In Conversation with a Vision Agriculture Specialist: Ethan Walker

When you’ve got the words “agriculture” and “commercial” in your job title, you’d better know a thing or two about growing things – including businesses. Vision’s Commercial/Agriculture Specialists come at their understanding of food production and industry from different angles: finance, crop science, energy and farm supply, but they all have roots in rural Alberta and their hearts in helping grow futures for Vision’s business and agribusiness members.

Ethan Walker | Commercial/Agriculture Specialist | Region: Wainwright

I started working as a Commercial/Ag specialist at Vision in June of 2023 after a career working in commercial finance. My wife and I have five kids and three grandkids.

Our oldest Jacklyn is a registered nurse and she lives with her husband and their daughter in Leduc, AB. Next is Cassandra who lives on an acreage in Valley View with her husband and two kids.  Our oldest son Blake is an electrician who lives in the town near our farm and helps with the farm. Our other son Scott is attending Millar College of the Bible with plans to be a preacher. Last but not least is our youngest, Chantal who is in grade 8 and playing volleyball.

I’m part of a multi-generation farming family. There are farmers on all sides of my family tree. They farmed in Britain, Russia, Germany, Australia, North Dakota, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

I currently live on the land that my family started farming in 1940. It’s a grain and cattle operation just east of the Saskatchewan border. I run about 65 head of cattle, and my cousin runs the grain side. I jump on the equipment every chance I get. During harvest, I’ll work from 7 am to 3 pm for Vision and then get in the combine from 3 pm to 11 pm. It makes for long days, but there is a sense of accomplishment for each field that we finish.

This year, the grain side of our family produced enough calories to feed 17,500 people and the cattle provided about 55,000 meals of high-quality beef.

I moved to Calgary for a few years when I was younger, but it wasn’t for me. My grandma always said that once you’ve farmed, the dust gets in your blood and you just can’t stop. I enjoy the genuine people who live in rural areas. We wanted our kids to grow up in a rural environment, to know the value of work and how to produce and fix things.

I’ve been in commercial finance for years and I know that industry is what keeps this province going. Vision Credit Union hasn’t forgotten that, but some places have. Businesses in rural areas don’t tend to fit in a box of either agriculture or commercial. Many business owners also have ag operations. I was drawn to this specialist position because I could bring an understanding of both sides, which allows me to be a true financial partner and support the success of our members.

Vision has a great team working together to support our member’s businesses. I get to work with our members to understand their business and offer financial solutions that make a difference, all with the confidence of knowing that our team is working behind the scenes to keep the accounts and details running smoothly.

I think members appreciate that we come to them, meet them on their terms, answer the cell phone outside of office hours, as well as take the time to understand their operation and offer advice.

Prospects and members are surprised I keep overalls and muck boots in the trunk of my Camaro.