Award of Excellence

The CCA Award of Excellence is designed to recognize a crop adviser who delivers exceptional customer service, is highly innovative, has shown that they are a leader in their field, and has contributed substantially to the exchange of ideas and the transfer of agronomic knowledge within the agriculture industry. Anybody can make a nomination for a CCA to receive this award.

The winner of the CCA Award of Excellence will receive $1000 and an additional $1000 to be donated on their behalf to an agricultural charity of their choice, along with a commemorative plaque.

Please download the criteria and nomination form below for more information.

Click here for the Nomination Form.

NOMINATIONS FOR 2026 are due by October 31, 2026.

We have updated the nomination process:

You now have three ways to nominate a deserving CCA for the Award of Excellence.

1/ Fill out the nomination form attached to the link listed above.

2/ Fill out an interest to nominate form at the CCA Conference(CCA Office will follow up).

3/ Call the CCA office at 519-787-4322 and let them know you would like to nominate someone.

You no longer need to collect documents from the person you are nominating, the CCA office will do that for you.

You will be invited by the Awards Committee to share why you have nominated this individual via a 10 minute Zoom or phone call.

The Award of Excellence is sponsored by Syngenta and CropLife Canada.

2025 Award of Excellence Winner

2025 Recipient – Brett Evans

Awarded at the 2025 CCA Conference and AGM by Marijke Vanderlaan from Syngenta.

Congratulations to the other 2025 nominees

Steve McQueen

Steve’s current role is Agronomy Manager with Nachurs Alpine but he is a proud farmer who has been invested in safe and sustainable Canadian Agriculture for over 45 years. Steve got his CCA designation in 2011 and also holds a 4R designation, Steve is a proud CCA with many years of diverse on farm and industry experience. Steve truly wants to learn about and understand the ‘why’ in agriculture. He spends half of his time passing that knowledge onto you Ag professionals, it is something that motivates Steve to continue learning. He also wants to understand agriculture at a granular level to pass that information on to growers.

Steve has worked many different positions at different operations where he gained experience and knowledge about the Canadian Agribusiness Industry on many different levels.

Steve has created a balance of family, community and love for agriculture over his long career.

Walt Quilty

Walt grew up on Prince Edward Island on a dairy, beef and potato Farm. He graduated from MacDonald College of McGill University with a B.Sc. in Plant Science in 1990. He began working for Cargill in April 1990 and held many different roles in the company over his time there. In 2014, he left Cargill to go and work for Sylvite Norwich in the sales and agronomy role. He achieved his CCA designation in 2004 and 4R NMS in 2017.

In Norfolk County over the last 33 years working at Waterford, Courtland and Norwich locations Walt has worked with growers planting such crops as corn, soybeans, wheat, rye, edible beans, tobacco, ginseng, vegetable crops ranging from fresh market basket & Roma tomatoes, processing field roma tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, muskmelons, zucchini, cabbage, cauliflower, strawberries, sweet corn, peas, snap beans, sweet potatoes, asparagus, potatoes, pumpkins, squash. But perhaps one of the most important things he has worked with is the younger sales group and scouts to pass on the knowledge that he has collected over the years.

In his off time he coached his kids in competitive hockey.

Joanna Wallace

Joanna began her career after graduating UofG with a Bachelor of Science in Ag specializing in Agronomy. She achieved her CCA designation in 2007. Throughout her career, Joanna has focused on delivering practical agronomic solutions that balance sustainability with return on investment, always keeping her customers’ individual needs at the forefront. She particularly values the opportunity to mentor upcoming CCAs, helping shape the next generation of agricultural professionals. She participates in numerous societies and education days related to Agriculture. She passionately supports diversity and inclusion initiatives, and mental health awareness in agriculture. ‘There is room for everyone in Ag and everyone needs to come home at night.’ Joanna’s clients says she gives unbiased opinions and freely shares her time and information. Joanna farms alongside her husband committing to sustainable land use on their dairy and cash crop operation.

Past Award of Excellence Winners

2024 – Jonathan Zettler
2023 – Kevin Van Netten
2022 – Paul Hermans
2021 – Michael Dick
2020 – John Snowe
2019 – Jason Van Maanen
2018 – Jerry Winnicki
2017 – Anne Verhallen
2016 – Eric Richter
2015 – Dale Cowan
2014 – Steve Johns
2013 – Pat Lynch
2012 – Morris Sagriff
2011 – Paul Sullivan
2010 – Russ Barker
2009 – Fred Wedde
2008 – John Hussack
2007 – Christine Brown
2006 – Shawn Brenneman
2005 – Terry Phillips
2004 – Kirk Patterson
2003 – Deb Campbell