When 35 acres of land became available for lease through a family friend, Zach Birenbaum jumped at the chance to start farming on his own. Zach had remained connected to agriculture working at a manure hauling company for the past ten years, as well as on his family’s farm. Now, it was his chance to start his own operation and pursue his passions.
“Living in Manitowoc County, Wisc., farmland like that is pretty hard to come by,” explained Zach. “There’s a lot of competition, so when the land became available, I jumped at the chance.”
Taking the Leap
Zach grew up on his parent’s dairy farm, Condale Acres. “My parents’ both grew up on farms, and when they met each other they both wanted to continue farming. They’re both from southeast Wisconsin and decided to head north until they found a farm they could make their own,” Zach said.
Growing up, Zach and his three siblings helped on the farm, and that’s really where his love of agriculture began. “I knew from a young age I wanted to farm, so when the chance came for me to go out on my own and start cash cropping, I knew I had to take the leap.”
At first when he started farming, Zach maintained his job at the manure hauling company. He quickly became busy, however, and was able to move into full-time farming after only a year. Zach was able to rent the equipment he needed to get started from his parents until he was ready to finance his own. He started reaching out to local lenders for assistance, but they were hesitant to give him the financing he needed. Then he reached out to GreenStone for support.
“I needed financing for equipment as well as an operating loan to help maintain my day-to-day operations,” explained Zach. “That’s when I started working with GreenStone and was able to finance my first combine with them.” After purchasing his own equipment, Zach took the next step and started doing custom combine work for other local farmers in the area in addition to farming his own land.
Mitigating Risk as a Beginning Farmer
As Zach’s operation grew, he began to take on more land and started diversifying his crops. “I started growing wheat to support the needs of the dairy farm and then took on more corn and soybeans as well.” Through working with GreenStone, he was introduced to the benefit of mitigating risk to his crops through crop insurance.
“I had already had such a positive experience. Everyone at GreenStone was very honest, and they provided me with a lot of guidance when I was just getting started. As I started growing and renting more land to farm, they mentioned how beneficial having crop insurance could be for me as a beginning farmer.”
Zach began working with crop insurance specialist Erin Kenneke, who helped him secure the right policy level for his specific needs. “I’ve known Erin just growing up in this area, but getting to work with her is just another reason I really like working with GreenStone. The local relationships and connection to the community they have is really nice.”
Zach was able to receive a higher subsidy rate for his crop insurance policy because of the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) Beginning Farmers and Ranchers program. “What I didn’t realize was that because I was a young and beginning farmer, there was even more benefit to me seeking crop insurance coverage. I was able to receive extra premium subsidies and waived administrative fees which made the policy more affordable,” said Zach. The USDA has also recently extended the program to benefit young farmers in their first ten years of farming.
“When I started working with Zach, I wanted to make sure we found the right policy level for Zach based on his specific risk,” explained Erin. “We wanted to cover his input costs and protect against the volatility of markets and weather. We added ECO (Enhanced Coverage Option) to his policy, which is an additional crop insurance option that provides coverage to your underlying crop insurance policy deductible. We placed a protection on 95% of the crop insurance commodity price on Zach’s policy, so if market prices decline, that extra coverage per acre will make all the difference in Zach’s bottom line.”
“Having that added peace of mind from having the crop insurance coverage has been key for me,” commented Zach. “Even though it does cost a little bit more money, I think it’s worth it. When you have so much going on, it’s just one less thing you have to worry about.”
“I especially enjoy that Erin stays on top of everything and is able to send me over everything I need to look at or sign right on my phone. It’s really convenient for me as I continue to get busier,” added Zach.
The Ultimate Reward
Zach stays busy farming over 150 acres of corn, soybeans, and winter wheat, which he markets to local co-ops and processors, which roast and press soybeans used in cooking oil. Since farming full-time, he’s also been able to continue his custom combine work for 800 acres of neighboring farmers’ land and has even started doing custom pesticide spraying. He still helps on his parents’ dairy and is responsible for all of the combine work for them as well.
“My goal is to continue growing at a steady rate,” Zach said. “For me though, I’m really motived by the enjoyment of farming and not just by ownership or scale. Not many people can say they get to work with their family either, and for me getting to work with them and do what I love is the ultimate reward.”
To view the rest of the 2026 winter Partners articles please click here.
While winter can be a quieter period for some operations, cyber risks don’t take time off — and many now arrive through the trusted partners and services we rely on every day.
