Our Story
The History of the Farm
In the late 1800s Jacob Daniel Quantz pioneered west from Ontario to Alberta. Jacob and his wife, Sophia Jane, homesteaded a quarter NE of the current farm. In 1897, they bought and named The Jungle Farm. The farm name came from a brown bear that lived in the area.
Jacob was a graduate from the University of Guelph in Veterinarian Science. Their farm had grain crops and a wide range of farm animals to supply their families’ food needs.
Jacob and Sophia had two sons. Sadly, one of their sons was killed in the First World War. Leona’s grandfather, Oscar, came home to The Jungle Farm.
Oscar Percival married Ada Stevenett and they lived and farmed on The Jungle Farm raising four children. All enjoyed music and farm life. They had a wide range of farm animals and grain crops.
Leona’s dad, Gerald, was the youngest son. Gerald married Betty Hamar and continued farming at The Jungle Farm. Gerald and Betty raised Purebred Shorthorn cattle and grain. They had four children who were actively involved in 4-H and music.
The Farm Today
Jacob’s great grand-daughter, Leona, with her husband Blaine Staples have been farming at The Jungle Farm since 1996.
Leona finished high school in Innisfail and went on to further her education at the University of Alberta earning a BSc in Home Economics. She was hired by Alberta Agriculture to work as a District Home Economist in Medicine Hat. This is where she met Blaine. Blaine is a U of A grad with a Masters degree in Agriculture.
Blaine and Leona had the unique opportunity to manage Goldeye Center at Nordegg for five years before coming back to The Jungle Farm. They chose to expand the farm into strawberries and vegetables to complement the grain farm.
Now Blaine and Leona’s three grown sons are all actively engaged on the farm. Lewis earned his Electrical Engineering Technology certificate at NAIT and, although he works in Red Deer, Lewis and his wife Rebekah are busy helping at The Jungle Farm. Their two kids, Lilly and Rowan, are the start of the sixth generation of the same family on this land! Richard completed an Applied Degree in Horticulture at Olds College, and he is taking the lead on many ag priorities at the farm full time. Gerald is involved at the Innisfail Growers booth at the Gasoline Alley market or in the summer at various seasonal markets throughout Central Alberta. Gerald has a love for trees – so you will see some changes as he starts to make his mark on the farm.
Lewis, Richard and Gerald all add their own unique flare to The Jungle Farm. Leona and Blaine are thrilled to have them all involved in the family farm.
The Staples family believes volunteering creates a better world. They have been involved in various organizations and groups. Their boys determined some of their volunteer projects as they were growing up, so groups such as scouts, baseball, soccer, school parent councils, and water polo were the focus. Now the boys are finished these activities so the volunteering opportunities are changing, but the entire family is very engaged in the community. The boys also like to be actively involved in industry organizations such as Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association, North America Strawberry Growers, Olds College, Innisfail Chamber of Commerce and Innisfail Coop.
The Staples welcome you to their farm for an experience that is sure to keep you coming back for more!
Did You Know?
In 1997, The Jungle Farm celebrated its 100th year of the Quantz family continuously farming the land. When you come to visit The Jungle Farm be sure to look for the beautiful brass plaque by the farm store door commemorating this milestone.
2024 marks the 28th year Blaine and Leona have been home on the family farm. It is hard to believe how the time has gone BUT it is rewarding to see all that has happened in the past 28 years!