Two Worlds, One Dream

What	Eggs
Where	Southern
Who	Esther & Jason

From Ecuador to a Manitoba Grain Farm

Back in her home country of Ecuador, the thought of being a farmer never crossed Esther’s mind. But after moving to Canada twenty years ago and marrying Jason, life changed for her. Jason’s family, whose roots in grain farming in Manitoba stretch back to the 1870s, supported the couple in many ways. Today, the couple runs Schoen Farms, a grain farm and a layer operation. Their story is one of blending two cultures into one farm and one home.

Why Esther and Jason Became Egg Farmers

Grain farming comes with real unpredictability in terms of shifting markets and weather. For Jason and Esther, adding an egg operation brought something grain farming couldn’t: stability. Supply management gives egg farmers reliable pricing, which means more confidence in the years ahead. Jason and Esther also didn’t grow their operation alone. Manitoba Egg Farmers welcomed them into the industry and provided the support new producers need to get started.

Grain and Eggs, Working Together

There was an additional benefit for this Manitoba family-owned farm in adding a layer farm: a sustainable cycle between their egg barn and their grain farm. The grain farm produces feed for the hens, ensuring high-quality nutrition. In turn, manure from the hens acts as fertilizer for the grain fields.

The Farming Lifestyle

At Schoen Farms, family life revolves around the hens and not the other way around. This trade-off is one they’ve made peace with because Esther and Jason love caring for their animals and producing good quality food for Manitoba families. Through egg farming they’ve found stability, purpose, and even more time together as a family when their kids pitch in. Esther recalls happy memories of getting her children to pack eggs with her when they were little. Esther said, “I’m extremely thankful for being here in Canada, being able to farm. Our children are growing up in an environment where they have the opportunity to work hard, to learn skills that are going to be good for their lives.”

Keeping Ecuador Close to Home

Esther has stayed connected to her Ecuadorian culture too, and that culture is one both she and her children now share. It was important to her that the family speak both English and Spanish at home. Along with French toast (the family’s favourite way to eat eggs), Esther makes Ecuadorian cuisine, even when the ingredients are hard to find in Manitoba. The family has started building a greenhouse with the space and big windows required to grow tropical plants. Esther’s dream is to have banana and avocado trees growing on their farm.

Watch Their Story

Watch the full story of Jason and Esther Thiessen, proudly sponsored by Manitoba Egg Farmers. To learn more about egg farmers across the province, visit eggs.mb.ca/