Jordan Siemens, Owner of Siemens Farms and full-time student at Providence College, has been named a 2011 Student Entrepreneur Manitoba Champion. Student Entrepreneur is a national competition operated by charitable organization, Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) and proud program supporter, CIBC.
Started in 2010, Siemens has owned and operated Siemens Farms, a start-up farming business focused on soybean production based in Horndean, Manitoba. A fourth generation farmer, Siemens started his business this past summer by renting land and equipment from his father as well as purchasing seed, fertilizer, insurance, chemical, and labour. Due to the large capital requirements needed to start a production of this nature, this savvy student entrepreneur was able to start his career by sharing in the risk and reward of grain production, something that would have been impossible to do on his own. He was able to make all decisions regarding field work and completed his first season with 50 acres of soybeans planted.
“This award is a great honour as it gives me the confidence and incentive to take my business further,” commented Siemens, “It also gives me the invaluable opportunity to meet other student entrepreneurs and an exclusive network of major business leaders.”
Siemens’ largest business accomplishments to date include earning profits in excess of his expectations in his first season of farming. Initially, he was expecting a 25 per cent profit, but with good weather, increasing commodity prices and sound management, Siemens managed to nearly double his investment.
“With today’s ever changing economic situation, ACE is proud to continue its work developing leaders, creating connections and building a better Canada,” explained Amy Harder, President of ACE. “We are confident that our 2011 Student Entrepreneur Provincial Champions will make meaningful contributions to the country and its economy for years to come.”
As a provincial champion, Siemens will now move on to represent Manitoba in the regional round of competition taking place at the 2011 ACE Regional Exposition in Calgary on March 14, 2011. Provincial Champions will each present their business to a panel of entrepreneurs and industry professionals who will determine two Regional Champions, who will each receive a $1,000 cash prize and move on to the final round of competition at the 2011 ACE National Exposition in Toronto on May 11, 2011. The National Champion will receive a $10,000 cash prize and have the opportunity to represent Canada at the international level of competition, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.
