Schmidt Farms Built a Legacy Over the Past 160 Years

For over 160 years, the Schmidt family has been located on St. Anthony Rd. West Bend (5 minutes east of Allenton) has been nurturing the same precious farmland, with our kids proudly carrying on the family tradition as the sixth generation.
In 1865, George and Elizabeth Schmidt (first -generation German immigrants) bought the farm from Johann Konobel (who had bought it from the government in 1848).
Growing up alongside his father, Herbie, Roger learned every aspect of farm life, from tending to animals to working the land and milking cows.
When Herbie decided to retire from dairy farming in 2001, Roger saw an opportunity to write the next chapter in the Schmidt family story by transitioning to Black Angus beef cattle.

Today, the farm embraces modern regenerative practices while honoring traditional values.
“We use no-till drilling, cover crops and rotational grazing to keep our soil rich and healthy for future generations. 95% of our animal feed is produced right here on our land, giving us complete control over what goes into raising them,” said Deanna Schmidt.
Farming remains a true family affair, with Roger’s wife Deanna and their children deeply involved in daily operations.
The kids proudly show their animals at the Washington County Fair, while Deanna serves as leader of the Wayne Crusaders 4H Club, helping nurture the next generation of young farmers.
“We primarily raise Black Angus Beef for breeding stock and direct to consumers,” said Schmidt. “We also raise Berkshire/Duroc/Yorkshire pork, meat and egg laying chickens, turkey, duck, goose, goat, lambs, rabbit and our pet guinea fowl, cats and dog.”
The Schmidts own 200 acres and rent another 150 because they like to diversify their products to offer consumers options and give them variety.
The Schmidts sell most of our products in their on-farm Farm Store (www.schmidtcenturyfarm.com), but also sell products at Green Dog Market in West Bend, Farm Staples in Cedar Grove and Gehrings Meat Market in Hartford.
The farm has adapted by diversifying its products and selling directly to consumers. It also transitioned from dairy to beef, as well as from direct-to-consumer to consumer vs commodity.
“Regenerative farming practices help the environment as well as our own health and well-being,” said Schmidt. “We pride ourselves on providing healthier food options to our local community.”
“Buying and selling locally also helps our economy by keeping funds with our neighbors,” said Schmidt. “There is also a smaller carbon footprint when you buy local. How many miles are on your meat?”
“The future is bright and I am full of optimism,” said Schmidt. “Many young, first-generation farmers are looking at agriculture with a fresh approach. Instead of relying on what grandpa did, young farmers are looking for what is best for their family, neighbors and our planet Earth.”
“We enjoy working with animals, out in the fresh air and away from the commuting stress of big cities with all the noise, pollution and general overcrowdedness,” said Schmidt. “We enjoy the opportunity to work with our kids and have most of our meals together. We also appreciate the satisfaction of raising our own food and providing for our own family and our neighbors.”
In the beginning, Schmidt’s mentors were senior members of our family, namely their fathers. As they have gotten older, mentors have come from local community members, regional experts and sometimes online social media influencers.
“Legacy! We hope our sixth generation continues what we have generated. It will most likely look different, just as our farm looks different than the fourth generation,” said Schmidt. “Our farm means financial and security for our kids and future generations.”
Feel free to reach out to me at bpriesgen@mmclocal.com if you have a farm you would like to be featured in our newspaper.