History

At MacFarlane Pheasants, we proudly honor the legacy of our founder, Donald MacFarlane. His determination, hard work, and commitment to family and community continue to inspire us every day. Recently, we came across a journal entry from Eleanor Roosevelt, written after meeting Donald, which reminded us of the incredible strength [...]

When I was growing up, my family lived on MacFarlane Pheasant Farm. We had a 3-foot high sign that said "Oven Ready Pheasants" by the road. We had a big freezer in our garage, and people would stop at any time of the day to buy dressed birds from us. [...]

At MacFarlane Pheasants, our roots run deep. For 95 years, MacFarlane has been dedicated to producing the finest game birds in the US and even the world. Unfortunately, at the end of June, a devastating tornado struck our Janesville farm, bringing unforeseen challenges. The damage has been significant. This [...]

Last Saturday, a tornado struck MacFarlane Pheasant Farm, causing significant damage and challenging our team. As farmers dedicated to the well-being of our animals and our community, we want to update you on the situation and our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and care of our birds. Immediate Impact [...]

The Ag Business Council of Rock County selects two people each year to be inducted into the distinguished Rock County Agricultural Hall of Fame. On April 8, 2022, Bill MacFarlane was honored with this award. Many friends, family, and employees were present at the celebration. The presenter of Bill’s award was Jim [...]

Editors note: This is Part 3 in a three-part series detailing the rich history of MacFarlane Pheasants, a business that began 86 years ago and has since grown into the largest pheasant farm in North America. Special thanks to the MacFarlane family for providing archived documents and information. William (Bill) [...]

Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 in a three-part series detailing the rich history of MacFarlane Pheasants, a business that began 86 years ago and has since grown into the largest pheasant farm in North America. Special thanks to the MacFarlane family for providing archived documents and information. William (Bill) [...]

I went to China in 1994, as part of a People-to-People delegation, and we went to Changchun, the province where our original set of Manchurian pheasant eggs had been collected. The trip, as well as an explanation of our research into the Manchurian Pheasants, is chronicled in a slide show [...]

It wasn’t the first time. It wasn’t the second. It took a bunch of times for pheasants, which come from Asia, to get situated in their new home of the United States. The Ringnecked Pheasant (also called the Ring-neck Pheasant), is the toughest of its relatives, and it finally caught hold of [...]