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(Image Credit: Submitted Photo/Medicine Hat College)
Cows, Crops & Calculators

MHC and Eagle Butte students win $4K in agriculture business competition

Nov 10, 2026 | 12:45 PM

A team of Medicine Hat College and Eagle Butte High School students has taken the top spot in an annual competition that challenges participants to make business decisions for a simulated farm operation.

The six-member team has placed first in this year’s Cows, Crops & Calculators competition, earning a $4,000 prize to be shared among the participants.

The winning team included Medicine Hat College Business Administration students Grace Sippola and Kolt Brost, along with Eagle Butte High School students Tobi Hounslow, Janaye Nicholson, Gage Jones and Isaac Stenhouse.

The competition brings together college and high school students to work through agricultural business challenges, giving them an opportunity to apply financial and business concepts to real-world scenarios.

Working in teams, participants analyze financial information, evaluate different business decisions and develop recommendations for a simulated farm operation.

They then present their proposed solutions to a panel of judges with professional experience in accounting, finance, leadership and business management.

The competition is designed to strengthen students’ communication and problem-solving skills while helping them understand the financial considerations involved in running an agricultural business.

It also gives high school and post-secondary students a chance to work together, learn from one another and explore potential career paths in business, accounting and agriculture.

The event has particular relevance in southeastern Alberta, where agriculture plays a significant role in the regional economy.

Developing an understanding of the business and financial side of the industry can help prepare students for careers supporting agricultural operations and the broader workforce.

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(Image Credit: Submitted Photo/Medicine Hat College)

(Image Credit: Submitted Photo/Medicine Hat College)

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The competition is made possible through funding from the CPA Education Foundation, which supports experiential learning opportunities for students preparing for careers in business and accounting.

One of the winning participants, Sippola, also holds the title of 2026 Medicine Hat Stampede Queen.

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READ: Medicine Hat Stampede Queen finds confidence through community and education