This Land Through the Years

This place, this land, this home, has been and continues to be a place where people, animals, and nature co-exist.

The story of this land exists predates the current family and has been the home of The First Nations people of Wisconsin, the Menomonee, the Ho-chunk, and the Oneida since time immemorial. Patti & Brad make a sincere and conscious efforts to to learn from and embrace traditional stories of natural world through the lens of our Indigenous neighbors. This couple's goal is to provide a place where nature can thrive, and we can give back to our community as we live alongside our neighbors.

In fall, 2022, the pair created their own land acknowledgment,

We acknowledge ALL people and the beings that have come before us and have called this place home.

The First Nations people, the Menominee, the Oneida, whom have been here since time immemorial, and recently our European ancestors.

We are mindful of our actions as we live, work, play, and are proud to be the stewards of this land at this point in time.

With that, we honor this place and its sacredness.

Since 1914, the Schevers family have been stewards of the land, raised their families, and provided for the community as farmers.

Generation 1, 1914-1942.

The family immigrated to Oneida, Wisconsin from Dinther, Bernheze, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands on May 7, 1914.

Johannes Adrianus Eimbertus (J.A.E.) & Maria Agatha Elisabet (M.A.E. Bots) Schevers were married in August 1909 in Wilnis, De Ronde Venen, Utrecht, Netherlands.They welcomed the birth of their first son, Gerardus Henricus Benedictus Maria Schevers (G.B.) on September 10, 1910, additional children followed (Henrietta in '13, and Agnes '15).

The reasons surrounding their departure from Holland and relocation to Northeastern Wisconsin is not completely known. It has been noted that there was a Norbertine Priest of family decent that had been living in DePere at the Abbey and this could have been the draw for this small fraction of the Schevers family to move. With the dream of a bright future as farmers the Schevers family made Oneida their home. The initial purchase of the farm from the Seymour Land Company and surrounding acreage was by J..A. E. Schevers and his wife, M.A.E Bots-Schevers on May 7, 1914.

The family quickly began to adjust to their life in Oneida, on the farm with their children (G.B., Henrietta, and Agnes).

February 21, 1921 J.A.E.'s passes unexpectedly, M.A.E. now a widow, was required to find a suitable partner in order keep the land. At this time it was not common for women to be land-owners. She did find a suitable partner (Pete) and the pair continue to raise the family on the property. G.B. Schevers (son) was 11 years old- when his father had passed.

G.B. completed his studies in Madison, WI as a student in the Farm and Industry Short course. He did a bit of travel, even going back to the Netherlands in 1930 and taking a slight detour to Montana before returning to Green Bay and working as a cheesemaker.

Upon his return he meets, Catherine Elizabeth Kreuser (Betty).

Generation 2, 1942-1989.

G.B. marries Betty on June 28, 1938 and their first child is born on March 28, 1941 Gerard Jr. Schevers is the first born son to this new generation of Schevers on the land. During these years, the farm and business where stewarded by G.B., Betty, and their growing family, John '43, Richard '44, Thomas '45, Elizabeth '48, Mary '49, Carol '52, Theresa '54.

The family worked together to tend the farm; raising beef cattle, dairy cows, pigs, chickens, livestock crops, vegetables for the local cannery, and cash crops. It became the youngest 4 children's chores to tend to the dairy cows by the time Carol was in Middle School- she has noted she milked for 7 years in multiple conversations. By the 60s all the boys were out of the house and out in the world (with the exception of Tom- who stayed to help G.B.).

April 29, 1985 Elizabeth passes and then on September 15, 1988 G.B. passes- both by their own request were able to pass into the next life in their home on the property. A transition plan for the farm was already underway, Thomas Schevers had purchased the farm from his father in the years earlier and had became the steward of the land and farmstead. Carol Schevers (his sister) would become the homestead owner at this same time and had already moved back to the property to care for the house and ill parents.

Generation 3, 1980- present

Tom continuing on the farming tradition through the 80s, deciding in the mid 70s to step away from his University education (Mechanical Engineering) at UW-Green Bay, to support his father by pursuing farming full-time. As an important note, Tom would regret the decision to withdraw from UWGB as it would be a comment he would mention to the girls, as Patti recalls this from childhood.

