Our Story
Our History
BEFORE THE THIESSEN FAMILY
The ‘Namaka’ name was chosen by Ed's wife, Donna Thiessen, in honor of the area's historical farm 'Namaka Farm'. First established in 1883, the historical Namaka Farm was one of ten operations to be built and run by the Canadian Government alongside the Canadian Pacific Railway in order to support the westward expansion of Canada. Major-General Thomas Bland Strange was at the forefront of this government project - his estate located just south of the Namaka Farm. Strange played a major role in shaping western Canada’s agricultural practices by co-founding the Northwest Association of Ranchers, the likely precursor of today's Western Stock Growers Association (WSGA).
Following a series of conflicts that forced the Canadian government to pull out of the area, the original Namaka Farm operation was sold. After a handful of short-term land owners, George Lane purchased the farm in 1912. Lane expanded Namaka's holdings to include the Strange estate - his total property then encompassing a significant 12,240 acres. Lane was both a politician and rancher, but he is most famous for his status as one of the 'Big Four,' who founded the Calgary Stampede in 1912. Lane was already the owner of the well-known Bar U Ranch (now a historical site in Longview Alberta) when he purchased Namaka Farm, and it was here that he continued his mixed farming operation. Under Lane's ownership, Namaka grew plentiful crops of oats, wheat and barley, as well as housing 500 head of cattle, 1400 hogs, and the largest herd of Percheron horses in the world, with numbers close to 500 . The economic depression that followed WWI heavily impacted the farm, and out of necessity, Lane joined forces with the Dominion Bank and continued to run under the title Geo Lane and Company. In 1928, the operation was purchased by a group of local Mennonites and divided in 36 holdings.
Following a series of conflicts that forced the Canadian government to pull out of the area, the original Namaka Farm operation was sold. After a handful of short-term land owners, George Lane purchased the farm in 1912. Lane expanded Namaka's holdings to include the Strange estate - his total property then encompassing a significant 12,240 acres. Lane was both a politician and rancher, but he is most famous for his status as one of the 'Big Four,' who founded the Calgary Stampede in 1912. Lane was already the owner of the well-known Bar U Ranch (now a historical site in Longview Alberta) when he purchased Namaka Farm, and it was here that he continued his mixed farming operation. Under Lane's ownership, Namaka grew plentiful crops of oats, wheat and barley, as well as housing 500 head of cattle, 1400 hogs, and the largest herd of Percheron horses in the world, with numbers close to 500 . The economic depression that followed WWI heavily impacted the farm, and out of necessity, Lane joined forces with the Dominion Bank and continued to run under the title Geo Lane and Company. In 1928, the operation was purchased by a group of local Mennonites and divided in 36 holdings.
THE THIESSEN FAMILY
Abraham and Gertrude Thiessen emigrated from Europe in the mid 1920's and were one of the many Mennonite families who settled on the estate of the late George Lane. Here the couple raised their seven children, including their son, Jake Thiessen, and it was on Namaka land that young Jake was first introduced to agriculture. He worked many jobs in the area including hauling grain, coal and livestock, laboring as a farm hand, and working on the construction of Highway #24. In 1940 Jake married Manja Wingerton and the couple moved into a home just across the street from Jake's parents wherein they raised their three children - their eldest son being Edward Thiessen.
THIESSEN FARMS
In 1950, Jake Thiessen and family moved to a separate portion of the George Lane estate and began Thiessen Farms (as pictured). Today this area makes up the small cow-calf operation of Namaka Farms Inc.
Ed began working on the farm at a young age and had extensive knowledge of the grain-operation run by his father. Graduating high school early, he moved to Winnipeg to study Engineering at the University of Manitoba. Ed described himself as being "one lost farm boy" as he entered the big city, never before having left the farm or driven in a large city. In 1964, Ed graduated as a Mechanical Engineer and spent the following three years working for an oil service company out of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, wherein he met and fell in love with his wife, Donna. The two were married in 1966, and had their eldest son Stuart in 1967, just before moving back to the Namaka area where Ed began farming with his father, and later his brother. Purely by happenstance, Thiessen Farms began raising cattle when they were left with a surplus of grain as it exceeded the Wheat Board quota. This prompted the family to venture into cattle feeding. At the time (1969), the farm consisted of 87 hand-fed cattle, a small cow-calf operation and 10 milking cows in addition to the already established grain operation.
In the years that followed, Ed and Donna were blessed with four more children - including their youngest son, Bryan Thiessen in 1975. All five children were raised on the farm and spent many hours learning the hard work that came with the ranching lifestyle. In 1994, after working 5 years as an engineer, Stuart also returned home to the farm to work with his father and uncle. Following Jake's (Ed's father) passing the family continued to run the operation under the name Thiessen Farms Ltd until the year 2000.
NAMAKA FARMS INC.
In 2000, Ed and his brother began farming individually. Ed and Stuart assumed operation of the north lot under the name Namaka Farms Inc., while Ed's brother continued with the original lot. In 2008, Ed's youngest son, Bryan, returned to help run Namaka Farms. Ed greatly enjoyed both mentoring and working alongside his two sons. Today, Namaka Farms has been in business for over 20 years, and we are proud to continue our legacy as a family-run operation.
NAMAKA FARMS INC. SASKATCHEWAN
Namaka Farms purchased land just outside of Outlook, Saskatchewan in 2008, and it was soon after that we began our satellite grain operation. In 2019, we began construction on the new feedlot, and currently, our Outlook location homes nearly 10,000 cattle. As we move forward, the Namaka team is excited about the continuing expansion of both the grain and cattle operations in Outlook.
George Lane, right, pictured with the Prince of Wales, 1919. Calgary Herald archive photo.
Namaka Farm, Namaka, Alberta 1911. Canadian Libraries.
Thiessen Farms, Alberta 1992.
Ed and Donna Thiessen - Namaka Farms 2009.
Namaka Farms Inc. Under Construction, Outlook SK 2021.
Our Team
Stuart Thiessen, Co-Owner
Eldest son of Donna and Ed Thiessen, Stuart, returned to the farm after completing his Civil Engineering degree at the University of Alberta. He worked for 5 years in the engineering field prior to returning to the family business. Stuart is a passionate businessman, who enjoys the research side of agriculture, as well as working with other innovators to pioneer new solutions and forwarding the industry. He began helping out in the family business at the age of 6, and has been an integral part of the operation for over 25 years.
Bryan Thiessen, Co-Owner
Ed's youngest son, Bryan, returned to the farm in 2008, jointly managing the Alberta lot and collaborating on the expansion of Namaka Farms in Outlook, Saskatchewan. Bryan enjoys the complexity of multifaceted agriculture as well as watching conceptualized ideas become a reality in the operation. Much like his brother, Bryan began working on the farm at a young age and has been a crucial part of Namaka's team for over 15 years.