Originally from Despatch, Anton spent 15 years farming in Natal before starting an Anti-Poaching business. Longing for a simpler life, he moved to a farm once owned by his best friend’s grandparents, cherishing its peace. Married for 20 years with two children, Anton enjoys fishing and hunting.
Farming requires faith, especially during droughts. Anton values the local community’s support and fellow farmers. Since joining Noorsveld in 2019, starting with 3,000 birds, he aims to scale up to 20,000 soon. Known for his braai skills, Anton’s excellent spice blend, Musketeer’s One for All Karoo Spice, is sold at several retail outlets.
Once a cricket player, his farm is now his hobby. Awie’s passion for farming is evident in his dedication and care. Awie recalls being awake many many nights to ensure the perfect temperatures for his birds, a learning curve that over time has made reading his chickens second nature.
Awie, has been with Noorsveld Chickens for five years, was among our first farmers. Starting with 560 chicks, he now manages 17,000 in his upgraded shed. He shares the farm with his wife, Ronel, who runs a printing business. His family has farmed here for generations.
Bradley is a sixth-generation farmer from Jansenville. Originally farming Angora goats and Merino sheep, his family diversified and joined Noorsveld Chickens.
Bradley started with Noorsveld in 2019. Beginning with 4000 birds, he has grown to 6000 with dreams of expanding. Despite the demanding nature of farming, he enjoys spending time with family and friends when he finds a moment off. Bradley loves his farming community, appreciating the support from Oom Gerrit and other farmers. He says that even though farming can be challenging, how you get up when you fall makes all the difference.
Chris has been on the farm since he can remember, where he spent every school holiday working alongside his family. It was always his dream to farm with his father, Gerrit dos Santos. A dream that came true in 2023, when he started as a contract grower for Noorsveld Chickens.
Chris loves the farm’s natural environment and enjoys seeing the birds grow, surrounded by the wildlife and beautiful Karoo landscape. One of his favourite activities is walking with his dogs, soaking in nature. He also delights in watching the chicks as they explore and thrive in their free-range environment.
Originally from King Williams Town, Clinton completed his studies and qualifications as a Turner before expanding his mechanical and poultry experience at Rainbow Chickens.
Inspired by his family’s roots in the Karoo, Clinton always dreamed of farming in this natural environment. He moved to Jansenville, where he now farms with sheep, wildlife and chickens. Clinton continues to offer repair services to the local community. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, motorcycling and flying. Clinton is married to Anja Kotze Gradwell, and they have three beautiful children: Emily-May, Mark, and Tiffany
Growing up on a farm, Dirkie would wake up early to feed the chickens, collect eggs and care for his own pigs. With school feeling like a punishment, he always looked forward to returning home, removing his school clothes and getting down to the business of the farm alongside his father.
He has been a farmer for more than 30 years and his love for animals and outdoor life remains steadfast. Since 2024, he has been growing chicks for Noorsveld. Dirkie is so passionate about farming that he even finds it hard to enjoy holidays away from home.
Meet Fritz Knoetze, affectionately known as Oom Fritz! The land, handed down through generations since the 1800s, is now home to him, his wife, his son, and the chickens. He currently cares for 3,200 chicks. He loves that the birds give him a new lease on life, keeping him busy day and night.
An old unused school building on his farm was converted into the perfect environment for the chicks. “If you love animals, you will love working with chickens,” he fondly stated. Oom Fritz has been an invaluable addition to the Noorsveld farming family.
Oom Jannie is a lifelong farmer with a passion that began in primary school. After completing his army service, he worked in valuation for the state until 1975, when he joined his father in farming on three farms.
He built his first chicken coops in 1998 and has been farming with Noorsveld for several years now. Jannie finds nothing more satisfying than taking up the challenge of rearing animals from birth. He enjoys fishing once a year, but otherwise, he is dedicated to caring for his animals and chickens seven days a week.
Introducing Farmer Leonard, or Len as we call him. Len has been a farmer all his life. His father was a foreman on a farm and later bought the land that Len now farms on. Although he is one of the Noorsveld Chickens farmers, Len primarily farms Angora Goats. On his 4000-hectare farm, he also has Merino Sheep and some game animals.
In his spare time, Len enjoys flying his microlight on the farm and fixing engines in his workshop. On special occasions, he and his wife enjoy taking motorbike road trips. One day, they dream of retiring near the ocean.
Originally from Steytlerville, Riette’s father introduced her to farming, and she, along with her brother Dirkie, started a small livestock feedlot before focusing on raising and selling calves.
After marrying in 2006, Riette continued this work and expanded to rearing 100 chickens for processing. The family moved to Berendsdam, where her father-in-law built them a house. Facing various challenges, including a harsh winter, Riette and her husband Mias began rearing contract chickens for Noorsveld in 2018. They have farmed together for 18 years and share a deep passion for animals.
Meet Dr Tamsanqa Hewu, affectionately known as Tamie. A dedicated father and passionate farmer, Tamie is a valuable addition to the Noorsveld Chickens family, having worked with Gerrit to design and build housing for the chicks. Tammie lives onsite to ensure smooth operations.
In the hot climate of Jansenville, Tamie uses a water misting system to keep the chicks cool, often amused by their enjoyment of it. His current coup houses 4000 chicks comfortably. In his free time, Tammie enjoys cricket, soccer, and walking and is committed to motivating others for a better country.
Tertius went to the army and began working after his service. At 22, his father passed away, requiring him to take over the farm. Tertius has been farming for over 30 years, with around a decade spent with Noorsveld.
For Tertius, farming is a passion deeply rooted . He believes that if farming is in your blood, it is in your blood and there is nothing more to it. When asked what he does when he is not farming, he humorously responds that he still farms. Farming is not just his profession but his way of life.
Gerrit is not only the owner and founder of Noorsveld Chickens but remains to this day a dedicated chicken grower.
As the original grower, with the legendary George always at his side, it is with much pride that he has watched the dream flourish and Noorsveld Chickens transform into the successful enterprise it is today. His passion for farming birds remains undiminished and he continues to be deeply involved in the growth of the company.
