In this episode, Brian Ludwig sits down with Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote, co-founder of Black Fox Farm and Distillery just outside Saskatoon. What started as a 5,000-acre grain farm has evolved into an internationally recognized, ultra-premium distillery producing award-winning whiskey and gin.
Barb shares the bold decision she and her husband John made to sell the family farm and pivot toward a customer-focused, value-added business. Rather than scaling up commodity grain production, they chose to build something closer to the consumer—literally and strategically. That move led to the creation of Black Fox, a Saskatchewan distillery rooted in prairie agriculture and driven by quality over volume.
Barb explains the unique challenges of selling alcohol in Canada, where interprovincial trade barriers can feel like exporting to 13 different countries. While their products are available in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and expanding into Manitoba and BC, Black Fox has also built an impressive international presence in the UK, Germany, China, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.
The conversation dives into lessons learned about leadership and growth. Barb openly shares that she has likely made every management mistake in the book—but emphasizes the importance of consistency, integrity, and continuing to show up. She speaks about the value of a long-term vision, seeing Black Fox as a legacy distillery that could stand for 200 years.
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