James and Dorothy Heisler
Jim and Dorothy Heisler moved to Whitecourt, Alberta in 1968 for work. Jim's parents were farmers in Heisler, Alberta, a town named after their family. They moved north to start their own farming operation, and in 1976 bought their first piece of land. Through their own drive, manual labour, and dedication, they developed raw land into beautiful hay land, cattle pasture, and farm yard. Over the years they acquired more land, cattle, and equipment, evolving their operation into the family-run business it is today. After decades of hard work, Jim and Dorothy finally "retired" from farming in 2013-which meant 1 bull and 5 cows. It didn't take long for the itch to come back, but this time it was their grandsons Josh and Jake herding them to a new opportunity.
New Direction
The Heislers traditionally ran a cow-calf pair operation, which, as many farmers can attest, is grueling work. Calves are born in February, the dead of winter, to be sold in October at the mercy of the markets. Jake knew there was a better model, but he needed the product to do it. On a sabbatical to Australia, Josh was introduced to Wagyu beef-specifically, red Wagyu, called "Akaushi". The two hatched a plan to approach their family with this new business model, and the first Akaushi products were imported in 2017. The legacy of the Heisler family's influence in cattle farming and Alberta's history was taking a new path.
The Future
Our family's history and legacy will continue through our business and the satisfaction we receive in hearing happy clients praise our beef. Legacy North's mission is to be the only ranch Albertans think of when they want to indulge in exceptional.