The Century and Sesquicentennial Farm Salute is presented to you by:
Sesquicentennial Farms
Grenawalt Farm - Newark
The Grenawalt Family has farmed the same land in Rock County for exactly 150 years. David Grenawalt, the 3rd generation to farm in southern Wisconsin, works roughly 1,000 acres of corn and soy and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Fun fact: When Dave’s family began to farm in Wisconsin there were only 37 states in the Union.
Brancel Farm - Endeavor
The Brancel Family’s agriculture roots run deep in Marquette County. Jim Brancel’s great-great grandparents settled in Wisconsin 150 years ago after immigrating from Germany to begin a dairy farm. Jim and Ben Brancel are still going strong today and hope to pass the tradition along to their very excited grandchildren.
Lueders Farm - Cedarburg
The Lueders have been farming this land in southeast Wisconsin for 167 years, with plans for the next generation going forward. Listen to Carol Lueders-Bolwerk explain how her mother encountered a riot mob trying to take goods to the farmers market. How they've loving maintained the original home house on the farm and paid incredible attention to details!
The Century and Sesquicentennial Farm Salute is also presented to you by:
Century Farms
Bales Family Farm-West Bend
Larry Bales grew up as the oldest of seven children on his family’s farm in Washington County. He remembers his brothers and himself helping their father, Franklin, milk cows in the 1950’s and 60’s. Larry’s mother, 92 year-old Margaret Bales, recalls many farm memories, including dairy calf triplets.
Jefferson Family Farm - Big Flats
The Jefferson family has had roots in Adams County since the mid-1870’s. Carol Jefferson and her husband, Jim, are the fifth generation to farm in Big Flats and are very proud of their heritage. It’s been roughly 140 years since their ancestors settled in Wisconsin from Denmark and they’ve been farming ever since.
White Family Farm - Mineral Point
The White Family is achieving something unique in 2020; they are being honored as Century and Sesquicentennial Farmers at the same time. As Robert White explains, the original homestead was constructed in 1864 and is a Sesquicentennial Farm. The second part of their farm, built in 1908, is being recognized as a Century Farm. It’s double the celebration for this Iowa County family.
Koeninger Family of Tomah
Gordon Koeninger and his wife, Darlene, are second generation Monroe County farmers and have a lot of stories to tell. To this day, the Koeninger couple still live in the house that Gordon’s father built many decades ago. Gordon recalls many memories during his life on the farm...but his favorite memory? The day his dad brought home their very first tractor home.
Reinke Family of Pulaski
This Shawano County farm can trace its roots all the way back to Germany in the 19th century. And it was in 1889 that Harvey Reinke’s ancestors made the trek across the pond to settle in Northeast Wisconsin. Fast forward to 2020; Harvey is one year shy of 80 and is still actively farming the land his family has owned for over 130 years.
Koehl Family of Darien
In the early 1900’s, George Koehl’s family made the pilgrimage from France to America and settled in The Badger State. They began their own dairy farm and that very business is still up and running in 2020. Now in its third generation of ownership under the Koehl family, this Walworth County dairy is clicking on all cylinders and looks to the future as the fourth generation has joined the farm.