FEATURED GROWER
Gary Tokariuk
Hi, my name is Gary Tokariuk. I have been farming in the Coaldale area for 34 years.
I used to have cattle, but I sold them to my daughter Rebecca. I grow dry peas and beans, hard red spring wheat, alfalfa and sometimes corn.
Sugar beets have been a good crop over the years and are the main reason we have been able to expand our operation. It is an awesome crop in rotation as well.
I always helped on the farm and knew from an early age that it was all I wanted to do.
I grew my first crop in 1986. My father passed away that year and I quit Alberta Agriculture and came home to farm.
My most memorable experience I’ve had growing sugar beets was my first 30 metric tonne crop. Loading trucks in such a short distance was incredible. My best crop was 35 metric tonne a few years ago. The experience I would most like to forget was the 2019 harvest. First time in 71 years that we have left beets in the ground.
I love hockey, coaching for many years and I’m a diehard Hurricane fan. I am not a big traveler but love to drive the countryside checking crops, it never gets old. I’ve been known to enjoy a cold beverage in the neighbor’s shop where we have happy hour!
Nothing runs like a Deere!