with a minor in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, a master’s degree in Agricultural and Consumer Economics from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Consumer Economics from the University of Illinois.

Evan Shout, BComm, CPA, CAIB

Evan Shout is the co-founder and chief financial officer at Maverick Ag, an agriculture business consulting and risk management firm in Canada. He also sits as co-founder and lead coach at Farmer Coach, an education and executive coaching program for primary producers in both Canada and the US.

These organizations fall under the Hebert Group of Companies, which also includes Hebert Grain Ventures, a 42,000-acre grain and oilseed operation in Southeast Saskatchewan, where Evan sits as chief financial officer.

He also hosts The Truth About Ag podcast, a raw, off-the-cuff discussion of the real-time issues facing agriculture today.

Jeff Schoenau, PhD PAg FAIC

Jeff Schoenau is professor of soil fertility and professional agrologist in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. He holds the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Soil Nutrient Management Chair in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. He was born in Saskatchewan, completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in the 1980’s in the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan and has worked there since.  His extensive research, teaching and outreach activities over the last 40 years cover soil fertility and fertilizers, nutrient cycling, and soil and crop management practices for the betterment of prairie cropping systems. He also farms with his spouse Lynne near Central Butte, Saskatchewan, where they grow peas, wheat and canola. 

Jean-Philippe (J.P.) Gervais, PhD

Jean-Philippe (J.P.) Gervais is Executive Vice-President, Ag Production at FCC, where he oversees the organization’s national agricultural financing portfolio and customer experience. He ensures farm operations have access to capital solutions and tailored support through all economic cycles. Before this role, he held senior leadership positions at FCC, including leading the organization’s strategy and serving as Chief Economist. A frequent speaker at industry events, he provides insights on the economic trends shaping the profitability of agribusinesses, primary producers, and food and beverage processors.

Before joining FCC in 2010, J.P. was a professor of agricultural economics at North Carolina State University and Laval University, where he held the Canada Research Chair in Agri-industries and International Trade. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society and earned his Ph.D. in economics from Iowa State University in 1999.

Kim McConnell, CM, AOE 

Kim McConnell is a champion for Canada's agriculture industry and a trailblazer in agricultural marketing. As a founder and former CEO of AdFarm, one of North America's largest agricultural marketing communications firms, he has been a major force in shaping the industry. 

McConnell's contributions have earned him numerous national accolades, such as the 'Agri-Marketer of the Year', the 'Mentor of the Year' award from the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, Honorary Life Member of 4-H Canada, and Calgary's ‘Inspired Business Leader’. His achievements include his induction into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2012 and his appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2017. And in 2026 he was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence, the province’s highest civilian award.  

His unwavering commitment to agriculture and its potential has been evident throughout his career. McConnell has been instrumental in launching major industry ventures, including strategic and policy development, promoting sustainability, and initiatives aimed at enhancing public trust in food and farming. He serves as a director and special advisor to numerous companies, government bodies, and industry leaders across North America. McConnell is also a fervent advocate for youth, entrepreneurs, and rising executives, inspiring them with his passion and dedication.  

Patti Durand, PAg, FEA

Strategic Action Planner, Author, and Speaker

Patti Durand is the founder of Brightrack Consulting, where she works as a Strategic Action Planner helping family businesses navigate the challenges of transition and succession. She brings a practitioner’s perspective to her work, having guided hundreds of Canadian farm business families through confident decision-making during periods of significant change. Patti equips families with the mindset and language they need to lead effectively together, offering relatable, actionable strategies that help business families move forward with clarity and certainty. She is the author of The Future Leader and a sought-after speaker on family business leadership and succession planning. Patti also co-hosts How Could I Know? podcast, where she explores how business families overcome challenges and the lessons they learn as a result.

Shelly Lowe, ICD.D, BComm

Shelly Lowe is a global senior executive with a reputation for influential leadership during times of significant growth and transformation.  She leverages her experience in sales, marketing and operations within the public and not-for-profit sectors, across Canada and Asia Pacific.  Shelly's career includes 32 years in the technology sector, spanning a diverse number of industries and continents, including 12 years in various board room executive roles.

Shelly joined IBM in 1988 and subsequently held various executive positions. She was named Director of Sales for Ontario in 2008, Director of Sales Operations in 2009, and Director of Smarter Analytics/Smarter Solutions in 2012. In 2014, she was appointed as Director of Marketing and Communications. Ms. Lowe was named Vice President, Enterprise and Commercial Sales in 2017 and went on to join the Asia Pacific team, as Vice President of Global Markets for Australia and New Zealand in 2018, a position she held until her retirement. She is presently serving as Board Chair and Vice Chair for organizations she is passionate about. In 2024, she earned her professional ICD.D designation through University of Toronto Rotman School of Management and was appointed in May 2025 as an Executive-in-Residence for the Edwards School of Business. 

Trent Klarenbach, BSA AgEc, PAg  

Trent Klarenbach is a distinguished grain market analyst specializing in market behavior and psychology. He serves as the publisher of two prominent newsletters, the Klarenbach Grain Report and the Klarenbach Special Crops Report, and is the host of The Trent Klarenbach Podcast. 

As a specialist in market technicals, Mr. Klarenbach utilizes advanced technical analysis strategies to provide sophisticated insights into market trends and price behavior. By evaluating historical data, prevailing trends, and future projections, he equips clients with the necessary intelligence to optimize their grain marketing strategies. 

His methodologies have reached a global audience across six continents through his various publications and social media. His versatile strategies are applicable across various securities and markets, establishing him as a prominent authority within the industry.