“If we’re going to work this hard, we should just do it ourselves”. That belief was the founding thought that led to the creation of Top Notch Farm Supply in Fillmore, Saskatchewan, by Tracy and Sandy Ogden.
The year was 2010. With three daughters in university, Tracy was managing an ag retail in his hometown, and it was in the process of being sold to a line company. Tracy and his wife Sandy decided to embark on a new adventure, building their own new independent retail from the ground up.
“We went to Hawaii with some friends and told them what we were doing. You could hear the crickets their reaction was so quiet. They thought we were crazy to be starting a business at 50 years old,” laughs Tracy. This reaction wasn’t enough to dissuade the Ogden’s and construction started early in 2011, and they’ve never looked back.
As the business grew, serendipitous timing and strong business relationships allowed Top Notch to take advantage of industry opportunities. During the upheaval at Weyburn Inland Terminal (WIT)—when shareholders chose to sell and P&H acquired the company—staff changes created an opportunity. A longtime friend of Tracy’s, Brad Hansen, who had been WIT’s Manager of Crop Inputs, joined the team along with one experienced agronomist. Brad’s impact was significant. His mentorship and expertise were instrumental in expanding the business, including the opening of the Colgate location around 2016.
Looking back, Tracy jokes, “If I’d known how many things would be required to build a new location, I probably wouldn’t have done it.”
Still, he acknowledges that having the right people—especially someone like Brad—was a necessity for success. Brad remains part of the team today in a different role.
From the beginning, Top Notch has been a family business. Sandy was closely involved in the early years and is now happily retired, spending time with grandchildren. As the team expanded, the next generation stepped in with their daughter Leah now serving as office manager to help keep operations running smoothly.
“Our goal is to provide the best agronomic advice, on the most profitable basis to our customers,” says Tracy.
The team at Top Notch thinks of the simple things that can make a tremendous difference to their overall customer experience. One of the most talked-about traditions is the spring omelette Wednesdays, when a chef comes in for six weeks to cook custom omelettes—an extra touch that customers truly appreciate during the hectic seeding season.
These sentiments are echoed by Sales Agronomist Derek Foss, who has been with Top Notch for 13 years. Growing up on a farm and then pursuing post-secondary where he acquired an ag degree, he took a scenic route to the world of ag retail, spending more than a decade overseas teaching English. One of his favourite things about working with farmers is the ability to solve problems.
“I enjoy that I get to work both in an office and outdoors, so I never get sick of either. In ag you never do the same thing day-after-day, it’s not mundane – just show up, jump in, and try to help,” shares Foss.
“The ability to adapt, rather than rigidly follow a plan, is one of the most important skills in the business. We have to be able to quickly adapt plans to situations outside of our control,” says Foss.
That constant change is also what makes the work rewarding. Helping farmers navigate unpredictable conditions, and still find success is what keeps the job meaningful. Strong relationships, honest conversations, and practical agronomic advice form the foundation of that support. Staying informed on industry advancements is a critical part of delivering that value. Continuous learning is built into the culture.
“We do a lot of training meetings throughout the winter, including participating in the WinField® United Canada webinar series—whether live or recorded—to further our knowledge. They also do some great work at the Innovation Center, and touring it is a big part of having confidence in recommending WinField United adjuvants and products,” continues Foss.
Having this hands-on experience helps keep the Top Notch team pointed toward the future of the industry - managing inputs wisely, protecting soil health, and making decisions that balance profitability with long-term stewardship. These trends aren’t just about adopting new technology—they reflect a broader mindset shift toward farming in a way that ensures success for generations to come.
“We’re here and we have what you need to grow a great crop – you don’t need to drive to Regina or Weyburn,” says Tracy. The village of Fillmore benefits greatly from Top Notch’s community spirit as well. “It’s a small town, so we try to do as much as we can. We employ residents, we contribute taxes, and we volunteer,” continues Tracy.
Tracy and Sandy were recent recipients of the Fillmore Volunteer of the Year Award, recognizing the more than $175, 000 in donations to their communities through their annual golf tournament and other volunteer projects. They are also regular buyers of 4-H calves, supporters of the Midale Farmer Spiel, and other projects in their business region. This year, they are supporting three larger projects – renovations to the Osage Rec Centre, the Creelman Rec Centre, and the Fillmore Museum.
“The team at the Fillmore Museum has done a fantastic job of converting the United Church into a heritage museum. It’s important for people to know where the community came from,” says Tracy about the museum project.
The year was 2010. With three daughters in university, Tracy was managing an ag retail in his hometown, and it was in the process of being sold to a line company. Tracy and his wife Sandy decided to embark on a new adventure, building their own new independent retail from the ground up.