Tom marries Barbara O'Connor on November 7, 1981, and they break ground on their home-site adjacent/west of the original farmstead. The pair becomes pregnant and January 1, 1983, first daughter Patricia is born, followed the same year on November 14, 1983 a second daughter, Paula is born.

Tom continues to explore diversifying the farm which at this time is still primarily a 50 cow dairy herd, with some young stock as beef cattle, and cash cropping ~350 acres. The family helped to care for the dairy herd, while Tom milked both in the morning and evening.

By January of 1990, Tom had decided to pivot away from dairy farming completely and turn towards beef cattle and cash cropping. The dairy herd was sold in summer 1990, and by the fall, the farm had a completely different pace. No longer did the family need to rise and set with the sun to milk, a blessing that afforded time for other activities ... like being away from the farm for a day/weekend/week! During this year, the family spent a significant amount of time in the North Island of New Zealand, a welcome reprieve and recalibration.

Patti and Paula become well versed in farm life and farm chores, spending each evening helping Tom with seasonal duties to ensure the family business ran smoothly and the care of their pets. Christmas, 1991 brought their first pony to the property- a creature, G.B. Sr. 'would have nothing to do with'. Tom allowed the girls to have a pony, Candy, and by spring of 1992, Comet, a horse/BLM adopted wild mustang, to help them learn responsibility. The girls quickly become active members of the county 4-H program, learning all things horse in addition to helping Tom around the farm.

Through the 90s, the farm was continued to evolve and optimize. At the apex, 1996-1997, Tom was cropping 500+ acres, and had a herd of 80+ beef, primarily Angus and Polled-Herford crosses. The girls had more horses too! Suzy, Jack, and Lightning joined the farm picture. Something that grandfather G.B. would have loathed!

In 1997, tragedy struck the farm, Tom was fatally crushed in a farm accident on the property. This accident, found by Carol, left the family with a massive void and uncertainty about the state of farming on the property. Barb, widow, would need to make some decisions that would have a lasting impact on the farm, the land, and the future.

It is important to note that during this time, Barb, had a professional career of her own, as a was a technical college instructor. She decided in order to keep the farm, she would first start by selling farm equipment and machines, then rent the acreage to a local farmer (Maass family), and finally, sell off the beef herd. Barb and the girls would have beef animals (and the horses) until the fall of 2001 when the last bovine left the farm as Patti went off to college. Barb also begins to sell off parcels of the acreage, first to the Oneida Nation, and then to Carol and her husband, Dan O'Rourke.

Generation 3. 1989-present

Upon passing of G.B. in 1988, Carol purchases the homestead and continues to keep the orchards, vineyard, and gardens blooming and as 'Mum' would have kept it.

On February 26, 2005, Carol and Dan O'Rourke acquire the original 7 acre farmstead, adding to the same adjacent home-site parcel they are stewards of.

This acquisition, begins a massive clean-up of the farm buildings and conversion from working farm to recreational farmette. Since this time they have continually raised a flock of laying hens, the occasional seasons of meat birds, a few pygmy goats, barn cats, and a barn dog. Together, they continue to steward the orchards and vineyard on the farmstead (which Betty would have established) all of which, produce ample amounts of apples and grapes to this day. The conversion of the former 'manure pit' and all that entails, into a pond, (and NRCS EQIP project) has been a favorite upgrade that the entire family (and extended family) has enjoyed as it provides hours of pond fishing fun.

The structures on the farmstead include:

The 'Big Barn'

This former dairy barn, is the second barn to live on this site. The original had been lost in fire in the earlier in the farm history and this structure was build following. It has been lovingly cared for and kept in excellent condition which should allow for this structure to live long past the stewards themselves. This is the barn that once housed all the dairy cows, milkroom, grain rooms, and a hay & straw lofts. The horse stalls that Tom built for the girls are still intact in the 'newer' portion of the barn.

The 'Round Top'

This structure was built in the early 40s, a block and wood hand crafted building. John recalls how this building was crafted: the builder hand bent the interior arches through a technique of wetting the wood and then allowing it to dry in a frame/jig- producing a beautiful arch. This building is a favorite of the family, and one that needs renovations in order to secure it's future.

