NORQUAY – After recently reporting that Prairie Soil Services of Norquay won a philanthropy award, it was announced that the southeast Saskatchewan business has now been awarded 2024 Retailer of the Year. This was announced and presented at the annual convention of the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers, Nov. 21.
Established in 2008, the Retailer of the Year Award recognizes one Canadian Ag Retail location that went above and beyond to serve its customers. Despite challenges, some retail locations stand above the crowd and demonstrate excellent customer service, effective employee relations and implement innovative business practices, as well as new technology to improve operations. They also demonstrate exceptional leadership in their local community.
Parker Summers, President and CEO tells Kamsack Times and SaskToday.ca, ““We are honoured to receive this award and recognition, but truly this is a reflection of our exceptional team, our great customers and the wonderful communities that we serve and support.”
“In any great business, it’s the people that make the difference. We truly have a great team – a team that we’re proud of. We began our journey over 40 years ago as a small family business and our Company is almost unrecognizable to what it was, even 10 years ago, now today,” Summers continued.
Summers adds. “With PFM Capital getting involved with Prairie through their SaskWorks and Apex funds, we found our own identity over the past decade. We’ve navigated some mighty hurdles these past few years… with covid changing the game, mother nature throwing curve balls, continued cost inflation, challenging and disconnected government policy, supply challenges, and even wars – it’s been a wild ride.”
The Retailer of the Year Award is the highest recognition a Canadian Ag Retail can receive. Summers affirms their retail has been a member of CAAR since the early 1990’s and were familiar with the award. Prairie Soils was one of three recipients at the annual CAAR Connect Conference held annually across Canada. Agronomist of the Year and the Retailer Hall of Famer were also part of the awards ceremony.
Summers attended on behalf of their business along with Mat Dennison, Vice President and COO; Kaylie Bowes, General Manager, Mikaela Twerdoclib, Business Manager; Kirsty Dennison, Logistics & Marketing Manager; Norleen Bork, Administration Manager; Wes Bass, Service Manager; Skylar Leson, Service Manager; Ken Nystedt, Special Projects; and Jeff Hort, Transportation Leader.
“We don’t do what we do to win awards; we show up, we work hard to serve and support our growers and we do it all again tomorrow. If our customers win, we win alongside them – which is quite unique to the Ag Industry itself – where both buyer and seller have a common goal to ensure the ultimate success of the farm.”
While Summers says it feels awkward to be in the spot light, having recently been recognized for the company’s philanthropy efforts, and now doing what they do every day at work, it is appreciated and their team is grateful to be part of such a great industry and the communities they serve.
“We have had hundreds of people from the communities and industry reach out to congratulate us – it’s a little overwhelming but we’re proud of our Company and our team that makes it happen,” concludes Summers.