$9 million. That’s the estimated loss some US farms have faced when cyber incidents forced them to pause operations. At a recent FBI agriculture security symposium, farmers, processors, and industry partners heard a consistent message: as agriculture becomes more connected and technology-driven, it is also becoming a more attractive target for cybercriminals. The risk is real, and it continues to grow (Protecting Critical Infrastructure, 2024).
Many cyber incidents don’t start with a direct attack on a farm or business. Instead, they begin through trusted third parties — vendors or platforms that already have access to systems and information.
Third-Party Risk, Explained in Plain Terms
A third party is any outside company your organization relies on to operate. This can include software providers, online marketplaces, payment processors, logistics platforms, or customer management tools.
Third-party cyber risk means your organization can be affected by a cyber incident at one of those companies — even if your own systems were never directly attacked.
A recent national incident illustrates this clearly. In 2025, a widely used business integration tool that connected customer chat services with customer relationship management systems was compromised.
Attackers gained access through the vendor’s system and were able to extract customer data from hundreds of organizations that used the service (Kost, 2025).
Those organizations were not breached directly. They were impacted because a trusted external service had access to their data. This is a clear example of how third-party risk works in practice.
What This Looks Like for Agriculture
Cyber incidents don’t always involve sophisticated hacking or national headlines. In many cases, the damage starts quietly, through everyday digital tools that are trusted and widely used.
Agricultural businesses have reported real financial losses tied to online ordering and payment scams. In these situations, criminals placed legitimate-looking orders using fraudulent or manipulated payment information. The products were delivered, the payment initially appeared valid, and then the transaction was later reversed — leaving the business without both the product and the funds (Galloway, 2025).
There was no breach of the business’s internal computer systems. Instead, the loss stemmed from reliance on third-party online ordering and payment platforms, showing how cyber risk can surface through trusted external services rather than direct attacks.
In addition, Michigan State University has surveyed agricultural operators across the state and found that unauthorized access attempts, computer intrusions, and digital disruptions are already occurring. Many of these incidents go unreported, either because operations recover quickly or because it is unclear who to notify (Galloway, 2025).
The takeaway is straightforward: cyber risk already exists in the agricultural community, and third-party tools and services are part of that reality.
Why This Matters to Businesses and Their Customers
Third-party cyber risk is not just an information technology issue. It is a business risk.
When a vendor or service provider experiences a cyber incident, the impact can ripple outward:
- Payments may be delayed or reversed
- Orders or services may be disrupted
- Sensitive business or customer information may
be exposed
For organizations that support agriculture, including service providers and technology companies, these disruptions can affect both internal operations and the customers they serve.
Agriculture depends on timing. Even short interruptions tied to third-party issues can result in missed opportunities, financial loss, or strained relationships.
Cyber Threats Aren’t Just Accidents
Federal law enforcement has been clear that cyber threats to food and agriculture aren’t random — some are intentional. At a national agriculture security event, an FBI Special Agent warned that foreign actors, most notably the People’s Republic of China, are actively seeking ways to disrupt the United States’ agriculture industry. These are not hypothetical concerns; they are part of a broader threat landscape that includes attempts to undermine supply chains, steal valuable data, or degrade operations (Protecting Critical Infrastructure, 2024).
In that same briefing, the FBI urged agricultural operators, just like any other business, to adopt good cyber hygiene as part of their regular routine. That term simply refers to basic practices that make systems and data harder for attackers to exploit. Examples include:
- Using multi-factor authentication — adding a second step (like a code sent to your phone) when signing in so that stolen passwords aren’t enough to gain access (Federal Bureau of Investigation).
- Backing up critical data regularly — and storing those backups separately so you can recover quickly if files are lost or held hostage (Federal Bureau of Investigation).
These steps may sound simple, but they dramatically reduce the chances of costly disruptions or data loss — and they’re recommended by both law enforcement and cybersecurity specialists.
Reducing Risk from Third-Party Relationships
While no organization can fully control another company’s security practices, there are practical steps that can reduce exposure to third-party risk. Even when cyber risk feels overwhelming, progress often starts with a few manageable actions.
- Know Who You Rely On
- Maintain an up-to-date list of vendors and service providers that have access to your systems or handle your data.
- Limit Access
- Ensure third parties only have access to the information or systems necessary to perform their role.
