This one’s about Arthur Ward, a man who cut his teeth on a cattle ranch in Saskatchewan, learned the ropes in John Deere dealerships, and climbed his way into the upper ranks of The Jim Pattison Group—a $10.9 billion business empire. Think hard work, tough lessons, and a whole lot of miles on the road between those worlds. Arthur’s story starts simple: a family farm, a small-town upbringing, and a job managing dealerships where loyalty wasn’t handed out, it was earned. As the dealerships grew, so did Arthur, taking on bigger roles until he eventually became President of Pattison Agriculture, responsible for 17 John Deere dealerships across Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It was more than just tractors—it was about building relationships, managing people, and proving you could hit your numbers no matter the season. Along the way, Arthur learned that customer satisfaction wasn’t just a strategy—it was survival. And survival’s a skill you don’t forget. But it didn’t stop there. The Jim Pattison Group, a corporate giant with over 48,000 employees across 25 industries, saw something in him. Arthur became one of Pattison’s Vice Presidents, sitting at the same table as one of Canada’s most iconic businessmen. Jim Pattison’s leadership was simple and sharp: “Spend money like it’s your own,” and “Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want on the front page of the newspaper.” It was the kind of no-frills wisdom that fit Arthur like a glove. In this episode, Arthur reflects on: The lessons learned from farming and how they carried over into running dealerships and corporate boardrooms. The challenges of balancing old-school agriculture with new business realities, including scaling operations while holding onto small-town values. What he took away from working with one of Canada’s sharpest business minds—and why the hardest part wasn’t making it to the top, but staying there. Now, Arthur’s back on prairie soil, working with Aberhart Group to build something real—businesses that serve their people, their customers, and the land. He’s traded in the skyscrapers for Saskatchewan sunsets, but the fight’s still the same: do right by people, take care of the customer, and build something that lasts. Tune in for a conversation that’s as much about grit as it is about growth. Arthur’s journey is proof that whether you’re on a tractor or in a boardroom, it all comes down to knowing the value of hard work and the power of doing things the right way. 0:00 Introduction and Core Values 00:33 Welcome to the Growing the Future Podcast 00:48 Introducing Today's Esteemed Guest 01:15 Family of Companies Overview 02:09 Arthur Ward's Early Life and Career Beginnings 04:48 Transition to Agricultural Sales 07:36 Challenges and Successes in the Ag Industry 11:14 Leadership and Coaching Philosophy 18:00 Joining the Jim Pattison Group 18:51 Innovations and Future Plans 41:52 Adapting to Market Changes 43:19 Lessons from Farming 45:25 Unexpected Life Changes 48:33 Joining the Aberhart Group 53:45 The Role of Chief Integration Officer 56:51 Future Goals and Reflections 57:36 Rapid Fire Business Insights 01:02:29 Building Sustainable Businesses 01:14:02 Personal Reflections and Future Plans
Arthur’s story starts simple: a family farm, a small-town upbringing, and a job managing dealerships where loyalty wasn’t handed out, it was earned. As the dealerships grew, so did Arthur, taking on bigger roles until he eventually became President of Pattison Agriculture, responsible for 17 John Deere dealerships across Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It was more than just tractors—it was about building relationships, managing people, and proving you could hit your numbers no matter the season. Along the way, Arthur learned that customer satisfaction wasn’t just a strategy—it was survival. And survival’s a skill you don’t forget.
But it didn’t stop there. The Jim Pattison Group, a corporate giant with over 48,000 employees across 25 industries, saw something in him. Arthur became one of Pattison’s Vice Presidents, sitting at the same table as one of Canada’s most iconic businessmen. Jim Pattison’s leadership was simple and sharp: “Spend money like it’s your own,” and “Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want on the front page of the newspaper.” It was the kind of no-frills wisdom that fit Arthur like a glove.
In this episode, Arthur reflects on:
The lessons learned from farming and how they carried over into running dealerships and corporate boardrooms.
The challenges of balancing old-school agriculture with new business realities, including scaling operations while holding onto small-town values.
What he took away from working with one of Canada’s sharpest business minds—and why the hardest part wasn’t making it to the top, but staying there.
Now, Arthur’s back on prairie soil, working with Aberhart Group to build something real—businesses that serve their people, their customers, and the land. He’s traded in the skyscrapers for Saskatchewan sunsets, but the fight’s still the same: do right by people, take care of the customer, and build something that lasts.
Tune in for a conversation that’s as much about grit as it is about growth. Arthur’s journey is proof that whether you’re on a tractor or in a boardroom, it all comes down to knowing the value of hard work and the power of doing things the right way.
0:00 Introduction and Core Values
00:33 Welcome to the Growing the Future Podcast
00:48 Introducing Today's Esteemed Guest
01:15 Family of Companies Overview
02:09 Arthur Ward's Early Life and Career Beginnings
04:48 Transition to Agricultural Sales
07:36 Challenges and Successes in the Ag Industry
11:14 Leadership and Coaching Philosophy
18:00 Joining the Jim Pattison Group
18:51 Innovations and Future Plans
41:52 Adapting to Market Changes
43:19 Lessons from Farming
45:25 Unexpected Life Changes
48:33 Joining the Aberhart Group
53:45 The Role of Chief Integration Officer
56:51 Future Goals and Reflections
57:36 Rapid Fire Business Insights
01:02:29 Building Sustainable Businesses
01:14:02 Personal Reflections and Future Plans
Aberhart Family of Companies:
https://aberhartgroup.com
https://aberhartagsolutions.ca
https://aberhartfarms.com
https://www.convergencegrowth.com
Connect with us on AGvisorPro: https://link-app.agvisorpro.com/aberhart-dan
If you want to be part of the Growing the Future community, make sure to say hi on social at: https://linktr.ee/Growingthefuturepodcast
Dan:
Hey, it’s Dan Aberhart here, and welcome to the Growing the Future podcast, where we talk to folks who love to innovate, collaborate, and transform the agricultural industry. Thanks for joining us for Season 6, Episode 8.
