Staff photo by Lizz Bottrell
Over 200 people attended the grand opening for Seed Hawk’s expansion on June 3. Sitting front row are Seed Hawk owner Pat Beaujot’s parents, Dorothy and Leon Beaujot.

Staff Photo by: Lizz Bottrell
Many people took a peak at a tank that Seed Hawk put on display in the expanded area of its facility.

Staff photo by Lizz Bottrell
Mike Giroux and Keith Umpherville, who both work in export at Seed Hawk, volunteered their time during
the grand opening to barbeque burgers.

Staff photo by Lizz Bottrell
The Honourable Bob Bjornerud (centre), Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture, cuts the grand opening ribbon held by Pat Beaujot (left) Seed Hawk owner and Crister Stark (right), Managing Director of Vaderstad Verken.

By Lizz Bottrell, Citizen Staff

On June 3, Seed Hawk opened its $2.8 million dollar manufacturing facility. This recent upgrade adds 15,000 feet of manufacturing space and 4,000 feet of office space, which will help expand production of one-pass air drills from 100 to 300 a year.

Seed Hawk planned the expansion due to increased demands world wide for its innovation air drills. The company wants to ensure it meets demands while continuing to manufacture high quality products. “The new facility allows us to do just that,” said Pat Beaujot, Seed Hawk owner. “Now we can expand our marketing efforts without compromising the services we offer to our loyal, existing customers.”

Part of the expansion is also due to a minority investment made by a Swedish agricultural company, Vaderstand Verken, back in 2006. This new partnership opened up markets in Europe and Australia, allowing Seed Hawk sales to grow. “It’s been a very good strategic partnership,” said Beaujot. “It opened up markets in a way we could have never done on our own.”

During the opening, Beaujot’s passion and dedication towards his company’s product shone through. “The people of Saskatchewan should be proud of the fact that we lead the agriculture industry in the world of zero till seeding,” said Beaujot. “This development has not only helped save the fragile Prairie soil right here but is now saving soils all over the world from wind and water erosion. This environmental success story is so obvious to anyone who remembers only 10 or 15 years ago dust blowing so bad you could hardly drive down some roads on a windy, dry spring day. Now Prairie soils are more productive than ever and with zero till they are improving every year instead of being depleted. We’re very proud to be a growing part of this environmental success story.”

Crister Stark, Managing Director of Vaderstad Verken, flew in from Sweden to attend the grand opening. Before Vaderstad invested in Seed Hawk, the company did a lot of research and everything pointed to Seed Hawk. “Seed Hawk has the technology that we regarded as that point as the best,” said Stark. “We started to work with them right away and we’ve already seen the result of that work. The good thing about having Seed Hawk in our portfolio is we can reach areas we couldn’t reach without Seed Hawk.”

The Honourable Don Toth talked about the importance of developing innovative companies like Seed Hawk right here in Saskatchewan. “It’s important that there’s individuals with a vision and that they develop that vision,” said Mr. Toth. “Manufacturing plants like this in a community will help build a community and bring back its vibrancy.”

The Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Bob Bjornerud spoke on Premier Brad Wall’s behalf, as he was unable to attend the opening. He talked about the pride that is slowly being returned to the agriculture industry. “In the last 10 to 15 years we haven’t had too much to be proud about,” said Mr. Bjornerud. “But I think we see a little bit of that twinkle in our eyes again. There’s just so many things happening in the province, but I’m really proud of what’s going on here in agriculture. The demand for food is changing all over the world and I think that bores good for us. It’s nice that people are starting to pay attention to food.”

Beaujot stated during his speech that this expansion is just the beginning. The company expects to have its next expansion completed in approximately a year and a half.