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Proudly Local Business: Lady's Hat Farm | Castor

Vision Credit Union • Feb 16, 2022

Nikki Wiart returned to her roots and is carving her own path as a farmer in rural Alberta

“I wanted to be out on the land, in the dirt.”

Nikki Wiart left her family cattle ranch just outside the town of Castor to pursue an education, establish a career and never look back. Like many wide-eyed and obstinate high school graduates, Nikki could never have imagined that she’d be called back to her roots — and discover the fulfillment she’d been seeking all along.

The road that led Nikki to farming wasn’t a typical one. Despite being born into a lineage of generational farmers, Nikki was determined to carve her own way. After completing a Bachelor of Communications degree in Journalism at MacEwan University, she went on to produce the eleven o’clock news for Global Edmonton. After a couple of years, she decided to make the move to Ottawa to pursue her Master’s in Journalism at Carleton University.

During her Master’s studies, Nikki began a research project on first generation farmers in Canada. She travelled across the country interviewing people, many of whom were young women who had chosen farm life despite not having an agricultural background. Their inspiring stories led Nikki to an epiphany.

Nikki was aware that she'd been finding covering the tragedies of the daily news very stressful. She knew that would take a toll. She also realized something else about herself. “I wanted to be out on the land, in the dirt,” she says. “I was so fortunate to have a farm waiting back home for me, to be able to work outside and make a lifestyle change for myself.”

In 2017, Nikki moved back to Castor and embarked on the business venture of a lifetime — farming. And that’s how Lady’s Hat Farm was born. From vegetables to honey bees, grains to laying hens, cut flowers to grass-fed lamb, Nikki has dabbled in growing and raising just about anything. “I thought I’d try a little bit of everything and see what works. And I did,” she says.


She’s even started a coalition with other local farms; it’s called The Prairie Farm Project. Currently, the project includes Lady’s Hat Farm, Redtail Farms and Lazy T Farm; all small-scale farms owned and operated by young farmers. They collaboratively market their offerings and host farm-to-table dinners to showcase the food they grow. But, most importantly, they support each other.


“We kind of brought back this old model of what farming used to be like, where you collaborate with your neighbours and help one another out…We really enjoy the company and want each other to be successful in our farming endeavours,” says Nikki.

Today, five years into her farming venture, Nikki has learned to let her instincts and mother nature be her guide. “I really respect what Mother Nature has offered me out in this zone. In Zone 3, we don't have a long growing season, but we do have a lot of potential…” Nikki says. 


Nikki’s the first to admit that farming isn’t without its challenges: seclusion, being at the mercy of the elements, navigating a global pandemic. But the rewards have been far greater; a deeply rooted connection with nature and finding her calling as a farmer. 


Nikki hopes other young people have the courage to answer that call as well, she says. “I feel lucky at this time to be where I'm at and doing what I'm doing. And I hope that more young people see the potential in what our agricultural landscape has to offer.” 
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