Farming Forward - President

Ian Kidd - Kidd Farms

Ian Kidd began his academic journey at the University of Alberta, where he pursued a degree in electrical engineering. This education provided him with a solid foundation in problem-solving, analytical thinking, and technological innovation. After university, Ian embarked on a successful career in the financial sector, joining Manulife Securities as the mutual funds sales manager for Northern Alberta. He worked on expanding Manulife's product offerings beyond insurance and trained many of their employees to support this expansion.

With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Ian transitioned into the tech industry, co-founding a network services and software company based in Edmonton. Leveraging his engineering background and business knowledge, he built the company from the ground up, offering innovative IT solutions, managed services, and software development to a growing client base. His company soon became known for its cutting-edge technology offerings and commitment to customer service, helping businesses across industries enhance their operations and embrace digital transformation.  In the early 2000s, he also contributed to the newly founded NAIT Network Engineering Technology program as one of the founding advisory board members.

Later in his career, Ian decided to pursue a long-held passion for agriculture and family by joining his cousins, Larry and Bob, in farming grain and cattle near Mayerthorpe. This new chapter allowed him to reconnect with the land and contribute to his family’s farming legacy, combining modern technology with traditional farming practices. In that role, he's implemented automation and electronics to improve water and telemetry, as well as help to understand technology and modern land management changes occurring in the industry.