The 'Wood Shed'

This structure formerly, was a feed room/shed that is attached to one of the older concrete stave silos. (Patti recalls corn and hay silage being stored in this silo and conveyer belt/chair would pull animal feed from the silo onto the belt and deposit it along the bunker for the livestock. This is now a wood shed, where the family chops and stores wood for heating.

The 'Pole Barn' or '3 sided shed'

This structure is slatted to be demolished in the coming years. Once, it was a equipment and machinery along with large round bales to be stored for the season. It also provided shelter for the beef cattle when they lived. on the property. In more recent years, this structure has fallen into disrepair and is planned to be removed.

The 'Machine Shed'

This structure had been the primary location to store equipment and tractors- a purpose both served in the past and currently.

The 'Cottage'

This is the oldest structure on the property, pre-dating the house! It was a former chicken coop during Carol and Tom's youth, and during Patti and Paula's youth it was an garden tool shed, it's current incarnation is to be Dan's den!

The House

This is a traditional 4-square farmhouse, built in (date) this is the home that Generations 1-3 have lived in. It has been a place to call home, support times of joy and sorrow in the family, and a regular spot for a coffee or treat. This is the place Carol calls home and has inhabited this dwelling for 70+ years.

Generation 4. 2022- present

It would be nearly two decades till the land would come back into family hands.

Patti comes back to the farm as a permanent resident in spring 2018. She pursues her formal education with the goal of 'figuring out what to do with the farm', and enrolls at the local technical college in a Sustainable Agriculture certificate program.

By 2019, Patti has created a vision of the farm, as the incoming stewardship generation.

Through her studies, networking, attending local field days, and observation she creates a transition plan (with help from USDA NRCS office) to pivot from commercial agriculture into a conservation farm. Bradley Berger joins the picture and supports Patti's initial idea, bring new life and agricultural know-how to the farm. Now the pair needs family buy-in, although questioning the idea they offer loving support.

As the soybeans are removed in October 2020, the beginning steps for establishing a 90 acre prairie is about to begin!

'Waiting in the wings' are the excavation team (Sobieck Farm Services), and the custom planter (Extreme Custom Food Plots), the USDA NRCS team, the County Land Conservation team, Bradley (whom is also an avid sportsman and conservation enthusiast), and the family all eagerly await the time to break ground. This conservation farm/lifestyle plan is a win for the community, the watershed, the flora and fauna, and of course the family.

It is important to note all the incarnations the pair came up with prior to the conservation farm plan, these included, glamping & campground (still Patti's favorite dream), an event venue, sheep farming, and the current conservation restoration.

By end of November 2021, the entire acreage has been transitioned into wildlife plantings including a combination of over 10,000 trees & shrubs, 90+ acres of pollinator habitat, and three pond scrapes for waterfowl. Through these conservation practices it is current stewards goal to provide an oasis for nature & humans to thrive for the next generations.

Patti and Brad purchase the home that Tom built for Barb and the girls, plus the 5 acres it rests upon in April 2022, this secures their fate to become part of the farm's history into the future.

Restoration Timeline:

Oct-Nov 2020

The North Scrape & South Scrapes are excavated.

The CSP, CRP and North Scrape seed mixes are planted via a no-till planter.

The South Scrape spoils are placed in smooth berms.

The North Scrape gets too wet to finish, and it is determined to hold off.

Interview & brief video (4 minutes) offers an aerial view of the farm in fall 2020, in the midst of the farm transition, courtesy of Fox Demo Farms & UW Extension.

Early May 2021

The South Scrape seed mix is planted.

The trees are mechanically planted- 10,000 shrubs, hardwoods, and conifers.

Late May- Early November 2021- Growing Season 1!

Mowing of the acreage takes place when the height is over 10", we do this 3x total.

Tubing of the trees begins in May and ends in November.

Mowing of the trees with a walk behind brush mower.

Summer 2022- Growing Season 2!

Mowing of the trees begins in May, continues biweekly through summer.

Isolated mowing within acreage, as needed.

Summer 2023- Growing Season 3!

Pulled off tubes and picked up down tubes from trees.