Macfarlane Pheasants Inc. Meet the Staff

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Meet the MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc Staff

Since our farm was established in 1929 there have been several styles of management. The current form allows us to be able to produce a large amount of pheasants and other gamebirds with superior quality and consistency.

Each area is supervised closely by managers who are experts in their fields. Each of these areas works closely together to ensure a quality end product. The products are then sold by our friendly and helpful sales department. In our sales department there are specialists in each area; however, each representative is trained to help and assist our customers in all aspects of their order.

Below is a list of those who can help and assist you in your area of need. For staff contact information, please visit the staff directory page.

William MacFarlane Owner/President

William MacFarlane

Owner/President
 

I grew up working on our pheasant farm. After high school, I left Janesville to go to college at the University of Houston. After graduating in 1979 with a degree in Economics, I returned home to run the farm with my father, Don. I was born when my father was 51 years old, so when I returned from college, my dad was in his mid 70's. One of the first things my father did after I returned home was to incorporate the business. My father passed away in 1985, and I continued to manage the farm.

I enjoy the many opportunities that owning MacFarlane Pheasants provides me. My daily efforts at the farm are concentrated on long range planning, marketing, and keeping the farm profitable. I am an active member of organizations that focus on securing the future of our business, such as Bird Shippers of America (BSA), the North American Gamebird Association (NAGA), and the Wisconsin Game Preserve Association (WGPA). Outside of work, I participate in community volunteer projects such as United Way and Meals on Wheels. I also enjoy traveling, playing poker, and spending time with friends and family. 

Sarah

Vice President of Operations
 

Welcome to our great website at MacFarlane Pheasants! We are happy you are taking the time to "meet our staff." I started my career at MacFarlanes in January of 2010 and learned many of the positions at the farm including: Chick Sales Coordinator, Dressed Sales Coordinator, Mature Sales Assistant, Office Manager, General Manager, Director of Operations, and finally landed at Vice President of Operations. I am a board member of the North American Gamebird Association and on the Wisconsin Gamebird Preserve Association board.

I grew up in Clinton, Wisconsin, and come from an agricultural background.  I graduated in 2009 from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse with a B.S. in Political Science.  When I am not busy at work, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, trying new restaurants, all Wisconsin sports and boating. I live on the river in Janesville with my significant other and son. 

Chris Theisen

Chris

Vice President of Production
 

My name is Chris and I am the Vice President of Production for MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. I have been working for the company since 1998, and have worked in all areas of the company. Currently, I coordinate many of the day to day operations as well as planning for the future. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point with a double major in Wildlife Management and Biology.

I enjoy spending quality time with my wife and love to get outdoors as much as possible. Hunting and fishing, like many others, sits atop my list of hobbies.

Troy

Director of Production
 

My name is Troy. I am currently one of the Production Managers at MacFarlane Pheasants. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls with a degree in Animal Science. I have been working at MacFarlane Pheasants since 2008 and oversee various aspects of bird production, including Farm Management, Process Crew, Milton Farm and Breeder Farms in both Janesville and Missouri locations.

My wife Linda, our son Noah and I currently live in Lindenhurst, Illinois with our two dogs Gator and Rubble. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, landscaping and home projects. 

Shayne Noller

Shayne

Director of Food Products

Hello! My name is Shayne. I am currently the Director of Food Products here at MacFarlane Pheasants. I have been with the company since June of 2006. I was originally hired as a flight pen manager where I spent the better part of a decade caring for and shipping mature hunt birds.

I was born in Ft. Myers Florida and grew up in Caledonia Wisconsin which is a rural community in Racine county. I spent a lot of my time as a youth at my family farm on the shores of Lake Michigan. I attended J.I. Case High School in Racine and am a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where I studied various subjects including industrial hygiene and safety protocol.

I now live in Elkhorn, Wi and in my spare time I enjoy hanging out with my wife Jessica who is a high school teacher in Lake Geneva, my son Cole, and my daughter Isla. I also like camping, riding my fat bike, and gardening. I also hold the title of best ice fisherman at MacFarlane Pheasants and spend most of the winter on the lakes.

Sarah

Head of Sales Manager/Mature Sales Account Manager
 

Hi, my name is Sarah, better known as Bake. I have been with MacFarlane Pheasants since 2013. I started out raising the Hungarians, French and Whites and later moved on to the Dressed Department. I am now the Mature Sales Coordinator and also the Head of Sales Manager. I grew up in Albany, WI and graduated from Carroll University with a BS degree in Biology with an emphasis in Animal Behavior along with two minors in Physiology and Small Business Management. I currently live in Milton with my two beautiful daughters. I enjoy gardening, camping and spending time with friends and family.

Brian Davis

Brian

Brooder Manager

Hi, I’m Brian. I joined the MacFarlane staff in the spring of 2012 working with the “Pen Crew" and have taken on many roles here at the farm. Currently I am the Brooder Manager. 

