Having both grown up in the Winnipeg area, Leanne and Philip moved to their farm 20 years ago to raise their three children in a rural setting while maintaining connections with family in the city. Leanne continued to work full-time while Philip was a stay-at-home dad before their children were old enough for school, encouraging them later in 4-H projects they tested out right on the farm!
The family started by growing food for themselves, finding diet alternatives such as goat milk products interesting, and became the most popular parents in their children’s friend circles after somehow hosting three birthday parties in a row in which animals on their farm were birthing that same day. As the couple’s collection of hilarious, strange and trying experiences with their animals began to grow, they named their farm in honor of their approach, Fenez Follies Farm, which they noted was to also reflect the fact that they entered the endeavour without much experience in farming.
After offering a summer CSA along with multiple meats and eggs, Leanne and Philip are taking a break to concentrate on family and other pursuits so have cut back on production.