On Tienie Prinsloo’s farm, family is as much a part of the operation as the crops and cattle. His nine-year-old son joins in on weekends, his six-year-old daughter helps with the cattle, and his wife manages the books with precise detail. Read his story in this episode of the Farmer Mentor series.
Raising a tree takes patience, dedication, and a great deal of resources, and no one knows that better than Free State commercial farmer, Tienie Prinsloo.
For the past 15 years, Prinsloo has farmed shoulder to shoulder with his father, growing not just crops and cattle, but an export business as diverse as his orchards.
On his farm, you will find everything from pecan orchards and a Beefmaster stud to sugar beans, lucerne, watermelon, prickly pears, and even game.
Each year, Prinsloo expands his orchards with thousands of new trees, working towards his ambitious dream of 40 000 trees in the ground.
Today, 30 000 pecan trees stand tall on Prinsloo’s farm. They didn’t appear overnight, however. Each one is the product of years of vision, patience, and discipline.
“My dad used to be a maize and wheat farmer, but we had a lot of irrigation. He wanted to use the water in a better way and sell something for dollars to get more value. It’s very long-term planning.
“Even when I was still in school, my dad would take me to farmer days to learn about pecans. It was always his vision for me to come in and grow the trees. Now he’s in love with them too, and we farm together. We enjoy it very much,” says Prinsloo.
A motto to live by
Prinsloo’s guiding philosophy is “doen alles volheid en fokus om ’n verskil te maak” – an Afrikaans phrase meaning “do everything fully and focus on making a difference.”
“We’re only on earth for a limited time. It’s much more than farming and making money. We’re not just growing cattle or plants; we are growing people, relationships, and the country,” he says.
This people-first approach shapes everything he does on the farm.
Prinsloo believes in lifting people up – whether it’s helping a worker get a driver’s licence or making life a little better for their children. That people-first approach, he says, directly benefits the business.
“If you work for a business, you have to take ownership. The farm isn’t just mine. Everyone is benefiting. From the guy buying pecans to the one selling pesticides. If people working with you take ownership, then the business grows.”
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Balancing cash flow and growth
Diversification is central to keeping the operation steady. Lucerne, for example, provides monthly income during its seven-month harvest cycle, bridging the long wait for pecan income, which only begins in year ten.
“The banks don’t want to lend you money to plant pecans because it takes too long. But lucerne keeps cash flow running, and it’s an export crop. We sell in dollars, mostly to China and Saudi Arabia. Then we rotate with sugar beans, watermelons, or wheat before planting lucerne again.”
Pecan farming, Prinsloo explains, is a generational investment.
“You have to get them big, and once they are big, you start planting again. It’s very, very long-term. I’m still planting, so my children will see the real benefit.”
Tienie Prinsloo
Family is firmly woven into his farming life. His nine-year-old son already tags along at weekends, sometimes so absorbed in helping that his mother has to fetch him for supper.
“My daughter Karlien is six, and she helps me with the cattle. My wife does all the bookkeeping. She knows exactly what is happening in the business. Very few farmers can say that about their wives. I’m very fortunate.”
Using every piece of land
On marginal land along the river, Prinsloo integrates cattle and game while experimenting with prickly pears.
“Farms are so expensive. You have to use every little piece. That’s why we also farm with prickly pears. It’s still a small market, but there’s potential. Farming is always about testing, seeing what works, and adapting.”
Just as pecans were once a niche crop, Prinsloo thinks prickly pears could take off the same way – if farmers work together to grow more and catch the eye of buyers overseas.
If there’s one thing he hopes others learn from his journey, it’s the value of working together.
“In South Africa, we face a lot of pressure. But I’ve learned that we can call on each other for advice, and people will help. We don’t have much, but we’ve learned to work together, and that’s making a difference.
“I see the country healing. We should focus less on corruption and negatives. Things can change overnight for the better. Let’s focus on that,” he says.
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