Chicago (Jan. 30, 2020) — Kristjan Hebert has been named the 2020 winner of Farm Journal’s annual Top Producer of the Year award. Hebert is managing partner of Hebert Grain Ventures in Moosomin, Saskatchewan. The operation includes 22,000 acres of malt barley, canola, wheat, yellow peas, rye and hemp. In addition, Hebert has formed several businesses that provide risk management and finance consulting, insurance products, human resources technology and CFO services.
“Kristjan Hebert is a visionary – he likes to think big and think revolutionary,” said Sara Schafer, Editor of Top Producer magazine. “To sustainably expand, Kristjan followed three principles: People are an investment. Technology is an optimizer. Working capital and risk management are the engine.”
The Hebert Grain Ventures team includes eight full-time and five part-time team members. The operation is a partnership between Kristjan and his wife, Theresa, his parents, Jeff Warkentin and Evan Shout. Hebert also provides consulting in finance. Kristjan and Theresa have two children: Bentley and Ivy.
Learn more about Kristjan Hebert and Hebert Grain Ventures at hebertgrainventures.com.
Also honored as finalists during the annual Top Producer of the Year banquet were Becky Berger of Berger International in Hillsboro, Ore.; and Sam Ross of Ross Planting Company in Pioneer, La. The finalists and winners will be featured on “AgDay” and in upcoming issues of Top Producer.
Sponsored by BASF, Rabo AgriFinance and Case IH, the Top Producer of the Year contest is in its 21st year and represents the best in the business of farming. Three finalists are chosen from numerous applications by a panel of judges based on entrepreneurial originality; financial and business progress; and industry and community leadership.
The three finalists received all-expense-paid trips to attend the Summit, as well as sessions with a CEO coach, courtesy of BASF. The winner also receives a Case IH tractor of their choice, a Steiger Rowtrac or a Magnum Rowtrac, for 150 hours of use on their farm, courtesy of Case IH. From Rabo AgriFinance, the winner receives a spot on one of the company’s upcoming “Connections in Global Ag” international trips.
This week’s Top Producer Summit in Chicago included Top Producer Seminar, Tomorrow’s Top Producer, Executive Women in Agriculture (EWA), Legacy Project Conference and Hemp College. More than 900 participants attended this year’s Summit, including producers representing 4 million acres from 35 states and Canada, for a week of networking and education.
This year’s seminar featured more than 30 educational sessions around the theme “Drive 2020: All Systems Go” for producers to hone their money, marketing and management skills.
Learn more about Top Producer Summit at TPSummit.com. Sponsors include:
Platinum: Syngenta, Case IH, Bayer, Channel, Rabo AgriFinance and Fendt
Gold: Valent and Becks Hybrids
Silver: Corteva, BASF, AgXplore, Pioneer, Pivot Bio and Top Third Ag Marketing
Bronze: Farmers Mutual Hail, KCOE ISOM, Claas, Clifton Larson Allen, Conservis, Granular, Lincoln Financial and Ag Spectrum
About Farm Journal
Farm Journal Media is the nation’s leading business information and media company serving the agricultural market. Started 143 years ago with the preeminent Farm Journal magazine, the company serves the row crop, livestock, produce and retail sectors through branded websites, eNewsletters and phone apps; business magazines; live events including conferences, seminars and tradeshows; nationally broadcasted television and radio programs; a robust mobile text marketing business; and an array of data-driven paid information products. Farm Journal also is the majority shareholder of the online equipment marketplace, Machinery Pete LLC. In 2010, the company established the non-profit, public charity Farm Journal Foundation dedicated to sustaining agriculture’s ability to meet the vital needs of a growing population through education and empowerment.