Terry Betker, P.Ag., CAC, CMC is the Founder of Backswath Management Inc., a company that originated in Souris, MB in 1992. Terry has an interest and passion in providing consulting expertise to farmers and agribusiness, focusing primarily on strategic and transition (succession) planning, financial performance analysis and general business management.

Terry is recognized for his visionary and leading-edge contribution to farm business management. He is further recognized for his work at MNP LLP where he was a Partner and Director of Practice Development in Agriculture for over 12 years. Terry was responsible for strategically positioning MNP at the farm, industry, and government level within Canada. Terry initiated the development of the agriculture consulting practice across MNP.

Terry’s roots go back to the family farm, still in existence near Souris, MB, where he farmed with his parents and brother for nearly 20 years.

A popular speaker on management issues, Terry has delivered presentations to major farm lenders, international food product and supply companies, farm industry associations, and numerous farm groups. He has made presentations on farm management in Canada, the US, Netherlands, England, Poland, New Zealand, Tasmania, Chile and Mexico. He is a sessional instructor on farm management at the University of Manitoba.

Terry is the past Canadian representative to the International Farm Management Association. He is a founding member of familybusiness.ag. Over the years, he has been an active member or director of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants, Agrologists Manitoba, the Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association, the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors, and Farm Management Canada. He is a regular contributor to Canadian farm newspapers and magazines.

Looking to innovatively advance farm and agribusiness management?
Contact Terry Betker.

Blake was raised in the Airdrie, Alberta area, the fifth generation of a mixed family farm whose history on the Prairies stretches back to the 1880s.

After studying Agriculture at both Olds College and the University of Alberta, Blake joined FCC as a Relationship Manager, followed by six years as a Special Credit Account Manager serving agriculture in Central Alberta. Blake started at Backswath in January 2023.

Located in Carstairs, Blake and wife Melissa are the proud parents of three girls and one boy between the ages of 5 and 14. In their spare time, the family enjoys sports – particularly outdoor and motorsports – and keeping up with an active family routine.  Blake, a Journeyman Auto Parts Technician, enjoys using his enthusiasm for classic automobiles in the service of the Didsbury Car Club and their community investments. The family’s classic Chevrolet sees ample use through the summer months.

In coming to Backswath, Blake is delighted to be able to use his deep farm finance expertise to serve the changing needs of our clients.

“I am passionate about agriculture in Canada,” he says. “I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work in an industry that means so much to me, my family and our rural communities.”

Gavin Betker is a Farm Management Consultant with Backswath Management. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) in 2004.

Having grown up on a farm, Gavin shares Backswath’s passion for advancing farm management. After obtaining his business degree, he worked as a production manager for Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors in Winnipeg. Not long after, he was promoted to regional service and logistics manager for the Southern Alberta region. Eventually, he decided to change career tracks and returned to his roots and came back to Manitoba to farm. He spent four years as a hired farmhand and learned even more about the agricultural industry first-hand. Gavin has been with Backswath since 2013, where he is combining his business and farm backgrounds together as a consultant.

In his spare time, Gavin likes to stay active playing ultimate, soccer, hockey, and curling. He is a volunteer for IRCOM, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba. He also was a board member for Motionball Winnipeg – a charity fundraising event for the Special Olympics.

Looking to innovatively advance farm and agribusiness management?
Contact Gavin Betker.

Wade McLaughlin is a Controller/Senior Analyst specializing in farm and agricultural bookkeeping at Backswath Management. He is a certified professional bookkeeper, a QuickBooks ProAdvisor (Gold), certified expert in QuickBooks Online, and an ACA (AgExpert Certified Advisor). He is passionate about the day to day operation of businesses and has helped many companies improve their record keeping best practices. Over the years, Wade has worked in many diverse industries, such as financial services, construction, retail, and restaurant,.

Wade has been responsible for all aspects of accounting including payroll, bank reconciliations, cash flow management, generating profit loss statements, balance sheet statements and budgeting, and has worked for companies with revenues ranging from below $100 000, to over $17 million.

Wade began his bookkeeping career in 1996. His entrepreneurial spirit moved him to start his own business in 1999 in his hometown of Grande Prairie, Alberta, and he soon became the Controller for a small group of companies. In 2007, he took a Controller position with a company in Winnipeg, and moved his growing family to the country to be closer to extended family in 2015.

Jory Janzen is a Bookkeeper/Senior Analyst with Backswath Management and has worked in finance for many sectors including agribusiness, aerospace, and the healthcare industries. A graduate of the University of Manitoba, Jory has diplomas in business accounting and financial management along with several certificates in Six Sigma, Lean, and database design.

In addition to her accounting profession, Jory and her husband own and operate a grain farm in Manitoba and spend a lot of their evenings and weekends at the hockey rink with their two young sons. An avid horse rider, Jory participates in competitive hunter and jumper horse shows.

Looking to innovatively advance farm and agri-business management?
Contact Jory Janzen.

Sara Chambers is the Peer Group Practice Leader at Backswath. She is responsible for all aspects of the Peer Group Program, from supporting and recruiting members to ongoing management and development of the Program.

Sara grew up on a small acreage in Morden, Manitoba. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Department of Animal Science in the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba. After University Sara gained international experience in general business management including customer service, human resources, and bookkeeping where she lived in South Africa and Namibia. Sara brings to Backswath a passion for the client experience and supporting producers to achieve personal and professional success.

Sara and her husband are outdoor enthusiasts. They take every opportunity to go camping, hiking, and spend time on the lake at the family cottage, all with a pair of binoculars close by for birdwatching.

Since joining Backswath in May 2022, Brendon Fornwald has offered our clients his knowledge and experience in farm finance and lending. Previously, he was a Senior Relationship Manager with FCC serving the Regina and Moose Jaw areas.

After growing up on the family farm near Lampman, Sask., Brendon studied Finance at the University of Regina. Hockey was a passion in his youth — playing for Humboldt in the SJHL and Portage la Prairie in the MJHL, among other teams.

Brendon is focused on building strong relationships in order to provide timely and honest advice, strategizing off existing client strengths, identifying opportunities and mitigating risk while ultimately helping Backswath clients achieve success.

“Agriculture has always been a huge part of my life,” Brendon says. “My background in Finance and years with FCC give me the knowledge and experience to help Backswath clients earn a just reward for their hard work and risk-taking.”

Brent Metcalfe, an entrepreneur with a background in agriculture, holds an Agribusiness degree from the University of Manitoba.

After leading the expansion of his family farm, he ventured into business ownership, including Nexeed Inc. and A-Post Aluminum Fabricators. Brent joined Backswath Management to establish the Mergers, Acquisitions, and Investment Group, leading to the creation of Harvest Acquisitions, where he now serves as President and CEO. Alongside his professional pursuits, Brent is pursuing an MSMBA program at Purdue University and actively engages in community initiatives.

He resides in Oak Bluff, Manitoba, with his wife and children, enjoying hockey, golfing, skiing, and lake activities in his leisure time.