Haskett Growers (2014) Ltd.
Haskett Growers: Growing Opportunity for Generations
By Serena Gray-Withers April 9, 2026
Located south of Winkler and in the Rathwell–Treherne area, Haskett Growers has grown into a diverse, multi-generational farm operation rooted in opportunity, innovation, and strong family values. Today, the farm spans approximately 11,000 acres and produces a wide range of crops, including fresh, processing, chipping, and seed potatoes, along with wheat, canola, corn, soybeans, oats, and rye.
The farm’s story began in the late 1970s, when four neighbouring farms came together to grow potatoes. By the 1980s, the Thiessen family had taken on a larger role, transitioning from grain farming into a full potato operation. Over time, the farm expanded steadily adding new land, diversifying production, and investing in long-term sustainability.
A key milestone came in 2000 with the creation of Heartland Fresh Pak, a jointly owned facility that washes, grades, and packages potatoes year-round. This addition not only strengthened the operation but also created consistent employment beyond the growing season. Continued growth followed, including expansion into the Treherne region in 2011 and a seed potato partnership in Yorkton, Saskatchewan in 2013.
Today, Lyndon Thiessen plays a key role in the business, overseeing administration, finance, and operations at Heartland Fresh Pak. While he started out working hands-on in the field, his path eventually led him into accounting before returning to the farm in a leadership role.
“I didn’t always see myself working on the farm long-term,” Lyndon says. “But I always knew I’d be in agriculture in some way. After getting my accounting designation, the opportunity came up to come back, and it just made sense.”
Like many family farms, Haskett Growers has evolved in how it operates. With multiple generations and locations, communication has become more intentional.
“There are good days and challenging days, like any family business,” Lyndon explains. “But at the end of the day, we’re all pulling in the same direction. Communication is key, we’re more deliberate about it now than we used to be.”
Potato farming remains at the core of the operation, bringing both opportunity and complexity.
“It’s a completely different level,” he says. “There’s more investment, more management, and it doesn’t stop at harvest. We’re storing, monitoring, and managing quality year-round.”
Being part of Peak of the Market plays an important role in supporting that work.
“Peak handles the marketing side for us, which lets us focus on growing the crop,” Lyndon says. “But it’s more than that, it’s the relationships. We sit in meetings with neighbours, bouncing ideas around, figuring out what works and what doesn’t. That’s a big advantage.”
He also points to the broader support system as a key benefit. “There’s a whole side of the business in Winnipeg that you don’t see day-to-day on the farm, but it’s still a big part of what makes everything run smoothly.”
Growth at Haskett has always been steady and intentional, driven by a focus on continuous improvement and opportunity for future generations.
“We’re always thinking about what’s next,” Lyndon says. “How do we create opportunities for the next generation if they want to be involved? That’s a big part of what drives growth for us.”
Advancements in technology, from GPS-guided equipment to remote irrigation systems, have helped improve efficiency and sustainability across the farm.
“We’re using better technology than ever before,” he adds. “Applying inputs at the right time, in the right place, it’s all about being more precise and responsible.”
For Lyndon and the Thiessen family, farming is ultimately about more than production, it’s about legacy.
“Our goal is to make sure there’s something here for the next generation,” he says. “If they want the opportunity to farm, we want to be able to provide that, just like it was provided to us.”