- Ask About Security
- Before engaging a vendor, ask how they protect data, how often controls are reviewed, and how incidents are communicated.
- Review Connections Regularly
- Periodically review vendor access and update credentials, especially following reported security events.
- Plan for Disruptions
- Have a clear, practical plan for how your organization would respond if a third-party incident caused delays, outages, or data concerns — even if your own systems were not directly affected.
Looking Ahead
Third-party cyber risk is no longer theoretical. It is present today and affects organizations of all sizes — from local agricultural operations to national service providers.
Understanding this risk, managing vendor relationships thoughtfully, and planning for disruptions are essential steps. Not only to protect systems and data, but to support the stability of customers, partners, and industries that rely on secure, dependable services.
As we move into the new year, strengthening how we approach third-party risk is one of the most practical ways we can protect our organizations and the communities we serve.
To view the rest of the 2026 winter Partners articles please click here.
People choose to build their dream home in the country for many reasons. For Jim and Christine Kesler, their decision wasn’t based on luxury or square footage, it was about dignity, love, and legacy.
The Keslers were close to paying off their home in Trenton, Mich., located about 20 miles southeast of Detroit, when they decided the home would not accommodate their needs any longer.
Accessibility Challenges
The Keslers’ daughter, Victoria, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (M.S.) at 19 and her symptoms progressed quickly. What started with dizzy spells and acute eye issues quickly led to Victoria requiring a walker, then a wheelchair.
The tight quarters of their colonial-style home led to Victoria, now in her early 30s, becoming virtually homebound. With no easy way for her to enter and exit the home, her electric wheelchair regularly damaging their hardwood floors, and the only accessible bathroom being located upstairs, the need for an accessible home was urgent.
“We had been going to [a fitness center] and taking her there to do a shower,” said Christine. “With her no longer able to support herself enough to even pivot out of her chair, she’s fully a lift move at this point. So that was no longer an option there either.”
Adding to the Keslers’ urgency was the fact that Jim, while mostly asymptomatic, also has M.S. With Jim nearing retirement, and knowing the disease often progresses with age, the Keslers knew they needed to find a place where their family could truly feel at home, one that would support them for years to come.
Searching for Solutions
Victoria, Jim, and Christine scoured real estate listings. After months of doing their own research and working with a realtor, their countless hours of searching led to a dead end. There were homes available but none met the accessibility requirements of their family.
“There’s honestly nothing that is handicapped accessible. Buying another house and having to renovate it wasn’t going to work either,” said Christine.
Planning a Place to Call Home
The Keslers came to the realization the only way they were going to find the home they were looking for was to build it. They made a list including their specific requirements for property to build on, which included it being somewhere without a home owner’s association (HOA), enough buildable area to construct a ranch home with no physical barriers, within 15 minutes of a hospital, a reasonable distance from Jim’s workplace, close to town and shopping, up to 10 acres, access to water, and the ability to hunt on the property.
It took the Keslers two years to find the land where they would build their home. During that time, they saved enough money to pay for the property with cash. After securing the property, they quickly transitioned to searching for a contractor.
Finding a Trusted Partner in GreenStone
The Keslers eventually identified a construction company that gladly agreed to take on the unique challenges their project presented. After learning of the difficulties they were having with the appraisal they received when seeking financing, the builder recommended the Keslers to reach out to GreenStone.
Upon hearing the Keslers’ story, Stephanie Lundy, senior financial services officer at GreenStone’s Adrian branch got to work. Utilizing the equity in the Keslers’ current home and the property they owned outright, she was able to roll their former mortgage into a new construction loan. Stephanie also worked with a new appraiser to ensure the value of the Keslers’ project was fairly evaluated and accounted for the value of the accessibility upgrades the plan included.
“Stephanie really worked out great for us,” said Christine. “She helped us move along with as few hurdles as possible.”
Stephanie saw the challenges the Keslers presented as an opportunity – not simply to facilitate a loan, but to help a family in desperate need of a new home.
“My father is in a wheelchair. When I first heard their story, I immediately resonated with many of the challenges the Keslers have experienced and wanted to do everything I could to help them,” said Stephanie.
“GreenStone’s lending policies gave me the ability to help this family on their timeline,” she said. “The Keslers’ story is about more than simply wanting a new home, it is about ensuring a good quality of life for their family today and in the future.”
