Farm History Zwerk & Sons Family Farms
Farm History | Zwerk & Sons Farms
Read through the timeline below to learn more about how the legacy of Zwerk & Sons Farms has been carried on for four generations. You can learn more about us, or contact us with any business inquiries.
Zwerk & Sons Farms History
Our goal as a farm is, and always has been, to have the next generation carry on the business that Arnold began 70 years ago. We want our children and grandchildren to have the same wonderful opportunity that we have had and we thank Arnold, Mike, and Larry for their sacrifices and hard work so that we are able to carry on our farming tradition.
After farming for 45 years, Robert Schnell retired. Around this same time, the 4th generation became involved. Martin’s son, Landon and David’s son, Tyler began farming after finishing their schooling. In August of 2018, Michael Zwerk passed away at age 75. Arnold’s and Mike’s legacy continues to live on as we are currently farming 7,500 acres. We grow the same crops as when the farm began, with the addition of one new crop. In 2019, we began producing hemp and also built a hemp processing facility. Our trucking business currently has eight to ten trucks on the road daily. Larry…Read More
In 2000, Martin, David, & Jeffrey bought out Mike and Larry’s ownership in the farm that they had spent their whole life building. Mike and Larry continued working for the next 15 years on a part time basis. The land that they farm had now expanded to 6,000 acres. They began to diversify by starting a trucking operation beginning with one to two trucks on the road daily.
Nancy’s son Jeffrey Schluckbier joined the operation in the early 1990’s around the same time that Arnold retired from farming. After Arnold Zwerk passed away (76 years) in December, 1995, Mike and Larry, with the help of Martin, David, & Jeffrey, continued working and growing their business. Martin’s brother, Andrew, joined the farm in the late 1990’s.
Mike’s son Martin and Larry’s son-in-law David Rupprecht were the 3rd generation to join the operation in the mid 1980’s. They were now farming 3,500 acres.
Mike and Larry were the 2nd generation to join the farming operation in the early 1960’s after graduating from high school. Robert Schnell also hired on as a full time employee.
Arnold Zwerk & Sons, Inc. is a Michigan farming operation that began in the early 1940’s. Arnold Zwerk’s family settled in the small rural area called Frankenhilf, now Richville. Arnold Benjamin Zwerk began farming with his dad at the age of 15 and married Geraldine June Buchinger on September 6, 1942. They were cash crop farmers specializing in corn, wheat, beans, and sugar beets. They also raised hogs until the late 1970’s. They had four children: Michael, Larry, Nancy, & Mark.