Big Farms, Little Farms
This book was not just for me but for all the wonderful Family Farms in our area. It is important to understand that at the end of most every farm is a family tending to it. Enjoy meeting the Families.
Pagel Family
The Pagel Family Farm started back in 1946 with Carl and Garnett Pagel. They started Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy with 8 cows and a few hogs and chickens. Over the years Carl and Garnett had 7 children. Lynda, Sue, Marcia, Joe, Mona, Bill and John. In 1980 John took over the farm and started his own family. He had 4 children Jamie, JJ, Bryan and Dustin. In 2018 Jamie, JJ and Bryan took the farm over after a tragic accident, the family lost John. His farm family dream still lives on with his children and the grand children. Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy is now a 3rd going on 4th generation farm.
https://www.pagelsponderosa.com/ &
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Witcpalek Family includes:
Jamie & Cory
Brooke, Braelyn, and Brex
Neco
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JJ Pagel Family Includes:
JJ & Chase
Kiley & Kenton, Jaylyn, Jaxen, and Jase
Kopper and Rip
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Bryan Pagel Family Includes:
Bryan & Ashley
Peyton, Brynn, and Bryley
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Photo by:
KCgretz Photography
Aissen Family
Aissen Tree Farm is a family owned choose and cut Christmas tree farm that has been in business since 1988. They are located in the rolling hills of Kewaunee County.​Their tree farm takes pride in hand-grown trees, hand-crafted greens, and excellent customer service. Their operation includes a Christmas gift shop, handcrafted wreaths and garland, precut Christmas trees,
as well as cut-your own. ​
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https://www.aissentreefarm.com/
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Aissen Family Includes:​
Tammy & Jeff
Garret & Ashlyn
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Vanderbloemen Family Includes:
Skyla & Nathan
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Photo by:
Gina Van Handel Photography
www.ginavanhandelphotography.com/contact
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Szydel Family
Chris Szydel became interested in raising bee's 4 years ago. There are so many cool things that he didn't know about bees. It all started off with 2 beehives that a friend of his Dan had set up on his property. Dan taught Chris how to take care of the bees and shown him how to harvest the honey. He turned what began as a hobby into a business two years ago. Today him and his wife Sue are currently raising 12 hives with plans to grow the business even more. Fun Fact: Honey is the only food in the world that doesn't spoil.
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Pictures:
Chris Sydel in his bee suit with his bee's
Sorenson Family
Farming is in their blood - Terry from Norwegian and Belgians who settled in Door County and Toni from a long line of Marathon County farmers. Terry and Toni graduated from UW-River Falls College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences. They are both actively involved in promoting Door County agriculture and farm products. It is important for them to honor the heritage of their ancestors while also integrating the latest in science and technology. They are exited by the opportunity to raise their kids
with this focus in mind.
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https://sorensvalhallaorchards.com/
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Sorenson Family Includes:
Toni & Terry
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Photo by:
Great Scott Images
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Wilfert Family
Wilfert's are a mid-sized family farm operating in Manitowoc County, WI, which is in east central WI just a few miles off Lake Michigan's west coast. Quality vegetables are our business, our ONLY business. No other outside employment. They dedicate to being the best at what they do.
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Dave Wilfert, and his wife Terri, run Wilfert Farms. Both Dave and Terri come from strong farming backgrounds, and I guess you could say 'Farming is in there blood'. From young on, they grew up raising calves and milking cows on there families' dairy farms. They learned about commitment, dedication, and getting the job done.
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Today they offer a full line of produce that is grown on the family farm. The next generation of Wilferts, have assume duties and responsibilities as they learn about the family produce business on a first hand basis. Not only will you receive the finest produce available, but you will also get a refreshing view of tomorrow's adults if you get a chance to visit with these young farmers.
