The United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative has begun a Saskatchewan expansion with the announcement of a bulk fuel and cardlock petroleum station in Weyburn.
On May 12 the political party turned farm retailer and petroleum supplier ceremonially broke ground on its new location, followed by an announcement May 13 of a second expansion location in Yorkton.
The announcement is part of a multi-year, multimillion-dollar investment in Saskatchewan.
“We’re incredibly excited today to officially announce our expansion into Saskatchewan,” Don Smith, UFA vice-president of petroleum and innovation, told reporters in Weyburn.
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“We know first-hand that not only is Saskatchewan the land of the living skies, but also the land of opportunity.”
Smith said Weyburn was an obvious choice because of the “solid economic and community foundation on which new opportunities are built,” and that “the municipality of Weyburn is in the heart of grain and cattle country.”
UFA has more than 110 petroleum locations, with two existing locations in western Saskatchewan at Kindersley and Swift Current.
“The expansion of our petroleum network is part of a strategy to grow from an Alberta-focused fuel and agribusiness co-operative to a western Canadian service leader,” said Smith,.
Along with fuel distribution, UFA is a large provider of farm and ranch supplies.
UFA credits the 2022 Saskatchewan budget in its decision to expand. It said the province’s nearly 20 percent increase in the agriculture budget and strong focus on the industry in its 2030 growth plan made it an enticing place to invest.
“We are not only attracted to the many agricultural services that the area offers,” said Smith.
“Behind those service offerings stands a robust and ambitious workforce, with a work ethic that quite frankly is special to the Prairies.”
After the media presentation in Weyburn, the event moved to the location site.
Rural Municipality of Weyburn reeve Norm McFadden said the city is “probably one of the perfect locations to be building on” because multiple canola crushing plants are also being built nearby.
“Saskatchewan is ready to boom,” said Weyburn mayor Marcel Roy.
“The premier talks about it, that we’re going to see a boom here that we haven’t seen in 40 years. We’ve got potash, we’ve got oil, we’ve got lithium, we’ve got helium that’s going to be around this territory.”
