How Brian Kloosterman built a career in egg farming from the ground up

This is part of a series of profiles of young egg farmers. They are all young leaders taking part in Egg Farmers of Canada’s national young farmer program, an initiative designed to prepare the next generation of industry leaders.

Brian Kloosterman

Lyn, Ontario

For Brian Kloosterman, farming isn’t just a job—it’s a calling that involved steadily working his way up from an entry-level farmhand to a respected leader in the field as a regional manager at Burnbrae Farms.

It was a family connection that initially paved the way for his first steps into egg farming. “I started working at a local egg farm where my uncle was employed,” he recalls. “I loved working with the hens and the people at the farm. From there, my career in egg farming was born.”

Now part of the national young farmer program representing Egg Farmers of Ontario, Brian began his foray into the industry with hands-on work like vaccinating birds, disinfecting barns, and performing daily chores for local farmers. Those tasks would eventually lead him into supervisory and then management roles; today, he works with Burnbrae Farms, a company he considers family.

Having been raised on a dairy farm just outside of Lyn, Ontario, Brian’s roots in agriculture go far back. When his family sold their dairy herd, they shifted to cash cropping and custom work, an experience that would later help shape Brian’s approach to managing farmland.

“My family farm was not quite large enough to sustain three families, so I started egg farming with Burnbrae,” he says. “I use my vacation time from Burnbrae to help my father and brother with the spring planting and fall harvest, as I enjoy still being a contributor to the family farm I grew up on.”

Brian now oversees a diverse operation that includes a range of housing systems such as enriched colony, free run and free range. In addition to egg production, he manages about 1,200 acres of crop land, primarily growing corn and soybeans. This year, he’s also trialling a pumpkin crop on site.

Innovation plays a role at Burnbrae as well. One of its locations in western Ontario is entirely solar powered, storing energy in a large battery bank to run operations. Brian is also working with heat exchangers to reduce energy use by re-capturing heat from barn exhaust systems.

Outside the farm, Brian has volunteered thousands of hours coaching youth basketball in Brockville, where his children play competitively. He also co-organizes an annual fire truck pull fundraiser that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the local YMCA, helping children and families access vital programs in the community.

For Brian, what sets egg farming apart is the sense of purpose it brings. “I love that we’re producing one of the most affordable and nutritious foods for Canadians,” he says.

“Another thing I love is that no two days are ever the same—there are so many different aspects to egg farming, which keep it extremely interesting.”

Brian says he is especially eager to expand his network and deepen his understanding of the egg industry. “There’s so much innovation and passion among young farmers,” he says. “The future of the egg industry is incredibly bright.”

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