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https://sites.google.com/site/wilfertfarms/home?authuser=0
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Wilfert Family Includes:
Dave & Terri
Ryan, Kelsey, & Vince
Kelly
Roethle Family
Hillside Apples is a family run orchard located in Kewaunee County. They grow about 30 different varieties of apples, pears, pumpkins & squash. When you come to pick, you may walk or drive your car into the orchard with your family. Bring a picnic and enjoy the farmland and our beautiful orchard. Do something fun on your day at the orchard! On weekends in September and October, you may enjoy a free wagon ride to and from the orchard and pumpkin patch. This is what family memories are made of! This is what your children will remember when they grow up!
Harvesting Memories Since 1997.
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Roethle Family Includes:
Bill & Connie
Brad
Jorns Family
Jason started the maple business in 2011. Jason is a 4th generation maple syrup producer. His grandpa at the age of 92 still produces today! The small family business is located in Algoma, WI with our bottling facility located in Maplewood, WI in Door County. Each year he taps about 1,200 trees around the area. Jason has 2 children, Aiden and Kenna Rae who he hopes will pickup on the tradition of producing maple syrup!
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http://faf41a-91.myshopify.com/
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Jorns Family Includes:
Jason, Aiden and Kenna Rae
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Picture of Kenna Rae
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Pilgrim Family
Scott Pilgrim bought the farm from his Grandmother at the age of 18. He already had a love for farming. He became a milk truck driver after he met Tammy his wife and they started a family. They milked Holsteins till 2010 when they sold the milking cows and started raising steers. They continued raising steers till two of the boys decided they wanted to continue working the farm and have taken over the steer herd and have changed it to mostly red and black beef animals today.
Pilgrim Family Includes:
Scott & Tammy
Austin, Collin, Kali, Kody & Brock
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Photo by:
Little Pan Photography
Alpaca Farmer
The Alpaca to Apparel idea began in 2008 with the purchase of three huacaya alpacas. Since then, their herd has gown and so has the world class collection of alpaca clothing.
Alpaca to Apparel LLC was founded and is owned by Benjamin Kornowski, a 2018 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Ben began raising alpacas with his family in 2008. In 2010, Ben and his Grandma purchased two females for breeding. Through high school and college, Ben and the rest of his family, opened a store on the family farm and attended weekly farmers markets. In 2016, during Ben's junior year of college, he, him Mom (Kelly), and Grandma Paula visited Peru for the first time. Following this first trip, Ben opened his first stand alone store in Fish Creek, WI.
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Alpaca to Apparel strives to offer the most unique styles in luxurious baby alpaca fibers. They work closely with their designers, whom all value quality, comfort, style, and warmth as much as you do. Their unique designs are hand knit, hand crocheted, hand finished, and hand inspected to meet the high standards of craftsmanship that Alpaca to Apparel and customer demand.
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Kornowski Family Includes:
Kelly, Emmy, Andrew, Chuck & Ben
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Kraynik Family
Kraynik's Berry Farm is a family-owned pick-your-own strawberry farm that has it's beginnings in 1978. It is located in rural Kewaunee County, on Church Road. Until 2018, it was run by Ken and Judy Kraynik, with son, Todd, as a partner. It was Todd's dream and inspiration to plant strawberries, at the age of 15 as a sophomore in high school, Ken's initiative to make it a pick-your-own operation, that set things in motion. Siblings Amy and Troy, and their families, were also contributors to the business. In 2018, it was passed on to Todd and his wife, Linda- who are current operator of the strawberry farm.
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The Kraynik Family Includes:
Ken & Judy
Todd & Linda​
Tyler & Amanda
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Swallow Family Includes:
Amy & Roy
Ryan & Abby
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Troy Kraynik Family Includes:
Troy & Molly
Hailey & Emma
Little Farmer Jase
Little Farmer Jase loves his garden. He likes to start early in the season planting his plants in the house and then gets to help tend to the garden in summer. He loves the cucumbers and sweet peas in the pod.
He may be small but he is a farmer too!
