ron-bio-final.png

RON HILDERMAN

SENIOR PARTNER (FOUNDER 1979)

Driven by the smell of freshly tilled soil and an unfettered love of the land, 39 years ago Ron laid the foundations we built our farm upon. Together, with his wife Diana and brother Wayne, he worked tirelessly over the years to develop our small family farm into the successful enterprise that it is today.   

As a veteran farmer and interprovincial journeyman in refrigeration, his wealth of knowledge and experience ever grounds us in this world of overwhelming technologies, while his open mind and progressive approach to farming keep us constantly moving forward. Ron has firmly planted one foot in the past and the other in the future. His continued mentorship has proven invaluable time and time again.

While Ron once claimed to be semi-retired, he still turns up to the farm each day and we thank him for it; his tireless work ethic and eye for detail mean his presence alone makes everyone work harder, all in an effort just to keep up to the old man.    

diana-bio-final.png

DIANA HILDERMAN

SENIOR PARTNER (FOUNDER 1979)

While Ron may have built the foundations of our farm, it was Diana who provided the mortar. She is the cement that holds everything together and keeps us in place. Together, with her husband Ron, she spent years developing our farm and running the ‘behind-the-scene’ operations, all while raising four rambunctious sons to become the next generation of farmers.

On our farm today, Diana is a calming voice of reason and experience. Her selfless dedication to farm and family has entrenched deep family values at the heart of Prairie Son Acres. She is a beacon of family, reminding us that great achievements are accomplished through greater cooperation.

As Diana moves into semi-retirement, she has left behind huge shoes to fill. So, large in fact, that our entire support team struggles to match her level of organization and efficiency. Luckily, Diana is always around to lend a needed hand, offer sound advice and keep us in line—children and grandchildren alike. 

colin-bio-final.png

COLIN HILDERMAN

MARKETING MANAGER

For some people, there is sense of fulfillment that can’t be found, it can only be grown. This is true for Colin, who, after several years training as mechanical engineer technologist and working as an HVAC salesman, decided to return to the farm full time. With him came an unrivaled glut of engineering knowledge, technical skills and business acumen.

As a mechanically inclined and outside-the-box thinker, Colin excels at trouble-shooting our most newfangled challenges as we continue to incorporate new technologies into the farm. His determination and willingness to learn means that in the ongoing battle between man and machine, Colin has yet to be defeated by an inanimate object.

Along with his technical expertise, Colin brings with him a broad swath of business experience. From HR policy to marketing strategy, he possesses a unique skill set allowing us to bring modern administrative and business management practices to Prairie Son Acres.

shane-bio-final.png

SHANE HILDERMAN

FINANCIAL MANAGER

Everybody loves to eat, but Shane is truly passionate about food. As a young academic, he left our farm to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree of Food Science from the University of Saskatchewan, before heading to PEI to become certified as a Red Seal Chef while working at a food science research lab. Coming full circle, Shane returned to Prairie Son Acres in 2015 bringing with him a unique blend of practical and theoretical knowledge in the field of food production and processing.

As a resourceful and tenacious problem solver, Shane brings a unique perspective to both the agricultural and administrative challenges we face on the farm. His scientific background bolsters his practical knowledge meaning Shane often finds creative solutions to stubborn problems.

Ever looking forward, Shane has a lot of fingers in a lot of different cookie jars. With a fondness for learning and continued education, Shane has been developing additional areas of expertise, including business development strategy, value added processes and brand management. Equally important, he’s also a badass with a barbeque.

trent-bio-final.png

TRENT HILDERMAN

Lead Agronomist

From a very young age, Trent has always been a farmer through and through. Following closely in Ron’s footsteps, Trent became a Journeyman Refrigeration Mechanic and earned a Diploma in Agronomy from U of S, all while working full time at Prairie Son Acres. He’s basically a younger, less bald version of dad.

They say the only constant is change, and, luckily for us, Trent loves the ongoing challenge of merging new technologies and modern agricultural practices with traditional farm values. He is particularly passionate about adopting modern agricultural practices which promote soil health and long-term sustainability. As a forward-thinking individual, Trent’s stated mission is land rejuvenation, all in an effort to ensure a successful future for our next generation of farmers. His love of agriculture is rivaled only by his passion for spotless windshields.

From mechanics to botany, Trent has an in-depth understanding of a farmer’s traditional tool kit. His well-rounded skill set and intellectual curiosity keep him on the cutting-edge of agricultural developments. With a keen eye for detail, Trent is focused on developing modern farming practices that are specifically suited to Prairie Son Acres.