Proud PEI farmer and Chair of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board
Prince Edward Island is known for its scenic views of rolling hills, crashing waves, and sharp cliffs that shape the land we call home. It is known for the kindness people show every day, for the understanding that being a good neighbor and taking a moment to lend a hand is a simple, meaningful tradition. But perhaps most of all, Prince Edward Island is known for the red soil that blankets the land, with farmers working long hours in their fields growing our signature PEI potato.
Katie MacLennan’s story is rooted in that community, the idea of being a neighbor, and the rich, red soil.
She carries her grandparent’s legacy as good farmers close to her heart, with her father’s welcomed advice ringing in her ears, “begin as you want to continue”. She wanted to begin as a farmer, choosing that life for herself. Now farming for over 27 years, Katie and her husband Jonathan oversee MacLennan Properties Ltd in West Cape, near O’Leary, Prince Edward Island, a fourth/fifth-generation family potato farm. Under their care, the farm embraces both tradition and innovation harvested from generations, growing potatoes, hay, and grain with pride.
The fields of Prince Edward Island only rooted Katie’s passion. She extended those roots beyond fences, being elected as Chair of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board in November 2025. This marked a historic milestone for Prince Edward Island: Katie is the first woman to ever be elected to lead the Board in its more than seven decades of history. In this role, she guides the governance of one of Canada’s most important seed potato sectors, a vital economic driver for the Island and a globally recognized symbol of PEI agriculture.
Her leadership reflects the deep respect that she has earned amongst her peers. After serving three years on the Board as the Seed Sector Representative for the Western District, Katie’s colleagues chose her to steer strategic decision-making, advocate for growers’ interests, and help ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of PEI potatoes both at home and abroad.
As a farmer, Katie knows that sustaining the land is just as important as representing the community you come from.
The land is our home. It is where generations of Islanders have walked, where our future will live, and where native species thrive. It is a farmer’s job to take care of that land and ensure that it is safeguarded for our futures. Katies dedication to the land we call home is matched by her devotion to community and sustainability. Alongside Jonathan, she has participated in environmental programs like Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS), where the MacLennan’s have implemented soil conservation measures in grass waterways, diversion terraces, and farmable berms to protect local waterways and promote ecological health. This is doing their part to safeguard the environment for future generations.
This blend of innovation, stewardship, and service has not only advanced her farm’s success, but also strengthened all of rural PEI. Farming is so much more than turning soil and growing a potato, it takes heart, love, patience, courage, and resilience. Katie’s journey as an accomplished woman within the farming industry exemplifies that heart. Her spirit is one of resilience and purpose, with influence that ripples across her industry, her community, and across the fields that she calls home.
Get in touch with Katie
Facebook: MacLennan Properties Ltd.
Prince Edward Island Potato Board: https://www.peipotato.org/
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