Kewaunee, Wis.
Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy
Family is central to Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy. The largest family-owned dairy farm in Wisconsin, they’re always thinking about the next generation with their work. They consider farming to be a labor of love and place a significant emphasis on FAMILY: Including their family, their employees’ families and the greater family of Northeast Wisconsin. They are a third-generation family farm, with a fourth generation ready to keep the tradition going. This is why they prioritize initiatives that help foster the next generation’s dreams, like sustainability and agricultural education. Their methane digester can generate enough electricity to power neighboring towns, demonstrating their renewed promise to those around them. No matter the connection, the Pagels view everyone as family, and thus carry a unique responsibility to take care of others. Their deeply rooted commitment to the land, the animals and each other has carried them through ebbs and flows and is a true mark of family farming in Wisconsin: Giving back to what, and who, gave to you.