Jordan Kurtzweg -growing Alberta successful ventures science, fundraising agricultural technology

 Jordan Kurtzweg

As a fourth-generation farm kid growing up in Foremost, Alta., Jordan Kurtzweg had a great respect for the land and for what it has taught him: farmers have to have perseverance and be willing to put in long hours during busy seasons.

It also taught him, in part, that he could do just about anything he wanted to do.

“The farm has been an amazing place to grow up — there are so many built-in lessons with animals and agriculture — but my dream is not to be a farmer, but a scientist,” said the first-year science student.

Jordan Kurtzweg has parlayed his experience growing up on an Alberta farm into successful ventures in science, fundraising and agricultural technology.  

While many were testing what sort of household items could produce the best eruption out of a homemade volcano, Kurtzweg made his way to the Canada-Wide Science Fair looking at how the blade type and angle of attack on wind turbines changes their energy output. His entry, which also included a look at the feasibility of using hydroelectric dams as energy storage, earned him the fair’s renewable energy award.

And while he was president of the local 4H Club, a love of books led to a board position with the Foremost Municipal Library, where he took over responsibility for setting up a successful online auction platform to raise funds for the library.

The entrepreneurial spirit that lives with anyone who farms propelled Kurtzweg and some classmates to both the judges’ and people's choice awards at an entrepreneurship contest held by Medicine Hat College for a locally sourced mustard produced using seeds from his dad’s farm. “We had a great product, but I really believe it was our teamwork that won.”

To top it off, being a licensed drone pilot has allowed Kurtzweg to start a business using aerial photography and agricultural field mapping to check crop health.

“Coming from a small rural school, the opportunities that it will afford me are so exciting, and it really means a lot that the foundation chose me,” he said. “I’m honoured to represent as a Schulich Leader.”