A Vision Q&A series rooted in agriculture and helping members grow

Where did you grow up?

Bawlf, Alberta. Right where I live now.

Did you grow up on a farm?

I've been involved in farming in some way, shape or form throughout my whole life.

When I was growing up, I worked for neighbours and usually helped my uncles who had a farm not too far away. Before I started with Vision, I was an agriculture equipment sales consultant. Now, I work with a former colleague on his farm, with about 2500 seeded acres in production. He has a sprayer co-op, and I assist in the management and operations of that side of business. I also have a small cattle farm myself.

How did you end up becoming an Ag Specialist at Vision?

It’s a funny story, actually. My wife works for Vision Credit Union as well, in Head Office. I had stopped by her office because I needed somewhere to change my clothes to go for a job interview somewhere else. Steve (Friend, Vision’s CEO) saw me dressed for the interview and asked what I was up to. I told him, and he said, “Well, if you don't get anything there, look me up.” 

Three weeks later, when I was informed the other position had been filled, I went into Steve’s office and said, “What have you got?” He told me about the Agriculture specialist position and asked if I was interested. I told him “absolutely”, and I’ve never looked back.

What’s the best part of what you do in your job?

Honestly, I like being able to help the members. We do character lending, which no other institution really does. I pride myself on getting to know the people, getting to know their operations and its needs. It’s more than just financial statements, dollars-in, dollars-out. I believe there's a trust factor there as well.

I have a story. Not too long ago we heard from a producer who had accounts with other financial institutions. He had a time-sensitive issue he needed to get settled and he was in contact with this other institution multiple times, and they indicated it would be 2-3 weeks to even get into an appointment to meet someone. The manager at our branch was able to line up a farm visit with the member a few days later, we went out to his farm and the following week, we had an approval in place for him. This was the difference between him being able to act on the option and not!

Tell me about how Vision serves its members in a way that’s different than other financial institutions?

I’ll give you an example. In certain areas, weather conditions have really created poor cash flows for some farmers in recent years. A lot of other institutions don’t look beyond this cash flow statement and previous years’ financial results. One member told a story about how a chartered bank listed all the farms in a specific postal code, an area where the weather had been very challenging for a few years, and it called the loans for the farmers in that area! That would never happen at Vision. We do everything we can to help our members keep going forward, to support their success.

What do you bring to financial services that’s different?

Agriculture is my passion. I farm myself and because I'm involved so heavily, it makes it so easy to relate to and to talk to the producers, whether cattle or grain. I understand their world, because it’s what I do, too. 

When I go to a farmer's house, I’m honestly not going there as a banker. A lot of times, we’ll just sit and talk. Banking doesn't even come up until I’m almost out the door! It’s great.