Land Acknowledgement

We believe that sustainable farming begins with recognizing and respecting the deep history of the soil we steward. We gratefully acknowledge that our homestead in Minburn County is located on Treaty 6 territory—the traditional ancestral lands, hunting grounds, and gathering places of diverse Indigenous peoples. This land has been lived on, travelled, and cared for since time immemorial by the nêhiyawak (Plains Cree), Saulteaux, Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Nakota Isga (Nakota Sioux), and Dene Nations. We also recognize that this region is part of the historical homelands and the Battle River District (District 12) of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government.
 
We honour the enduring relationship that Indigenous communities hold with this land, its waters, and its wildlife. As modern farmers and caretakers, we accept our shared treaty responsibilities to protect the environment and nurture our livestock ethically. We are dedicated to cultivating an inclusive, welcoming space where all community members can gather, learn, and connect with agriculture in a spirit of reconciliation, gratitude, and mutual respect.

Animal Welfare Commitment

At Hogs and Horns Homestead, the health, dignity, and well-being of our livestock are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that raising animals ethically is not just a business practice, but a profound responsibility. Every animal born or raised on our homestead is treated with respect, provided with compassionate care, and managed under the highest standard of animal husbandry.
To ensure our animals live thriving, species-appropriate lives, we stand firmly by the following core principles:
  • Freedom to Express Natural Behaviours: Our animals are raised with ample space, fresh air, and continuous access to pasture or clean shelter. Whether rooting in the dirt, foraging, or socializing, we design our farm environment to support their natural instincts and herd dynamics.
  • Nutritional Integrity & Clean Water: We provide a high-quality, balanced diet tailored to each species’ specific growth and nutritional needs. Clean, fresh water is available to our livestock at all times, across all seasons.
  • Proactive Health & Low-Stress Handling: We practice proactive herd health management to prevent illness before it occurs. When handling livestock—whether for daily care, sorting, or health checks—we utilize low-stress, calm techniques to minimize fear and anxiety.
  • Responsible Stewardship & Continuous Learning: We continuously evaluate our farm practices against modern ethical standards and agricultural research. If an animal falls ill or suffers an injury, we provide immediate medical attention, working alongside veterinary professionals to ensure comfort and recovery.
  • Dignity at End of Life: Our commitment to welfare extends throughout the animal’s entire life cycle. When it comes time for processing, we ensure the transition is managed with the utmost care, calm, and respect, minimizing stress to the absolute best of our ability.
We hold ourselves accountable to our values, our community, and the animals in our care. By prioritizing welfare over convenience, we ensure that Hogs and Horns Homestead remains a place where livestock can live healthy, dignified lives.

Inclusivity & Accessibility Commitment

At Hogs and Horns Homestead, we believe that agriculture has the power to unite people, spark curiosity, and build resilient communities. We are deeply committed to cultivating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities can gather, learn, and connect with farm life and food.
Whether you are booking an educational farm tour, participating in a hands-on public workshop, or purchasing livestock and homestead goods, you belong here.
We bring this commitment to life through our dedication to the following areas:
1. Diversity and Inclusion
    • A Place for Everyone: We celebrate diversity in all its forms, including race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and background. Discrimination, harassment, or exclusionary behaviour of any kind is strictly prohibited on our farm and digital platforms.

    • Inclusive Education: Our workshops and tours are designed to be supportive spaces for learning. We meet our guests wherever they are on their agricultural journey, encouraging open dialogue, respectful curiosity, and a shared appreciation for sustainable farming.

2. On-Farm Physical Accessibility
    • The Reality of a Working Farm: We recognize that our homestead features rugged, natural terrain, unpaved paths, gravel surfaces, and active agricultural zones that can present distinct mobility challenges.

    • Proactive Adaptation: We want everyone to experience the joy of farm life. If you or a family member have mobility limitations or use an assistive device (such as a wheelchair or walker), please contact us before your visit. We will gladly work with you to adapt our tour routes, adjust workshop spaces, and provide clear details on parking and terrain so you can comfortably and safely visit the farm.

    • Service Animals: Fully trained service animals are welcome on the homestead. However, to protect the biosecurity and safety of our livestock, please notify us in advance of your visit so we can safely manage your service animal’s path around our working animal enclosures.

3. Digital Accessibility
    • Usable Technology: We want our website, booking platforms, and online resources to be accessible to everyone. We continually strive to design our digital storefront to align with modern web accessibility guidelines, ensuring clear text, intuitive navigation, and compatibility with assistive technologies.

Continuous Listening and Growth
True inclusivity is a continuous journey of listening and learning. We welcome your honest feedback on how we can improve our physical farm spaces, digital experience, and educational programs to better serve our diverse community. If you have any questions or require specific accommodations for an upcoming workshop, please contact us at info@hogsandhornshomesteada.ca.

Environmental Stewardship Commitment

We believe that true sustainability requires active, intentional care of our natural ecosystems. Our farming practices go beyond simple conservation; we actively work to regenerate the land we manage through rotational grazing, pasture management, and biodiversity protection.
 
However, regeneration is not a static destination—it is a continuous learning journey. The land is a dynamic teacher, and we approach our stewardship with humility and transparency. We actively observe, experiment, and adapt our methods as we learn more about healthy soil biology, carbon cycles, and watershed protection. We don’t have every answer, but we are fully committed to sharing our trials, our errors, and our successes openly with our community. By embracing this evolution, we hope to ensure our pastures, woodlots, and wetlands thrive for generations to come.

Heritage Breed Preservation Commitment

We are dedicated to safeguarding agricultural biodiversity by raising and promoting heritage livestock breeds, including our heritage sheep and swine. Industrial agriculture has pushed many historic, resilient breeds to the brink of extinction. By focusing on these time-honoured genetics, we preserve essential traits like maternal instincts, foraging ability, and climate resilience. Our commitment ensures these remarkable breeds maintain a functional, secure place in Canada’s agricultural future while delivering superior, old-world flavour to our customers.

Transparency Statement

We operate with our gates open and our practices clear. We believe consumers have a fundamental right to know exactly how their food was raised, processed, and handled. Through our educational tours, workshops, and digital resources, we offer an unfiltered look into daily homestead life—including both our triumphs and our challenges. We hold ourselves fully accountable to our community, ensuring our customers can always trace their purchases directly back to ethical, transparent practices on our farm.