Business Mentorship Network – Leach Family Farm

Young Agrarians is celebrating the twelfth year of the Business Mentorship Network (BMN) program in BC and the fourth year of the BMN in the Prairies! The BMN offers a year-long farm business mentorship to a diverse array of new and young farmers. Through one-on-one mentorship, peer networks, and online workshops, new farmers develop the skills necessary to operate ecologically sustainable and financially viable farm businesses.

Applications for mentees across Canada open in Fall 2026. Click below to be notified when applications open!

Mentor applications are accepted year-round. Check out the Business Mentorship Network page for more information!

Meet a mentee from the current cohort and learn about their farm and why they joined the Business Mentorship Network. Want more? Head over to our BMN Blog for more mentorship stories.

Meet a Mentee: Leach Family Farm

How It Started?

If you had asked us years ago where life would take us, we might not have had a clear answer—but somehow, it led us here. We’re Corey and Courtnee Leach, the owners of Leach Family Farms.

About an hour west of Edmonton, Alberta, on our 160-acre home quarter, we’re building something that feels both old and new at the same time. Old in the sense that it reconnects us to the land, to where food comes from, and to a slower, more intentional way of living. New in the sense that we’re learning, growing, and figuring it out as we go.

We raise grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork and chickens, and free-range eggs—food we feel proud to put on our own table and yours.

Starting a farm from scratch isn’t simple. It’s taken faith, risk, and a whole lot of learning along the way.

We financed our land through AFSC, searched out every grant we could find, and were incredibly fortunate to have Corey’s parents help us get started with our first herd through an interest-free loan. Looking back, there have been so many moments where things just fell into place in ways we couldn’t have planned.

We truly believe God has been guiding this journey—opening doors, making paths, and reminding us that we’re not doing this alone.

When we stumbled upon the Young Agrarians website, the year before we started farming we were so excited for what this program had to offer. We attended almost all of the webinars before we even owned a single animal, and after our first season we knew we were ready for the Business Bootcamp and being paired with a mentor.

We are so grateful to have been paired up with Bluesette Campbell from B-C Ranch, who is also the president of Holistic Management Canada. Her knowledge has been such an asset to our farm.

For us, farming isn’t just about food—it’s about freedom.

It’s about stepping outside and knowing exactly where your food comes from. It’s about raising a family in the country, surrounded by nature. It’s about learning to depend less on grocery stores and more on what we can grow and raise ourselves.

Courtnee never imagined she’d end up here—but now she couldn’t picture life any other way. Corey, on the other hand, always knew farming was in his blood.

Corey grew up on a conventional cattle farm, but this journey has been different. We’ve leaned into a more regenerative, holistic approach—learning through YouTube, podcasts, books, webinars, and from farmers who are walking a similar path.

We’re still learning every day. And honestly, that’s part of what makes this so meaningful.

We don’t just want to take from the land—we want to give back to it.

Through rotational grazing, we move our cattle, pigs, and chickens across the land in a way that mimics nature. It’s better for the animals, better for the soil, and better for the future. We believe our animals are part of the solution—helping build healthier soil and a more sustainable system.

The Hard Parts

This life isn’t without its challenges.

Right now, one of the biggest hurdles we face is access to land and finances. Farms around us are well-established, making it hard to compete. And in order to keep things moving forward, Corey still works away from home to help support the farm. Since Corey works away half the time, we also face the difficulty of time management

It’s not easy—but it’s worth it.

Why We Keep Going

We joined the YA mentorship program early on because we wanted to do this right. Our goal is to build a farm that not only sustains us—but eventually becomes our sole income, allowing Corey to be home full-time.

Key resources that have been instrumental in our journey are Joel Salatin, Gabe Brown, Knowledge Rich Ranching, Will Harris, the Working Cows podcast, Understanding Ag, the Carbon Cowboys series etc.

We really couldn’t live without the ability to contact other farmers. Whenever we have questions we usually turn to other farms who have more experience and share similar values. Gemstone Beef and Fishburn Ranch are two local Alberta farms that we love and respect.

We’re working toward a future where this farm supports our family, feeds our community, and stands as something we built together.

Come Be Part of Our Journey

Our story is something we want to share.

If you’ve ever wondered where your food comes from, if you’re craving a slower pace of life, or if you simply want to follow along as we build something from the ground up—we’d love to have you with us.

You can learn more, shop our products, or just follow along here:
● Website: leachfamilyfarm.com
● Instagram: @leachfamilyfarm

Thanks,

Corey and Courtnee – Leach Family Farms

Feeling inspired and ready to dig into your business with a mentor? Mentee applications open in Fall 2026. Mentor applications are open year-round. Click below for more information!