Jake grew up on a farm west of Beechy, going to country schools, Neasden and Howendale. In 1953-1955, he attended the University of Saskatchewan and graduated in 1955 with an Agriculture Diploma.
Jake spent 1955 and 1956 working in Regina and then he came home to farm in 1956 N.W. of Beechy. Jake married Joyce Carole Bothner on Oct. 13, 1956.
Jake started farming in 1956 and loved horses and raised and bred many over the years. He bred his first quarter horse in 1959. He competed in Western Canada American Quarter Horse Association shows from 1963 to 1975, including the 1964 Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, where he traveled via the Royal Train, representing Saskatchewan. Jake co-founded Matador Livestock Company in 1973, which specialized in breeding and promoting working quarter horses. They
consigned the high selling horse at the Denver National Show in 1978 and at the Agribition Ranch Horse Sale in 2002. He was the breeder of
the National Reining Horse World Champion in 1998 and has owned and stood three Quarter Horse Sires of World Champions. The family operations have foals in 11 countries on four continents. Jake was very active with youth in his community, serving at the West Bank Bible Camp for over 20 years. He continued to supervise the youth horsemanship program for those years. Jake co-founded, and
was leader of the first 4-H light horse club in Saskatchewan, and helped establish the first 4-H Lighthorse curriculum. He also was the leader
of the Beechy 4-H Light Horse Club for over 10 years as well as the founder and host of the Silver J Team Roping Club for over 25 years. He was a founding committee member of Beechy Western Days Rodeo
and Horse Show where he also served as President. Both Jake and Joyce were 4-H beef members in their youth. Jake has been active in numerous organizations for many years including being a Founding Director, as well as President of both the Saskatchewan Quarter Horse Association, and the Saskatchewan
Quarter Horse Breeders Promotional Group. He was a Director of, the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), serving for 10 years, the Canadian Quarter Horse Association, and the Saskatchewan Cutting
Horse Association, where he also served as President. Jake has served as an Agribition Horse Sale Chairman and was a committee member for the Swift Current Frontier Days. He was a Director for the Victory Agriculture Society for over 20 years where he also served as President. Jake has served on the Board of
Directors for the Saskatchewan Pension Plan and the Board of Advisors for the Lakeland College Equine Program. He was awarded an Honorary Life Membership to the Victory Agricultural Society, and recently received a Sixty Year Breeder Award from the American Quarter Horse Association in 2022.