Breaking Ground
After the long journey of deciding they needed to build, finding a location for their new home, and securing the right construction and financial partners to support their vision, the Keslers assumed the construction process would present more of the same – consistent challenges and lots of waiting.
However, their contractor exceeded their expectations by not only accommodating their requests but working diligently to do everything possible to get them in their new home quickly.
“In a three-week period, from the 4th of July to the 25th of July, we had a fully framed house with siding, windows, roof decking, and shingles. That was three guys. That was it. They were amazing. They were there on the holiday, Sunday — they didn’t care. They just got it done,” said Jim.
Building a Legacy
With construction now nearly complete, the Keslers look forward to moving into a home that will accommodate their needs today and for years to come.
For the first time in years, the Keslers’ new home will provide Victoria the ability to live in a way most people take for granted – without barriers. Concrete floors will provide a smooth surface for her wheelchair, a customized garage and lift will help her enter and exit the home safely, and sidewalks outside have been designed to allow her to spend time outdoors. She already has plans for a butterfly garden on the property. In the future, Jim has plans to purchase a side-by-side vehicle to allow himself and Victoria to ride down to the river that touches their property.
The Keslers have plans to host their family, allowing a place for relatives to stay when they visit to hunt on their land. The home will also allow Jim and Christine a place to “age in place” without the worry of needing to relocate in the future. They also intend to pass the home down to Victoria and her brother, James, who also suffers from M.S.
Summing up her feelings about her new home, and the conclusion of the long journey it took her and her family to see it to fruition, Christine concluded, “it’s well beyond my expectations.”
To view the rest of the 2026 winter Partners articles please click here.
Five years ago, Jennifer and Phil Dougherty were in their early 40s with four kids, and financially stable with two self-employed careers. Some might have called them crazy to venture off into the capital-intensive, start-up turkey business – they saw it as an opportunity.
They had some experience. Jennifer grew up on a dairy and turkey farm and Phil, the son of a pastor, worked in the local feed mill and was a laborer on area farms growing up. They both loved the idea of farming, but as young adults, the opportunity and ability were not there. So, off to college they went. Jennifer got a degree in civil engineering, while Phil became an electrician. They married in 1995 and settled on 40 acres in Alto, Michigan, just a mile from the farm where Jennifer grew up.
“Growing up, I always enjoyed farming with my dad, (Bill Wieland), but when Phil and I were out of college, Dad wasn’t ready to retire. So, we figured farming just wasn’t in the cards for us and went on with our careers.”
Jennifer’s mom, Carol Wieland, passed away in 2000, which prompted her dad to look at what he wanted to do to retire.
At that time, Jennifer’s younger brother Chris Wieland took over the farm, which in the late 1980s transitioned out of dairy and into contracted turkeys.
Life was humming along when the prospect of becoming a turkey grower presented itself
Michigan Turkey Producers, a co-op formed to fill the processing need in Michigan, was looking to add more turkeys. A contract was extended to Chris, but he didn’t want to expand the full amount allotted to him. “He asked if we were interested in growing turkeys – that’s how it all started,” she says.
Decision time
The process started in 2015. Their 40 acres was enough for a smaller operation. “We said, you know, if we can get funding, if we can get everything laid out, if we can make it all work, then it was meant to be – we’ll go for it,” Jennifer recalls. “That’s kind of how we rolled with it the whole time.”
Being already self-employed, Jennifer says it helped because they were used to dealing with self-employed salaries. “When money was available, you had it; when it wasn’t, you worked around it,” she says.
There was a precedent in her childhood, Jennifer’s father – who also had four kids in high school and middle school at the time – made a bold move to sell his cattle and start growing turkeys. “He totally changed his life path – we had seen it happen and be successful,” she adds.
But, could they get the financing?
“The startup costs were just so phenomenal; no one was interested in lending except for GreenStone, because they understand the logic and dynamics behind farming,” she says. “You have to run all the numbers for it to make sense.”
Today they work with GreenStone’s Collin Nurenburg, their financial services officer in the Ionia branch.
“They were detail oriented, honest and forthcoming with what they wanted to do,” says Nurenburg. “We helped finance site work, the turkey barns and other structures they started in 2016 and ended in 2018. We also secured a full year of operating credit for them.”
They built three 60-by-500-foot grow-out barns, a 50-by-200-foot brooder, as well as a shop and manure building. In a year, they cycle through 8.6 flocks of about 8,700 birds each for an annual production of about 75,000 turkeys. Birds arrive at one day old and grow out to about 19 to 20 weeks.
