Saskatchewan farm offers the opportunity to experience farm life

Josef Buttigieg, a biology professor from Toronto, found an unexpected calling in rural Saskatchewan when he purchased a farm in 2017. Initially seeking a quiet escape from city life, his Lumsden farm, Fenek Farm, has transformed into a thriving agritourism destination.

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The farm was supposed to be an acreage. How some people have cottages, I wanted to have a farm because you can do much more with a farm than you can do with a lakeside acreage.

Buttigieg, who holds a PhD in neurophysiology, described the farm as a planned "acreage" for a slower pace of life, unlike his urban upbringing. However, the farm's trajectory shifted when neighbors learned of his animals and inquired about raising chickens. This led to an unplanned expansion of his farm activities.

In 2018, Buttigieg opened the farm for tours, initially for friends of his daughter. He recalled thinking it would be a casual venture for "gas money-slash-beer money." The positive feedback and word-of-mouth referrals quickly led to unexpected demand, with people "knocking on the door" for visits.

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Some people got wind that I had a farm said, ‘Hey can you raise some chickens?' One thing led to another.

Fenek Farm now attracts hundreds of visitors weekly and boasts over 300 animals, including sheep, birds, rabbits, and alpacas. The farm offers a petting zoo, hayrides, and hosts events and parties. Buttigieg emphasizes ethical pricing and accessibility, ensuring activities like hayrides are wheelchair-friendly.

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I thought, ‘We’ll just do this for fun. Some gas money-slash-beer money on the side, this will be great.'

He hopes his children, who are growing up on the farm, will develop an open and hard-working mindset. Buttigieg encourages visitors to come with an open mind, as the farm offers unpredictable and engaging experiences, from witnessing animal births to observing bee swarms.

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All of a sudden we had people banging down the door for that.