Schardin Family
The Conrad and Lisa Schardin family farm is located two miles from Lake Benton in southwest Minnesota. The farm was originally homesteaded in 1885 by Conrad’s great-grandparents, Ted and Louise Schardin. Conrad and Lisa are the fourth generation of the family to farm the land.
Conrad started operating the farm in 1985 and at that time the farm was a row crop and cattle operation. The family switched to just crops and hay in 1998. Currently, the Schardin farm consists of 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans and 200 acres of hay. Conrad also custom farms some additional acres.
Conrad is the primary operator of the farm. Lisa has off-farm work in the social services field but helps mainly in the fall with the grain cart, tillage, and lunch wagon duties. The Schardins’ sons, Sam and Max, who’ve worked on the farm since they were young, also provide help when they can outside of their full-time jobs.
Conrad has served for many years the Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District Board, the Verdi Township Board and in different leadership positions at the family’s church. In the 1990s, Conrad took an early role in the development of wind power in Lincoln County. For several years the Schardins hosted an annual fall pumpkin patch field trip for area kindergarten students. Sam and Max were both active in 4-H and FFA.
The Schardins are extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue farming that was provided to them by the generations before them.