Jenner Colony

Jenner Colony, formally known as the Hutterian Brethren of Jenner, is located near Jenner, Alberta, a small prairie community in Special Areas surrounded by rangeland, dryland fields, and energy development. Established in 1983, the colony is one of several Hutterite settlements that took root in this part of eastern Alberta in the late twentieth century, bringing organized communal farming to a sparsely populated ranching and grain region.

Agriculture forms the backbone of life at Jenner Colony. Like many colonies on the Canadian Prairies, it operates a mixed farm that typically combines field crops with livestock suited to the semi‑arid climate. Industry directories list the Hutterian Brethren of Jenner as a wholesale supplier of broomcorn and related natural bristle materials, indicating a specialty in producing raw plant fibre for broom and brush manufacturing alongside more conventional farm outputs. This kind of diversification is common among colonies that pair broad‑acre grain and forage production with niche products for specific industrial buyers.

Daily life at Jenner Colony follows the communal pattern characteristic of Hutterite communities: families live in individual apartments but share meals prepared in a central kitchen, work together in barns, fields, and shops, and pool income and resources rather than earning individual wages. In return, the colony provides for members from birth to old age, creating a close‑knit, faith‑centred community that combines modern farm technology with a simple, cooperative lifestyle. With its mix of prairie farming, broomcorn production, and strong internal organization, Jenner Colony is a steady contributor to the rural economy of eastern Alberta.