Hoeppner was born to a Russian Mennonite family in Morden, Manitoba, did not finish high school, and worked as a farmer for thirty-five years.
He first became a public figure in 1971, when he opposed the provincial government's crop-insurance scheme and received twice what he was initially promised in a hailstone-damage claim.
These comments were widely ridiculed, and Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy referred to Hoeppner's observations as "probably the most ultimate example of stupidity I've seen (from) a Reform MP".
[9] He sought re-election in November 2000 and this time finished a distant fourth against Pallister, who was now a candidate of Reform's successor party, the Canadian Alliance.
[11] Hoeppner once blamed women for inciting male violence, claiming: "As kids we were always taught at home when we went to get the cattle out of the pasture not to wear red because it would infuriate the bull".
[12] After leaving office, Hoeppner was involved with "Farmers for Justice", a conservative agrarian group seeking to reduce the powers of the Canadian Wheat Board.