Meet Janet, Jeff, and Family

Janet’s dream to pass on the farming lifestyle to the next generation became a reality when she and her husband, Jeff, were able to purchase her 3rd generation chicken farm in 1998.

Working with animals has always been a passion for both Janet and Jeff and they have passed that knowledge and interest on to their 5 children. Read-on to learn more about this farm family.

Growing up on the farm, Janet loved the constant presence of her parents and the fact that farming was a family affair. She wanted to pass that lifestyle on to her own children. Her dream became a reality when she and her husband Jeff were able to purchase her 3rd generation chicken farm in 1998. Working with animals has always been a passion for both Janet and Jeff and they have passed that knowledge and interest on to their 5 children. On their broiler chicken farm, like all Canadian broiler farms, the chickens are free run and always have full access to nutritious feed and clean water. Scales, water meters, electronic ventilation controls and surveillance cameras allow the family to monitor the barn conditions throughout the day.

Family members also walk through the barn at least twice per day to ensure that everything is working properly, and that the environment is optimized for the chickens at every stage of life. This minute-by-minute monitoring is one of the reasons farmers like Janet and Jeff can grow chickens more efficiently than their family members did a generation ago. What hasn’t changed over the generations is the fact that it’s still a family venture. Janet credits her kids as being integral members of the farm team and says she hopes to see their farming legacy continue.

The Friesen’s family philosophy is “we succeed together or fail together; that’s family.”

The Friesens understand that when raising livestock, the details matter. They monitor everything from the quality of their water to the air flow and light levels in the barn to provide an optimal environment for their chickens.

View the Friesen’s Day in a Life Video for a full appreciation of their life on a Manitoba chicken farm:

Extending a sincere thank you to Janet and Jeff and their family for sharing their story.