Jim and Patty Schieber Family
The Schieber farm is a multi-generational family farm in Houston County. The current farm was purchased from Jim’s grandparents, Joe and Ruth Schieber, by Joe and Carol Schieber in 1971. Joe and Carol built a house and hog barns on the property along with raising their children, Debbie, Jim, Jane, Sarah, Danny and Bobby.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in animal science in 1989, Jim joined the farming operation. Jim and Patty were married in 1991 and moved onto the farm, raising three children, Katie, Joseph and Maria. In 2018, their son, Joseph, graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in animal science and joined the operation. Joseph recently married Victoria, and now they reside on the farm. Katie, a neuro nurse, married Dayne Heintz in June 2022 and they dairy farm in Badger Valley. Maria is a cardiopulmonary nurse and resides in Caledonia.
The Schiebers raise hogs in a farrow to finish practice and grow no-till corn and soybeans, a conservation practice they started in 1993.
Jim’s dad, Joe, is retired but still does some spring planting and helps run the combine at harvest. He also helps feed sows in the morning. Jim and Joseph handle the day-to-day hog chores, including feeding, mixing rations, ordering vitamins and minerals, and marketing.
Patty learned how to castrate and take care of the baby pigs from Carol. She also drives a grain truck during harvest and fills in whenever she can around the farm. Joseph's wife, Victoria, is learning about farm life and is a great help to Patty with the baby pigs.
Sadly, Carol passed away in 2007 from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Joe was able to find happiness and marry Lorrie DeWitt. She has been a welcome and loved addition to the family.
During high school, Jim was active in 4-H and FFA where he held various offices; he is a member of FarmHouse fraternity at the University of Minnesota. He served on his church’s finance committee and was an adult 4-H leader. Patty was also active in 4-H and FFA while in high school. She has served on the local library board and is a lector at church, where she also volunteers time on various committees. She’s been a 4-H adult leader, election judge and serves on the Wilmington Mutual board. Joseph was active in sports, 4-H and FFA, where he held offices in both organizations. He is a member of FarmHouse fraternity at the U and served as Caledonia Township Clerk.