Saar Bank Farms

Saar Bank Farms is located in a tranquil area of Sumas Prairie, seemingly a world away from all the hustle and bustle of BC’s fifth largest and expanding city of Abbotsford. The Vanderlinde family has farmed this property since 1960 when Harm’s grandfather originally purchased it as a dairy farm.

At first, Harm did not think farming was the career for him, so he tried his hand at truck driving and brick laying. With a smile he adds, “Then I decided that farming was not so bad,” and that is where Harm and Magdalene’s farming story begins.

When Harm took over the farm, he decided that he wanted to convert from a dairy farm to a hog farm as the opportunity seemed promising. So in 1991, the Vanderlindes found a supply of weaner pigs and started their farm business of finishing pigs for market. Their operations were small in the early years and they were able to use one of their existing dairy barns. They built a new barn in 2000 that was tailor made for raising healthy, happy pigs and further expanded that barn in 2006. The Vanderlindes are still a small family farm, shipping to Johnston’s since 1995 and sending about 3,300 hogs to market every year.

Magdalene grew up as a ‘city girl’ in Holland; however, her comfort in her current surroundings would reveal that she is a natural ‘farm girl.’ It would seem that destiny drove her to British Columbia as a young teacher to billet on the Vanderlinde Farm; a home she would never leave after marrying Harm and raising their large family of seven children.

The Vanderlinde children always helped out with chores on the farm. Even to this day, though they go off to seek out their own place in the world, the children are still drawn back to the peace and lifestyle of their family farm.

The Vanderlindes admit that not all of their years on the farm have been good years and extra efforts were necessary to make the farm viable. As with all farmers, the work is hard and the financial reward does not always match the work and time demands that is required to raise animals. But for the Vanderlindes, the love of their land and lifestyle outweighs the challenges they confront. Says Harm, “On a sunny afternoon, after the pigs are cared for, we can put the bikes in the back of the truck and enjoy the rest of the day”. Such simple pleasures are what keeps the Vanderlindes away from the “desk jobs” and on their fine fields.

The gentle nature of Harm and Magdalene is surely a secret to their success in raising happy and healthy pigs. They take the responsibility of raising food for BC families seriously as they care for their animals daily to ensure the consideration of the animals’ welfare and providing quality products for consumers.

Saar Bank Farms in Abbotsford, growing high quality, safe food close to home for fellow British Columbians.