Alberta Farmer Chris Koch Inspires with Message of Resilience at Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium

At the 2025 Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium in Saskatoon, keynote speaker Chris Koch, a farmer from Nanton, Alberta, delivered an unforgettable message about turning challenges into strengths.

Born without arms or legs, Koch has built a life that defies limitations. “Simply put, I was born missing arms and legs,” he said. “I can hop around on one leg or use a longboard or skateboard to get around. Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Through his platform If I Can (ifican.ca

Koch shares his journey as a farmer, athlete, and motivational speaker, inspiring others to rethink what’s possible. “I have a lot of people tell me, ‘If I was in your situation, I’d never be able to do that,’” he said. “I beg to differ. We’re all capable of overcoming incredible stuff.”

Koch credits his family and farm upbringing for instilling confidence and resilience. “If my parents and grandparents treated me like that poor disabled boy, I would have grown up acting that way,” he reflected. “Instead, I was just Chris. When you have that kind of support, you don’t question your abilities—you just figure out your own way.”

Today, Koch says he’s “having more fun and more success without arms and legs than if I had been born with them,” and he challenges others to take action toward their own goals. “You might have to get creative and find your own way of doing it—but you can do it.”