Today, I’m excited to introduce someone who climbed through the ranks of the John Deere dealership world to become the President of Pattison Agriculture Limited—and later, a Vice President on the corporate board of the Jim Pattison Group, a company with 16 billion in annual sales and 50,000 employees. He’s done all this while staying rooted in the core values of fairness, honesty, and respect.
But before we dive into his story, I’d like to remind you to check out our family of companies online:
Be sure to sign up for our newsletter at growingthefuturepodcast.ca to stay updated on all new episodes.
Now, on to our guest—Arthur Ward. He’s been a transformative figure in agriculture for over two decades, and recently took on the role of Chief Integration Officer for the newly-formed Aberhart Group. His story spans from the ranches of Saskatchewan to corporate boardrooms in Vancouver. Please welcome Arthur Ward to Growing the Future.
Arthur:
Thanks, Dan. It’s an absolute pleasure to be here.
Dan:
It’s great to have you. I want to start at the beginning. You grew up on a small family ranch in southwestern Saskatchewan. Tell us about those early days.
Arthur:
Well, I was born six miles east of Chaplin, Saskatchewan. If you’ve ever driven down the #1 Highway in western Saskatchewan, you’ve probably seen the massive pile of alkali at the sodium sulfate plant. That’s where I grew up. I had three older sisters and a younger brother, who still lives on the home place and works at the salt plant.
After finishing high school, I initially went to the University of Saskatchewan to study pharmacy. But halfway through my first year, I realized I wasn’t meant to spend my life indoors counting pills. So, I switched to education at the University of Regina, majoring in math with a minor in phys-ed.
However, my dad had a heart attack, and I left school to help on the farm. That experience shifted my trajectory.
Dan:
And that’s when you entered the workforce, right?
Arthur:
Yes. I first worked for Hawkus Manufacturing, and later with Dutch Industries in Regina. Eventually, I transitioned to retail ag sales at Plains Equipment, which was an Agco dealer. But I always had a soft spot for John Deere equipment, having grown up with it.
That led me to a position at Watson Tractor, the John Deere dealership in Regina. From there, I became store manager at Russell, Manitoba. That’s where I first crossed paths with your family and began what would be a long career in Deere dealerships.
Dan:
You mentioned working in Russell—what was it like managing that store back then?
Arthur:
It was a different time. Greenline Equipment had just taken over the dealership, and we faced challenges with market share and high staff turnover. Recruiting and retaining people was tough, given the competition from the local mines. But we had a young, enthusiastic team, and we worked hard to turn things around.
Dan:
Fast-forwarding a bit—how did you end up working with Jimmy Pattison and the corporate side of things?
Arthur:
When Pattison Group bought JD AgTech in 2014, I was the General Sales Manager for the western region. Jimmy visited every dealership personally and shook hands with every employee. I’ll never forget when he walked into my office, dropped to his knees, and said, “Please, give me market share.”
That’s Jimmy. When he buys a business, it’s to grow it. He doesn’t buy things to sit on them. His philosophy was simple: treat his money like it’s your own and never do anything you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the newspaper.
Dan:
What was it like to step into the boardroom at Pattison Group?
Arthur:
Intimidating, to say the least. The boardroom on the 16th floor of the Shaw building in Vancouver overlooks the harbor—it’s breathtaking. But it’s also humbling. Jimmy surrounded himself with smart, driven people. It was a privilege to be part of that environment, learning about industries far outside agriculture—like fisheries, theme parks, and retail.
Dan:
You mentioned that you also started a farm for Pattison Group. What was the goal there?
Arthur:
We bought 8,700 acres along Lake Diefenbaker with plans to get into potato production and value-added agriculture. Unfortunately, the opportunity didn’t pan out as expected, and the land was sold. It was a tough pill to swallow at first, but it opened the door to new opportunities.
Dan:
I love the saying, “When God closes a door, He opens a window.” What came next for you?
Arthur:
After leaving Pattison Group, I had the chance to slow down and spend more time with my family—something I hadn’t done in years. It gave me time to reflect on what I really wanted from the next phase of my career. That’s when I reconnected with Terry Aberhart.
Dan:
And now you’re part of the Aberhart Group as Chief Integration Officer. How do you see this role shaping up?
Arthur:
I see it as a chance to help build something meaningful with a great team. Aberhart Group isn’t just about business—it’s about giving back to the community and being stewards of the land. It reminds me of why I got into agriculture in the first place.
Dan:
I love that. So, what do you hope to achieve in the next few years with Aberhart Group?
Arthur:
I want to see Aberhart Ag Solutions grow with new products that align with our mission of sustainability. I want to support the farm’s diversification efforts, especially with ventures like Prairie Dome and potato production. And above all, I want to help develop the next generation of leaders within the company.
Dan:
Arthur, it’s been an absolute pleasure having you on the podcast. I’m excited about the future and grateful to have you on this journey with us.
Arthur:
Thanks, Dan. I’m looking forward to what we’ll build together.