Posted April 30th, 2026 | By: Michaela Spangler

Congratulations are in order! Gary Topham, Agronomic Innovation Manager (AIM) for the Manitoba Division, has been awarded the Certified Crop Adviser of the Year award by the Prairie Certified Crop Adviser Board.

“We were at our regular meeting when the board went through the agenda and announced the award. It definitely took me by surprise, but it was also humbling and honoring,” says Gary. “However, this award isn’t mine alone, it goes to my team.”

Gary is a member of the Agronomic Innovation Management Team, an all‑star group grounded in a legacy of more than 30 years of agronomic leadership. While today’s team represents the latest chapter, earlier versions of the team, and several of the agronomists who continue to shape its work, have been supporting customers in Western Canada for decades, contributing to its continued success and recognition.

“Gary Topham brings an unmatched practical insight shaped by his own farming background to our team that strengthens our organization and inspires those around him. He’s a dedicated sustainability champion and continually promotes responsible, long-term agronomic practices that benefit growers and the environment,” says Twyla Jones, Senior Manager, Agronomic Innovation Canada. “His deep technical knowledge, hands-on approach, and genuine commitment to supporting customers make him an invaluable resource across our teams.”

For Gary, this award is a culmination of the years of hard work, as well as the support he’s received from his family along the way.

“Over the 30 years of my career, I estimate I’ve spent about three years’ worth of time staying in hotels for work travel. That breaks down to a lot of time on the road during the year away from home," says Gary. “I couldn’t have done any of this without my family, especially my wife. I’m so thankful for their support.”

About Gary

Gary grew up on a mixed grain and cattle farm in Manitoba, which is now a grain farm today. He continues to support his family’s farm alongside his day job as an AIM. He attended the University of Manitoba and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture.

After graduation, he joined Westco, a Nutrien legacy company, in 1997.

“I was lucky enough to cut my agronomist teeth with legends in the agronomy world such as John Hariapiak, Norm Flore, and the agronomy data generated out of the Westco research agronomy base,” says Gary.

Fast forward nearly 30 years and Gary has served customers in Central Manitoba, Northeast Saskatchewan, and now services the Manitoba Division. As an AIM, there are no slow seasons for Gary and no typical days. However, you will find that his responsibilities, much like the operations of the growers he serves, are dictated by the season.

In the winters, you’ll find Gary running staff training sessions, bringing folks up to speed on new products, technical training, and producer maintenance. Knowledge sharing is actually one of his favorite responsibilities in his role.

“A lot of our newer staff don’t come from a farming background, so they’re like a sponge learning any tricks of the trade or experience you can share,” says Gary. “It’s rewarding to equip them and help them be confident in the advice they’re sharing back with their customers.”

Once the weather starts to warm up in the spring and planting starts, he’s heads down on running product trials that demonstrate the performance of Loveland Products and Proven Seed from May to July. Outside of the trials, he’s also on call as a resource for employees in the field when they need agronomic guidance.

It’s showtime in August when Gary hosts customers for producer tours of the trial plots to promote the products from the Loveland and Proven Seed portfolios that were tested throughout the growing season. When fall comes around, it’s time to harvest and collect data for the results of the year’s trials.

“I’m fortunate to say that I found my dream job and have never left,” says Gary.