Keeping the family's Centennial Farm in agricultural production is a must for Altine Graper Hesebeck, the third generation on the Graper Farm, which originated with her husband's grandfather. With the help of Compeer Financial, the Mid-West Farm Report is recognizing farms and homesteads that have belonged to the same family for more than 100 years. These farms have also been awarded by the state of Wisconsin. Today, we meet a Dodge County Century Farm that has belonged to the Graper family for several generations. Altine has the farm story. 

Pictured: Taken when we were milk producers. The big barn has since been destroyed by fire.

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Summers Christmas tree farm is operated by Bill and Judy Summers. During the summer months, ideal weather is crucial for Christmas tree development. Bill tells Kiley Allan about the summer care of trees, the effects of weather, and the evolution of consumer tree demand.
Today's Compeer Financial ag weather update calls for a cool front bringing rain and a Canadian wildfire smoke advisory.
Pam Jahnke checks in with Randy Cath of the Steffes Group on big auctions they have lined up.
What's old is new again at Wisconsin State Fair Park. Ben brings us a story about the "new" Dairy Building.
Joe Tomandl, a fourth-generation dairy farmer in central Wisconsin and founder of both the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship and the newly formed Dairy Grazing Alliance, says he’s proud of how far the movement has come since 2010. The Alliance, he explains, builds on that foundation to grow the dairy grazing sector as a whole.

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The Wisconsin State Fair is a time to experience everything that makes the state great whether it be the people, the animals, or the food. Now one staple of this fair has gotten a facelift. The building that serves up the infamous creme puffs may look a bit different when you enter this year. Tess Kerksen the Director of Marketing and Communications with the Wisconsin State Fair says that the newly renovated and renamed Dairy Building is ready to serve up large amounts of Wisconsin’s favorite sweet treat. She also says that once the fair is done the building can be rented for events.

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The Wisconsin State Fair is right around the corner, and there are a few things you need to know before and you go. Tess Kerksen, the Director of Marketing and Communications with the Wisconsin State Fair, has the admission and parking details.

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Dr. David Kohl is a Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics Virginia Tech. He tells us about the changes in land values we have seen in recent history and what we can learn from them. He predicts what changes we can anticipate from the growing trends of artificial intelligence and women involvement in agricultural business.

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A large staff is required to successfully host an event as big as the Wisconsin State Fair. Samantha Dennis is the Chief Organizational Development Officer for the State Fair. She tells us about the scope of their staff and what they look for when hiring seasonal workers.

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Hosting weddings on the farm is a strategy to diversify income and protect growers from market volatility. But "wedding barns" have been limited by updated alcohol policies. Jean Bahn of Farmview Event Barn in Berlin updates Mid-West Farm Report on the lawsuit fighting the new rules. Jean says 2026 weddings are in jeopardy.

A cool front is on its way, says ag meteorologist Stu Muck.

Where does the mint in your toothpaste and chewing gum come from? Believe it or not -- Wisconsin! At Still Harvest Farm in Rock County, partners Trip Downing and DJ Waller are growing and processing peppermint just south of Janesville. The harvest is underway now, keeping them busy during the typically quieter summer months between corn and soybean seasons.

A large staff is required to successfully host an event as big as the Wisconsin State Fair. Samantha Dennis tells us about the scope of their staff and what they look for when hiring seasonal workers to handle the livestock barns, for example.

Market advisor John Heinberg of Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says no change in the latest cattle on feed and cattle inventory reports. Crop ratings are very strong, with soybeans trending exceptionally higher. The weather is excellent for crops moving forward. U.S.-China trade negotiations are going on in Stockholm.

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For Sandy Kumbier, the farm is more than land -- it’s a legacy built on hard work, deep roots, and unforgettable moments. Her great-great-grandfather, August Ferdinand Kumbier, purchased the Winnebago County farm in 1875 for $5,000 after immigrating from Germany. Generations later, Sandy recalls riding with her dad to the mill, unloading oats and corn, then sharing a bottle of Coke from the vending machine. These were just small rituals that made lasting memories. The family’s journey has also seen heartbreak. In 1999, Sandy’s nephew Jared was diagnosed with a brain tumor at just one year old. His father, Bob, sold the cows to care for him. Jared passed away the following year, and in his honor, the family hosted “A Day on the Farm,” drawing thousands and raising over $250,000 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Through joy and grief, the Kumbiers have kept the spirit of the farm, and of Jared, alive for generations.

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The Crossman family farm has been a cornerstone of legacy and love since 1925, when Walter R. Crossman first purchased the land. His son Bud joined him at 18, later expanding the operation with his wife, Sandy, to support their growing family. From remodeling the barn to boosting genetics with registered Brown Swiss, Bud was always innovating. Their dedication paid off when their daughter’s photo with a Brown Swiss landed on the cover of Hoard’s Dairyman, sparking pen pals and later visitors from around the world. In 1984, Bud earned national recognition in Nashville for his small herd, marking his first vacation in over three decades. Though Bud passed away two years ago, his family’s deep-rooted connection to the farm, and to each other, lives on in every acre.

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The sixth generation will be taking over the farm after David Massey steps down. Melanie Markhardt's son hopes to continue raising crops and beef cattle as they are doing now. Challenges that David Massey can recall are drought years and getting enough feed for their livestock. He also recalls the biggest change that they experienced was all the technology in the dairy industry, including the surge bucket milkers. David started working off the farm and in construction once they switched from dairy to beef. One thing that was significant to the family that was passed down now was their 1256 International tractor. Melanie feels it's pretty unique that the family is preserving the homestead after six generations.

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