Ayoung Pilot Mound farmer and University of Manitoba agriculture student has won the top prize in a national competition for students, beating out the six top regional finalists from across Canada.

Brett Sheffield, 26 is operating his own farm while finishing his agricultural diploma and at the same time running a local business — the Stay Fit Health Club in Pilot Mound, which he bought last year.

Sheffield presented his farm business plan and achievements to a panel of 50 major industry leaders and CEOs May 9 to win the 2012 national title of Student Entrepreneur Champion and $10,000 cash in the Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship Program in Calgary.

He claimed his prize after presenting his farm business plan and achievements before a panel of 50 major industry leaders and CEOs May 9. Earlier this year he won regional competition for Central Canada while in Toronto.

And he’s not done yet. He now goes on to the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards in New York in November.

Sheffield’s ability to manage time, launching one business while expanding another, clearly impressed the ACE judges, who evaluate students’ business plans based on the economic opportunity they create both for the students themselves and their communities.

“Sheffield’s determination and proven business achievements, such as expanding his farm from 160 to 1,700 acres and pioneering a second business while maintaining his honour roll status at school, are ideal qualities of a student entrepreneur champion,” said ACE president Amy Harder in a press release.

Sheffield was back on his tractor seeding canola 48 hours after his win, repeating his hope that the award helps increase public awareness about the role of farmers, the nature of farm business and the productivity of Canadian agriculture.