“We couldn’t be happier with the service and financing we received from GreenStone,” Jennifer says. “Collin called to check on us when COVID-19 started to make sure things were going well and if we needed anything.”
With the market disruptions caused by the pandemic, “We increased our line of credit just in case things went really bad, so we were prepared. Thankfully, we haven’t needed it,” she adds.
Up and running
While Jennifer already knew quite a bit about raising turkeys, she’s quick to admit there was still a huge learning curve. They attended meetings, they observed, they asked a lot of questions. “The other farmers in the co-op are very good about sharing information,” she explains. “Many of these growers have been doing this for decades, generations; they are such a wealth of knowledge.”
The couple runs the operation themselves; Phil quit his job as an electrician to become the full-time farm manager. “But, as we were designing and building, it was pretty great to be able to draw on our skills as an electrician and civil engineer,” adds Jennifer, who maintained her job, but manages the paperwork for the farm.
She also does chores on the weekends, bringing another perspective to the operation. “By being there only on the weekends, I can give a fresh set of eyes on the barn and on the birds,” she says. “Phil and I bounce ideas off each other, and we sometimes look at things differently, so it’s a nice balance. We complement each other well. In the last three years we’ve figured out how to make suggestions and how to work together without driving each other nuts. It’s a balancing act, but it’s worked extraordinarily well so far.”
Being a civil engineer, she’s used to being in a largely male-dominated field. “I’m used to there being only one or two women in a meeting of 25,” she explains. “Luckily, everyone in the ag industry has been very accepting because you know their wives and daughters help run their farms, too.”
The Doughertys’ oldest daughter Ella, 19, was part of the farm operation growing up, but is now studying to be a physical therapist at Trine University in Angola, Ind. Their other children, Sam, 17, a senior at Lowell High School, Maeve, 15, a sophomore and Caleb, 10, a fourth grader, help out as needed when two sets of hands are not enough.
The biggest challenges on the farm are keeping all the pieces and parts moving, while keeping disease at bay, according to Jennifer. From sourcing shavings to selecting water treatments, it’s about keeping the birds healthy. “There’s always a lot of stuff percolating, and like I’ve been told, turkeys are always looking for ways to get sick. So, you must look for and solve a problem before it happens. It’s amazing how you can stand in a flock of turkeys, listen and look, and you can tell if they’re feeling good or not.”
For right now, Jennifer and Phil plan to stay the course, and continue to improve efficiencies and animal health. “We’re doing everything we can to keep them healthy and happy. For Phil to work full time and me part time on the farm, that’s a nice fit. It’s hard to say what the kids will want to do.”
To view the article in the online 2021 Winter Partners Magazine, click here.
Two things needed to happen: the landowner would need to be willing to sell, and the Hotchkisses would need to secure financing. While 2020 will be remembered by many as a year of chaos and anguish, it brought joy to this family of four as both requirements aligned and they closed on 30 acres containing around 8 acres of woods, with the balance being farmland.
“My husband and son, Colin, are big outdoorsmen, so we’ve always wanted the woods that our current property contained just a pinch of,” Connie says. “Our neighbor owned a house and 35 acres. We take care of each other’s animals when one of us is out of our town, and he also knew I was a realtor. So, one day he calls us and says they’re selling and moving.”
Being a well-known and established realtor for 22 years with Gerweck Real Estate, Connie had worked with GreenStone Farm Credit Services for years with clients buying rural, larger properties and farmland.
“I have a long relationship with Brian Young with GreenStone – he’s my go-to-guy, especially anything with acreage. It was natural to reach out to him right away,” she explains.
Connie and Chad had already been tossing around the idea of doing a refinance on their home because interest rates had dropped during the pandemic. “Luckily, this opportunity came up with perfect timing because Brian was able to refinance our home and incorporate the purchase as one big transaction,” she says. “We were able to purchase the bulk of our neighbor’s property for ourselves and then sell his house to a family friend who was moving back to Michigan from out of state.”
Brian says, “Connie, who is a very good realtor, knows that with vacant land and the size of acreage – plus their existing house – GreenStone is about the only lending institution that would be able to get that done. That’s especially true given a significant portion of the land is tillable farmland. By folding it all together and using their home to offset some of the down payment on the land, they were also able to get a really good rate.”
