From Rural Saskatchewan to Global Canola Markets: Shaun Wildman on Trading Floors, Pulses, and Viterra

Trent Klarenbach interviews lifelong friend Shaun Wildman of Flaxcombe, Saskatchewan, tracing his path from rural hockey and Ag Economics at the University of Saskatchewan to a career in commodities. 

Wildman describes early brokering at Rayglen Commodities, arbitrage opportunities in special crops, and his time on the Chicago Board of Trade and Winnipeg Commodity Exchange during the open-outcry era. 

He explains moving into futures brokerage and then into Saskatchewan Wheat Pool/Xcan, where he learned pulse trading under tight margins before advancing into canola and destination export markets, including a dominant role in China. 

Wildman discusses company restructuring under Mayo Schmidt, Viterra’s growth and sale to Glencore, risk and default realities in global trade, and his current focus on investments, some futures and stock trading, and pursuing a real estate license to advise on farmland.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:59 Growing Up Rural Saskatchewan

02:16 Hockey Roads and Blizzard Stories

05:47 University Days and Public Speaking

07:47 Rayglen Commodities and Early Arbitrage

11:29 Chicago Trading Floor Experience

16:31 Winnipeg and Open Outcry Chaos

27:13 Xcan and Pool Hedging Desks

30:01 Switch to Cash Trading Lentils

31:59 Early Risky Export Trades

33:56 Pulses Desk to Canola

34:39 FOB Strategy and Partners

36:06 China Market Power Era

36:51 Small Volume Big Intensity

39:24 Market Shocks and Defaults

44:02 Natural Margins and Cycles

48:40 Wheat Pool Restructuring

49:45 Mayo Vision and Growth

52:26 Glencore Acquisition Shift

56:23 Trading vs Marketing Stress

59:26 Life After Trading

Disclaimer:

Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Our videos and other content produced by Klarenbach Research are for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.

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Klarenbach Research | Trent Klarenbach