Farming with Purpose: A Letter from Huntersvlei

As a family, we recognise how fortunate we are to be fourth-generation farmers in South Africa. This responsibility is a privilege we carry forward, embracing new technologies and ideas while holding fast to the same principles of sustainability that guided our forefathers.

I became a farmer just over five years ago. Born and raised here, I have always felt an innate connection to the land and to farming, yet the journey has brought both challenge and deep learning.

At its core, farming begins with responsibility — to the land, and to those whose livelihoods are tied to it. In South Africa, where unemployment remains high, that responsibility is significant. Yet it is also a privilege: to create opportunity, to invest in people, and to play a small part in strengthening the resilience of our community.

Another enduring lesson is the realisation of how little control you truly have.

The smell of rain carries a deeper meaning for a farmer: it may signal planting time, the breaking of a drought, or the start of possible havoc — but in every case, it shapes the year ahead.

One sick animal is concerning; a whole herd is devastating. Farming teaches humility in the face of forces far greater than ourselves.

And yet, through that uncertainty comes reward. We have the privilege of producing and creating products that carry our values into the market — like our Sussex Naturally Raised Beef and Wagyu Rangeland Certified Beef. These are more than products; they are honest, wholesome proteins that reflect our care for the land, our animals, and the people we serve.

Protecting our soils is central to this mission. Through crop rotation, cover cropping, responsible grazing, and the considered use of equipment and inputs, we work to ensure that the land entrusted to us remains productive for generations to come.

At our abattoir, we work closely with pork and lamb farmers, to uphold the highest standards of animal welfare and processing, while proudly providing customers with top-quality meat that is carefully handled, traceable, and responsibly produced.

As we relaunch our website and refine our brand, we do so as a reflection of this ongoing journey — one that began over 120 years ago and continues today with the same resilience, integrity, and long-term commitment to sustainability.

We invite you to explore our new site and join us in celebrating the future of farming: grounded in legacy, driven by innovation, and blessed by the land we call home.

From our family to yours,

– Claire Evans-Anderson MD Rhys Evans Group