The process started in August and was closed Oct. 27. “It took a bit longer – a couple extra weeks – because we were waiting for the split approvals from the township for separating property from a larger chunk,” Brian says.
Connie has now worked with GreenStone wearing two different hats. “Both professionally, and now personally, GreenStone has been wonderful to work with,” she says. “I was happy to work with them personally, not only because of all the work I’ve done with them as a realtor, but also because they really support the community, as well. They support 4-H programs and livestock projects, which my kids have been a part of. So, I think it’s great they promote and support country living and farming for the next generation.”
In addition to hunting ground, the woods will help stoke their outside wood burner and they are pursuing options to best utilize the remaining property for possible agricultural uses.
The Hotchkisses have lived in their current home for eight years. “It’s definitely our forever home now,” Connie says.
To view the article in the online 2021 Winter Partners Magazine, click here.
GreenStone remains committed to shaping the future of agriculture and natural resources. In 2026, we’re continuing this mission by offering thousands of dollars in scholarships to students pursuing careers in these fields.
Since 2010, GreenStone has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to undergraduate students.
Scholarship Opportunities:
- Up to $40,000 in scholarships for incoming freshmen: $2,000 for students attending a four-year program and $1,000 for those in a two-year program.
- The Dave Armstrong Scholarship Program, named after GreenStone’s former CEO, offers $5,000 each to four current college students.
To apply, applicants must live within GreenStone’s service area (Michigan and select counties in northeastern Wisconsin) and plan to study agriculture, timber, or natural resources. Applicants must demonstrate academic success and leadership in school, community, and agricultural activities.
The application deadline is March 1, 2026. For more details and to apply, visit www.GreenStoneFCS.com/scholarships.
Purchased in 1946 by Carl and Garnet Pagel, the Pagel family farm started with 80 acres, a few cows, chickens, and hogs.
As the young couple’s family grew, so did the dairy farm. Interested in taking over the family business one day, John, the youngest of Carl & Garnet’s seven children, attended UW-Madison’s Farm Short Course Program. After Carl’s retirement in the early 1980’s, John purchased the farm from his father, focusing on innovation and technology.
Sadly, in 2018, John Pagel and his son-in-law Steve Witcpalek lost their lives in a plane crash. The family carried on his legacy and the farm is now owned by third generation Pagels, Jamie (Pagel) Witcpalek, J.J. Pagel, and Bryan Pagel, and operated alongside the farm’s 200+ employees.
Today, Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, LLC and Dairy Dreams have over 14,000 cows and farm 9,000 acres of cropland. With the farm, they have a facility that creates renewable natural gas, generated by cow manure, which allows them to create energy that is usable across the farm. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to yearly removing 9,200 vehicles from the road.
With the electricity generated from the digester, Pagel’s Ponderosa can almost power the entire neighboring city of Kewaunee, which has a population of 3,000 people. This system helps manage waste products, reduces odor, and eliminates pathogens to improve the overall air quality.
“Pagel’s Ponderosa has a deep-rooted dedication to sustainability,” said Jamie Pagel Witcpalek. “We strive to ensure that the care we take with our farming practices reflects the commitment we have to the environment, our employees, our animals, and our community. It’s all part of meeting the needs of today while securing the future for generations to come.”
GreenStone is proud to have a close relationship with the Wisconsin farm.
“Right at the top of the Pagel family’s decision-making drivers are the environment and animal wellbeing,” said Dan Kaufman, VP of commercial lending at GreenStone. “It’s great supporting a business that’s so dedicated to promoting sustainable practices.”
Onsite, they also have a farmstead cheese production plant, which means the cheese is made on the farm with milk from their own cows. This practice allows for total quality control and traceability.
To add to it all, Pagel’s Ponderosa also has a mission to educate the community about what day-to-day life is like on a modern, progressive dairy farm. As a result, they host thousands of visitors each year for public tours and school field trips.
Northern Michigan’s Shoreline Fruit is one of the largest tart cherry operations in North America. The company’s roots go back to 1969, when the Gregory and Veliquette families began growing, harvesting, and selling cherries.
Over the years, the growers evolved their business, adding pitting operations to their services before selling the fruit to other processors. In 2008, the business expanded their value and local impact by processing all the finished goods for their customers, and Shoreline Fruit was formed.
