Allan Johnston on Building Johnston’s Grain and Growing from a Farm Garage to 35 Employees

Trent Klarenbach interviews Allan Johnston, founder of Johnston’s Grain in Welwyn, Saskatchewan, about growing up on a farm near Moosomin, early interests in machinery, and adopting continuous cropping after witnessing severe soil drifting on neighboring fields. Johnston describes losing heavily during early-1980s drought and high interest rates, quitting farming in 1986 to protect family land, and entering grain marketing through Capital Grain and mentorship from Don Monroe. He recounts building a mustard business with buyers like PJ Anderson, Elders Grain, and Humboldt Flour Mills, early struggles with cash flow and farmer reliance on the Canadian Wheat Board, and persistence through setbacks. Johnston details expansion into DTN market information, poly bag sales, and later major growth under his son Chevy and partner Joel into chemicals, regenerative products, agronomy, and fertilizer, crediting the end of the Wheat Board monopoly and family support.00:00 Show Intro Guest Reveal00:35 Welwyn Roots Settlers01:45 Farm Kid Machine Obsession03:11 Versatile Tractors Combine Tales05:58 Continuous Cropping Wind Lesson08:25 Dad Livestock Legacy Loss09:01 Seeding Gear Morris Drill10:51 Drought Debt Quitting Farming12:11 Starting Johnston Grain Marketing14:31 Learning Futures Fax Era15:24 Mustard Breakthrough US Buyers17:59 Elders Grain Payment Drama22:44 Trade Show Growth Early Struggles25:23 Garage Office Poly Bag Pivot27:31 Scaling Up Employees New Ventures29:07 Generic Chemicals China Sourcing31:20 Beating Input Prices32:06 Hiring Joel and Ottawa Trip34:42 Fighting Wheat Board Monopoly36:27 DTN Breakthrough in Canada38:59 Information Wins Markets40:57 Scaling Through Great Hires45:25 Family Travel and Next Gen47:04 Chemical Risk and Recovery48:39 New Products and Farmer Due Diligence52:20 Wheat Board Cash Flow Reality57:01 Biggest Life Impacts59:06 Johnstons Daily and Wrap UpDisclaimer:Trading in the financial markets involves a risk of loss. Our videos and other content produced by Klarenbach Research are for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes only and do not constitute trading or investment recommendations or advice.Subscribe to the free Klarenbach Grain Report newsletter:•  https://www.grainreport.klarenbach.ca/Subscribe to the free Klarenbach Special Crops Report newsletter:• https://specialcropsreport.klarenbach.ca/Grab your risk-free 30-day trial to one of Klarenbach Research's newsletters:• https://www.klarenbach.ca/pricingLearn more at https://www.klarenbach.ca/Have a question for Trent? Join the Klarenbach Research Telegram Group: https://t.me/klarenbachresearchFollow Trent on X: https://twitter.com/TrentKlarenbachFollow Trent on Barchart: https://www.barchart.com/news/authors/392/trent-klarenbachFollow Trent on TradingView: https://www.tradingview.com/u/Trent.klarenbach/Follow the Klarenbach Research LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/klarenbach-research#CommodityTrading #GrainMarkets #TechnicalAnalysis #Agriculture #grain #grainmarket #wheat #futures Klarenbach Research | Trent Klarenbach