Greg Kitching, Premier Equipment (Ayr, Ontario, Canada)

Greg Kitching is an important extension of our farm team when we have questions. He fixes and ensures existing equipment is working properly and helps us implement new technology, especially before and during critical planting and harvesting times. His hard work and dedication ensure our farm systems operate efficiently when they are most needed.

There are 3 ways Greg really stands out:

• First, he has a diverse and deep background in agriculture. He is a farmer himself, seed corn dealer, and precision agriculture expert. In short, he gets it. He understands our needs and can respond in kind. In our experience, it is rare to find someone with such deep expertise in seed, fertilizer, equipment, and computerized technology. This is invaluable when it comes to troubleshooting and planning for peak periods. A recent example are the ideas he brought forward at our farm team meeting this past winter in preparation for planting.
• Second, he presents information in practical ways. This can be seen in his written articles on precisionagreviews.com, farms.com and Ontario Grain Farmer and a YouTube video from the Outdoor Farm Show. He explains technical information in a logical fashion and is a natural leader. His support has been critical for our production manager over the past six years as we continue to incorporate new technology into our sustainable farming practices.
• Finally, he mentors and helps others get started. Instead of fixing and leaving, he takes the time to share the knowledge with the Ayr Premier dealership and our farm team so we can learn to do it ourselves. This, more than anything, has added the most value to our farm. For example, he has helped us integrate the data from different farm equipment manufacturers. Another example is the mentoring he does at the dealership by teaching co-op students from Guelph University.

In these ways, Greg Kitching has earned our trust. We consider him to be an outstanding precision specialist and worthy of this recognition.

—Sharon Hart (Woodstock, Ontario, Canada)