“We went to Hawaii with some friends and told them what we were doing. You could hear the crickets their reaction was so quiet. They thought we were crazy to be starting a business at 50 years old,” laughs Tracy. This reaction wasn’t enough to dissuade the Ogden’s and construction started early in 2011, and they’ve never looked back.
As the business grew, serendipitous timing and strong business relationships allowed Top Notch to take advantage of industry opportunities. During the upheaval at Weyburn Inland Terminal (WIT)—when shareholders chose to sell and P&H acquired the company—staff changes created an opportunity. A longtime friend of Tracy’s, Brad Hansen, who had been WIT’s Manager of Crop Inputs, joined the team along with one experienced agronomist. Brad’s impact was significant. His mentorship and expertise were instrumental in expanding the business, including the opening of the Colgate location around 2016.
Looking back, Tracy jokes, “If I’d known how many things would be required to build a new location, I probably wouldn’t have done it.”
Still, he acknowledges that having the right people—especially someone like Brad—was a necessity for success. Brad remains part of the team today in a different role.
From the beginning, Top Notch has been a family business. Sandy was closely involved in the early years and is now happily retired, spending time with grandchildren. As the team expanded, the next generation stepped in with their daughter Leah now serving as office manager to help keep operations running smoothly.
Core Mission
Top Notch Farm Supply has seen a nice growth curve over the last 15 years of business, and their fondness for their customers shines through.“Our goal is to provide the best agronomic advice, on the most profitable basis to our customers,” says Tracy.
The team at Top Notch thinks of the simple things that can make a tremendous difference to their overall customer experience. One of the most talked-about traditions is the spring omelette Wednesdays, when a chef comes in for six weeks to cook custom omelettes—an extra touch that customers truly appreciate during the hectic seeding season.
These sentiments are echoed by Sales Agronomist Derek Foss, who has been with Top Notch for 13 years. Growing up on a farm and then pursuing post-secondary where he acquired an ag degree, he took a scenic route to the world of ag retail, spending more than a decade overseas teaching English. One of his favourite things about working with farmers is the ability to solve problems.
“I enjoy that I get to work both in an office and outdoors, so I never get sick of either. In ag you never do the same thing day-after-day, it’s not mundane – just show up, jump in, and try to help,” shares Foss.
Adapting, Learning, and Building for the Long Term
In agriculture, certainty is rare, and that reality shapes both the challenges and rewards of the job. While planning is essential, experience has shown that even the most carefully thought-out plans must remain flexible. Winters are spent preparing for the season ahead—evaluating products, forecasting needs, and determining what makes the most sense for growers—but once the year begins, weather, markets, and supply realities often force quick adjustments.“The ability to adapt, rather than rigidly follow a plan, is one of the most important skills in the business. We have to be able to quickly adapt plans to situations outside of our control,” says Foss.
That constant change is also what makes the work rewarding. Helping farmers navigate unpredictable conditions, and still find success is what keeps the job meaningful. Strong relationships, honest conversations, and practical agronomic advice form the foundation of that support. Staying informed on industry advancements is a critical part of delivering that value. Continuous learning is built into the culture.
“We do a lot of training meetings throughout the winter, including participating in the WinField® United Canada webinar series—whether live or recorded—to further our knowledge. They also do some great work at the Innovation Center, and touring it is a big part of having confidence in recommending WinField United adjuvants and products,” continues Foss.
Having this hands-on experience helps keep the Top Notch team pointed toward the future of the industry - managing inputs wisely, protecting soil health, and making decisions that balance profitability with long-term stewardship. These trends aren’t just about adopting new technology—they reflect a broader mindset shift toward farming in a way that ensures success for generations to come.
Rooted in Community
Being located in a small town in South-East Saskatchewan, Top Notch takes tremendous pride in their location and community involvement.“We’re here and we have what you need to grow a great crop – you don’t need to drive to Regina or Weyburn,” says Tracy. The village of Fillmore benefits greatly from Top Notch’s community spirit as well. “It’s a small town, so we try to do as much as we can. We employ residents, we contribute taxes, and we volunteer,” continues Tracy.
Tracy and Sandy were recent recipients of the Fillmore Volunteer of the Year Award, recognizing the more than $175, 000 in donations to their communities through their annual golf tournament and other volunteer projects. They are also regular buyers of 4-H calves, supporters of the Midale Farmer Spiel, and other projects in their business region. This year, they are supporting three larger projects – renovations to the Osage Rec Centre, the Creelman Rec Centre, and the Fillmore Museum.
“The team at the Fillmore Museum has done a fantastic job of converting the United Church into a heritage museum. It’s important for people to know where the community came from,” says Tracy about the museum project.