I grew up in Williams Bay, WI and attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduating with a degree in Fisheries Management. I currently live in Edgerton with my wife, who is a third grade teacher and two children Brooklyn and Asher. In my free time I like to fish, hunt, wood carve, and spend time with my Family.

Trudy DeRemer

Trudy

White Bird Flock Supervisor/Interim Research Manager
 

My name is Trudy and I grew up in Sandusky, MI; where my family still resides. I moved to Janesville, WI in January 2004 after accepting the Assistant Brooder Manager position here at MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. I am now acting as the Flock Supervisor for our white meat pheasants and also as the Interim Research Manager. I have worked in muliple departments on the farm including raising Hungarian and French Redleg Partridge, working inside the Hatchery, and also working out on the farm as the Center Farm Manager. I have a BS degree in Animal Science from Michigan State University and a Certificate in Poultry from UW Madison/Midwest Poultry Consortium Center of Excellence.

I met my husband, Tim, in June 2007 and we were married in September 2011. We have two dogs that we treat as our children and both own and ride Harley Davidson motorcycles.

In my spare time I enjoy teaching fitness classes at the YMCA in Milton and getting together with friends to hike or talk about the most recent book we read. I also enjoy reading, learning, spending time with my family in MI, taking tropical vacations where I enjoy scuba diving, and of course spending time with my husband and dogs.

 

Karina

Dressed Sales Account Manager
 

Hello, my name is Karina. I joined MacFarlane Pheasants in October 2016 as the office Administrative Assistant. Prior to joining MacFarlane Pheasants, I worked as a Retail Marketing Manager. After graduating High School in 2007, I attended a few semesters of college before moving into the working world. I am bilingual and read, write and speak fluently in Spanish.

I am originally from Southern California but moved to Wisconsin in the fall of 2015. When I'm not at work, I enjoy reading, hiking and traveling with my husband and my almost two-year old daughter, Eleanor. 

Ronnie Viljoen

Hatchery Manager
 

Ronnie is originally from South Africa where he grew up on an ostrich farm with his family. He is a triplet, with one brother and one sister. Ronnie came to the US in 2017 and has worked at MacFarlane Pheasants ever since. Over the years he has held many different roles on the farm.

Ronnie is currently the Hatchery Manager at MacFarlane Pheasants. In this role, he manages the hatchery which hatches the majority of the chicks at MacFarlane’s.

Ronnie is engaged and lives in Edgerton, WI with his fiancé Savannah, and his dog Lucy. In his spare time Ronnie likes to fish, hunt, try new restaurants and spend time with his family.

Brett

Milton Farm Manager

I'm Brett Hammon and I am 24 and from Brodhead WI. I have lived there my whole life and graduated from Brodhead High in 2017. I was in Boy Scouts and FFA growing up along with some sports. I earned the rank of Eagle Scout and also got my State degree in FFA. After high school I went on to Blackhawk Tech and got my Associates degree in Agribusiness. I started working at MacFarlane Pheasants in 2018 on the brooder crew, after that I went to the catching crew for a season, then farm management where I ran center farm for 3 years. Now I am going on to be the new manager in Milton for the next season. 

Tassia

Chick & Egg Sales Account Manager

Hi my name is Tassia! I have been with MacFarlane Pheasants since 2022 as Chick and Egg Sales Account Manager, in addition I will also be managing the Pet Food customer accounts. I grew up on the border of Illinois and Wisconsin. I currently live in Machesney Park, Illinois with my two children, Ryatt and Jagger. In my free time I enjoy reading, exercising, riding horses and spending time with my boys! 

Len

Pen Crew Manager

Hi my name is Len, I have been with the company for 7 years. At my time here, I have worked at many places on the farm. I currently work as the Pen Crew Manager. I am originally from Cape Town, South Africa. 

 

Dane

Farm Management Manager

Hi, my name is Dane Aucamp I have been working at MacFarlane Pheasants for 6 years. I have work at several different areas at the company from an egg picker, Brooder crew, Pen crew manager and currently I am the Farm manager of all the farms in Janesville overseeing the flight pens. I grew up in a small town called Klerksdorp in South Africa but have been living in Janesville Wi since 2018. In my free time I like to spend time with friends as well as go hunting and play a good round of golf.

 

 

Matt

Maintenence Manager

My name is Matt! I have recently joined the MacFarlane team this year as the Maintenence Manager. I am from Rockford, IL and live with my wife and 2 boys. In my free time I like to go hunting, fishing, and camping! 

Brian

Farm Management Lead - Main Farm

Hello, my name is Brian. I have been with MacFarlane Pheasants since 1998 where i started out feeding the birds. Since then, i have worked in all aspects of the farm which includes; Brooder Manager, Assistant Hatchery Manager, Breeder Flock Manager, Flight Bird Manager and I am currently the Farm Management Manager.

I graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a BS in Wildlife Management. I spent 3 years surveying wetlands for the United States Geological Survey before starting at MacFarlane Pheasants.

When i'm not on the farm, i enjoy many of Wisconsins outdoor wonders and visiting family and friends throughout the state.