Schueler Family
The Schueler home farm dates to 1904 when it was purchased by Sherman and Kevin Schueler’s maternal grandmother’s family. Brothers Sherman and Kevin are the third generation of the family to operate the farm. The brothers have been working together since the 1970s. The farm is a diversified animal and crop farm that up until 2012 included a dairy. The family operated a 250-cow dairy for 15 years.
Schueler Farms Incorporated includes two operations. The families run a small grass-fed beef herd and provide fresh beef to two outlets in Minneapolis. The Schuelers also farm 660 tillable acres, two-thirds of which are certified organic. The remaining areas are in transition to organic. The family’s goal is to become a regenerative organic farm.
The Schuelers’ plan is to have a seven-year crop rotation they believe will improve soil health. The rotation includes alfalfa, winter milling wheat, corn, edible peas, corn, soybeans and back to alfalfa. The families started an organic popcorn enterprise working with a young neighbor who is handling internet marketing.
Kevin and his wife, Pattie, are the crop managers of the operation. Sherman and his wife, Karen, handle the office and financial management. Grandchildren have opportunities to work on the farm as well. Prior to his retirement, Sherman and Kevin’s brother-in-law, Ron Erickson, worked with the Schuelers for many years.
Sherman was on the leading edge of the ethanol industry in the 1980s and has been active in the Minnesota Corn Growers and Minnesota Pork Producers. He and Karen are members of Svea Lutheran Church. The couple were leaders of a three-year effort to establish a Family Promise affiliate in Kandiyohi County that works with local churches to assist homeless families. The program still operates in the county today.