Darian Farms isn’t just a business; it’s our way of life. Darian Farms is owned and operated by the MacKenzie family. Located in the heart of the Saskatchewan prairies near Zehner, our family farm represents 3 generations of agricultural heritage.

It all started in 1970 when Ian and Darlene met at university in Victoria. They married the following year and started their life together at our original farm site on Hillbank Rd in Cobble Hill, BC. Their first son Thomas was born in 1972, followed by Tyler and Graham in 1977 and 1978. After starting their family, Ian and Darlene began a 30-cow mother-calf beef herd in 1973. That continued until 1985 when economic circumstances pushed them to look for other areas to diversify. This led them to dairy, which started as a herd of 12 milking cows as part of the Island Farms Cooperative. Over the next 5 years, Ian, Darlene and their boys grew that herd to 30 cows. In 1991, they added a 4th and final son, Brock, to their busy family. Over the next decade, they consistently grew their herd to 60 milking cows, requiring upgrades to the aging facilities, which then supported additional growth to milking 100 cows by 2006. In 2005, the next generation joined the family, with both Thomas and Tyler having children of their own.

In early 2007, the difficult decision was made as a family to move the farm operation to Zehner, SK, where we took over existing facilities, bringing our original herd with us to grow the operation. This move helped the farm grow from 100 milking cows to 300 milking cows, and from 180 acres to 1,600 acres, first between provinces and now, in 2026, to nearly 400 milking cows and 7,500 acres of grainland. Since moving to Saskatchewan in 2007, we have put significant investment into upgrading our facilities, building a great team to support our operation, as well as education and training for both family and staff. We are proud to currently have Thomas, Brock and their wives on the farm full time, along with Thomas’s son, who graduated in 2024. Brock’s children, while young, are starting to show interest in being a part of the legacy we’re building. Ian and Darlene are still very involved in the farm and enjoying seeing their children and grandchildren continue to grow what they started 3 decades ago.

Every pound of beef, litre of milk, and bushel of grain we produce is a testament to our commitment to quality without compromise. When you choose Darian Farms, you’re becoming part of a tradition that values honesty, integrity, and the simple joy of a shared meal.