The Shoreline Fruit cooperative of growers has over 6,000 acres of orchards and typically harvests between 45 to 50 million pounds of Montmorency tart cherries each year. Their growers are among the first cherry farms in Northern Michigan to earn USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification. The orchards are sustained by managing the balance between the need for optimum productivity and the necessity of safeguarding our environment.
“As a grower-owned, vertically integrated company, we are uniquely positioned to control the quality and safety of our products from the farms all the way to our end customers,” said Jason Warren, Shoreline Fruit CEO.
Shoreline Fruit produces a full array of products, including premium dried fruit, cherry concentrate and juice, nutraceutical powder, fruit pastes, and frozen and maraschino cherries to serve a variety of markets.
Shoreline also offers a broad selection of premium dried fruits, concentrates and juices directly to consumers under their Cherry Bay Orchards® brand through their online store, and through a variety of retail and specialty food marketers and distributors. From their farms to the consumer, Shoreline is committed to quality, food safety, innovation, and sustainability.
“From the stewardship of our land to the highest level of quality and food safety certifications at our processing and production facilities, our growers strive to ensure that their pride of ownership is reflected in all that we do,” Jason said. “We firmly believe that America’s farming heritage is part of what has made this nation great, and that this needs to be preserved and nurtured to ensure that generations to come can enjoy the food security and abundance that so many of us take for granted.”
Shoreline Fruit’s beginning stems from when the two families met at Michigan State University.
“It’s the result of a couple of farm families that had a dream to produce tart cherries, and it evolved to the point where they not only produce it, but they add value to it by converting it to foods we all like to consume, like dried cherries, chocolate covered cherries, and cherry juice,” said John Jones, GreenStone senior VP of commercial lending. “The current operation is the result of all of their years of work.”
John, who has worked with the farm for a decade, admires the way the families have successfully worked together.
“It’s one thing for family members to work together in a farm operation, but when you have two families that have decided to work together, it’s a little bit different than what you typically see,” he said. “But it’s because of working together that they have been able to get to where they are today.”
Learn more at www.shorelinefruit.com
Success in the timber industry depends on careful planning, strong management, and long-term commitment. GreenStone has proudly been a steady and trusted partner in the lumber industry for decades.
To support the continued success of timber professionals, GreenStone is pleased to host free, in-person Logging Forums this March.
We invite you to join us at one of the following sessions with lunch to follow:
Monday, March 16
8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST
Island Resort and Casino, Harris, MI
Thursday, March 19
8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST
Treetops Resort, Gaylord, MI
Earn & Learn
Attendees who pre-register and attend the full forum in person are eligible to earn four SFI points. GreenStone’s timber industry loan specialists will be available to answer questions and discuss financing options. Each forum will also feature updates and insights from industry experts on topics such as:
- Industry and mill updates
- Equipment financing
- Transition and estate planning
- Legislative updates
Register by March 6
There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required by March 6. To register for the Gaylord or Harris Logging Forum, click here.
Come learn from timber loan experts and gain valuable industry insight on a variety of timber-related topics. If you have any questions about attending a Logging Forum, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local GreenStone branch.
Are you looking for the first step toward your future? For many college students, that step begins with an internship. At GreenStone Farm Credit Services, instead of the typical internship or summer job, we provide a launching pad for your career filled with endless opportunities for growth.
We understand the desire for hands-on experiences in your summer internship. With volunteer events, customer visits, and career development opportunities, your internship is a journey where you can grow in a supportive dynamic environment and create meaningful memories with fellow students as a part of an intern cohort.
For each experience, you will be joined with the other college students interning at GreenStone, along with having networking opportunities to meet interns with agricultural companies across the state!
We truly believe growth happens when you’re given the chance to make a real impact. From day one, we’ll encourage you to embark on purposeful projects and contribute to work that drives our mission forward – supporting our rural communities through tailored financial services.
You’ll get the chance to job-shadow, even with departments outside your area of expertise, and collaborate with industry professionals while gaining hands-on experience and developing skills to help sculpt your future career.
GreenStone’s internship experience is shaping the next generation of professionals and making a lasting influence on students across the country. We’re proud to offer an experience that goes beyond the basics, one that builds confidence, leadership, and a strong foundation for your success.
If you’re looking to turn your enthusiasm into impact, we’d love you to take your next step with us. GreenStone doesn’t just offer internships; we offer the opportunity to be part of something bigger. Something that will help shape the future, starting with you. To learn more about our internship program and what possibilities there are for you, click here.