Sometimes I have to remind myself that before Ten Servings, before Ugly Potato Day, and before I ever picked up a camera—we were just your average family farm. And the person who’s been there for it all is my Grandpa! I sat down with him for our first podcast episode, to hear how it all started: the stories, the struggles, and the changes he’s witnessed over 105 years on the land, and I even got a few tips and tricks for you guys! It’s a piece of history, and it means the world to share it with you.
From England to Cloverdale
After WWI, Grandpa Heppell (aka Grandpa’s Grandpa) left England with his two sons and headed to Canada. He first tried Red Deer but quickly realised the freezing conditions weren’t for him. He knew his dream was to get into farming, so he took his severance package, packed up, and moved to Cloverdale—where he bought the land that is today our family farm and home.
In 1920 he made that one decision that set everything in motion!
Learning the Business (Without a Classroom)
Grandpa never went to school for Business, but he might just be the smartest businessman I know. How did he learn? “On the road,” he said. He wasn’t afraid to visit other farms, ask questions, and study how others ran their operations. One of my favourite stories is about when he got into poultry—he went door to door visiting other farmers to see how they did it.
That curiosity and openness to learning were key to his success. And making some mistakes in the process too.
What’s Changed (and What Shouldn’t!)
We talked a lot about what’s changed over the last century of farming. The biggest game-changer? “Hydraulics,” Grandpa said. It transformed how work got done—faster, more efficient, less back-breaking.
But we also talked about what shouldn’t change. Grandpa made a point to talk about the importance of safety. Farming has always been dangerous work, especially with the long hours and heavy machinery. He even told me a story about how his eldest son lost pretty much all his fingers, and that other workers not as lucky and even lost their life. So he hopes the new generation keeps safety as a top priority, and he is right!
Grandpa’s Advice for Young and Beginner Farmers
Grandpa kept it simple: persevere. Farming, like many things in life, isn’t easy—it’s full of hard seasons, setbacks, and uncertainty. But if you stick with it, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. That resilience has gotten our family through everything from market crashes to supply chain chaos.
And if you need a little money wisdom? Grandpa’s favourite saying sums it up:
“Look after the nickels, and the dollars will look after themselves.”
This podcast episode means a lot to me. Sitting down with Grandpa and hearing the history straight from him reminded me why we love farming. It’s because we love helping our community, and that gives us purpose and it has become our legacy.
That right here? The Ugly Potato Day origin!
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If you haven’t listened yet, grab a cup of coffee and give it a listen. There’s a century of wisdom packed into this conversation, and I’m grateful to share it with you.
Should we do more podcast episodes? Comment below!