Two City Boys on the Farm – The Koen Brothers’ Wildlife Adventure
If there’s one thing my brother and I excel at, it’s grabbing every adventure with both hands – and always doing it together. Whether it’s business, sports, or just life in general, we always have each other’s backs. And then, one day, two city boys decided to become farmers. The wildlife industry pulled us in like a tornado – we c
aught the bug, and that was it. As with everything we do, we didn’t want to approach it half-heartedly. At first, the game drives were just for fun, but it didn’t take long before we started digging deeper. Before we knew it, we weren’t just admirers of nature but active players in the industry. With our first purchase of top genetic wildlife, we made a decision: if we were going to do this, we were going to do it right! Today, we can proudly say that we breed various wildlife species with carefully planned genetic programs. To establish the best genetics in the industry and make a real difference. We are truly blessed to walk this path and recognize that it is only by grace that we have the opportunity to work with God’s creation. It remains both a privilege and a responsibility – we are merely stewards of His land. Honesty and integrity are among our strongest traits. Or, as my brother jokingly says, “Honesty is our trouble!” But it’s precisely that honesty that helps us grow, learn, and avoid paying too much school fees or burning our fingers. This adventure began in 2022 and has been an absolute pleasure from day one. The hours spent on the farm are not just hours of hard work but hours that add value to our lives. Naturally, my brother doesn’t miss an opportunity to tease me – according to him, my name should be JJ “ROOIBOK” Koen because I never miss spotting a beautiful impala. Today, we are among the few who have dedicated dapple and white flank breeding programs – something we are very proud of. With the guidance and advice of some of the biggest names in the industry, we quickly recognized the value of the wildlife sector within agriculture. We know there is still much to learn, but one thing is certain – these two city boys are here to stay. And when we take on something, we do it right!
