Meet the Family

Sam and Janeen Covlin

Sam grew up on a mixed farm near Rockglen SK where they raised almost every kind of farm animal and processed them in their tiny on-farm butchershop. Many of the animal butcher skill he learned at home have become very useful now. Sam is the chief animal caretaker and slaughterer at Cool Springs.

Janeen grew up 10 miles from Cool Springs Ranch, near Endeavour, also on a mixed farm with many farm animals as well. After a disappointing "official" agriculture education, she discovered Joel Salatin, Holistic Management and the Weston A Price Foundation which paved the way for them to raise and market sustainable grass-based food.

Together they have 4 very active kids - Kate, Emma, Tess and Beau - of which they hope to keep happy and healthy and foster a love of holistic agriculture.

Lyle and Grace Olson

Lyle was raised on a homestead farm just 2 miles from where Cool Springs is now. They raised most of their own food and hunted for the remainder Grace was raised on a large pedigreed seed farm near Rocanville, SK. and after completing her Bachlor of Education Degree, she moved to Endeavour to be a teacher.

After they were married, they began raising Simmental cattle and grain, and of course had a menagerie of small animals and a gigantic garden. Grace continued to teach and Lyle worked off the farm managing Co-op stores finally built a Tempo station.

In 2007, they went into parnership with their daughter and son-in-law, Sam and Janeen, sold their farm in 2009, built a butchershop at Sam & Janeen's location and then moved over as well.

In the fall of 2009/2010 Lyle spent 5 months at SIAST enrolled in the Retail Meat Cutter program. Lyle continues to be the head butcher although it is a little more physically demanding than he would like at this stage in life. Grace keeps everybody together, managing the book-keeping and often preparing delicious meals for the hungry crews.