Hannam taught in rural schools in Ontario and Saskatchewan before attending and graduating from the University of Toronto's Ontario Agricultural College (became part of the University of Guelph since 1964) in 1926. He then worked as the livestock editor for The Canadian Countryman. He became education secretary of the United Farmers of Ontario in 1928 and succeeded James J. Morrison as general secretary in 1933. He also served as secretary of the United Farmers' Co-operative Company starting in 1936.
