Horizon Ag & Turf co-owners Robert Benning and Cam Kay addressed the Rotary Club of Lloydminster on Jan. 20 to discuss their company’s recent merger. The presentation highlighted the merger's positive impacts on the community, customers, and staff.
Agland, a long-time agricultural business, has served the Lloydminster area for generations. Known for providing farm equipment, parts, and support, the company recently merged with Martin Deerline to strengthen its operations. Both businesses share a commitment to local service and farming communities.
Benning explained the reasons behind the merger during the presentation.
"As the complexity of our business continues to increase, we felt the need to scale our business," he said. "This allows us to attract talent, spread the risk of ‘Mother Nature’ across a larger footprint, and tap into a larger inventories."
Kay spoke about the challenges of merging two companies and the importance of community support.
“The name change seemed like it would be the easiest part,” Kay said. “Neither of us wanted to change our name, but we also didn’t want the other’s name. It was a pride thing.”
They ended up being inspired by a presentation made to them by John Deere. They said something akin to 'eyes on the horizon, boots on the ground,' and it became their inspiration.
"We're looking out on the horizon, keeping an eye out for opportunities. But, as local owners, our boots are on the ground and we're grounded in being humble and serving our producers, customers and our staff."
The two companies worked together to create a new identity while keeping community needs in focus. Kay stressed local teams still make decisions about charitable support and staffing.
The merger has practical benefits for local farmers, too. Horizon Ag & Turf now has access to a larger inventory of parts and equipment. This helps reduce downtime for producers during critical farming seasons.
Benning stressed the value of this improvement, saying, “Having access to a collective larger inventory allows us to better support the ‘uptime’ of our producers.”
Additionally, the presentation also touched on economic challenges, such as fluctuations in the Canadian dollar. Kay explained how the currency affects their business.
"Most of our suppliers work in USD," he said. "As the USD increases relative to the CAD, new equipment becomes more expensive. But the good news is, it makes our used equipment more attractive."
Rotary Club members appreciated the detailed explanation of the merger. Several attendees praised the family-run business for its long-standing dedication to the community. Kay shared a memorable comment from Deere executives during the process.
“When we did the merger, they told us Agland is the oldest operation in Canada,” he said.
The meeting ended with thanks from the Rotary Club. Members thanked Agland for its support of local farmers and service organizations.
Read More: Agland looks to the Horizon to grow - Meridian Source
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