WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wisconsin [Jan. 29, 2024] – The Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) program is pleased to announce Jacob and Jennifer Hoewisch, Fremont, Wisconsin, were selected as the 2024 Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmers during the 70th Annual Awards Weekend Jan. 26- 27.
As long as Jacob Hoewisch can remember, he has wanted to be a farmer. When he was in fourth grade his dad and uncle combined their dairy herds and built a freestall barn and milking parlor creating Hoewisch Homestead Dairy LLC at Fremont.
The same year his parents decided it was best to homeschool Jacob which allowed him to be around to learn and observe what was happening on the farm while also concentrating on his studies. That opened the door for Jacob to begin working toward his goal of joining the family business and eventually taking over. The family has a succession plan in place and Jacob’s official job is a salaried manager of the business.
Since taking over the management of the farm he has added cover crops and transitioned to no till. As a result, everything on the farm is now green all year.
On the dairy side of things, he experimented with breeding the cows with A1 genetics to beef. In 2018 he started genomically testing the herd using tissue samples and using that information to decide which animals to breed to beef. This led not only for the milking herd to be A2/A2 status, but also started the opportunity to direct market beef.
Jacob and Jennifer are active in the Waupaca County Farm Bureau. They are also WFBF state committee members and Jacob served as County YFA chair from 2011 to 2021. Both are also youth group leaders at their church. He is also a part of the Township of Caledonia farmer-led water shed group and he serves on the Fox Valley Technical College Advisory committee.
The Hoewisch’s are sponsored by United Veterinary Services, GreenStone FCS, Swiderski Equipment, Service Motor Company, Becks Seeds, and Farm First Co-op.
Additional winners
Matt and Heather Reu were named the Speak Up for Ag Winner, which is sponsored by AgriView, plus they were also named the Wisconsin OYF Runner Up. The Reu’s farm is near Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, where they have a 5000+ acre grain and beef operation. Matt and Heather were sponsored by Insight FS, Sauk Valley Bank and Alcivia.
Other finalists
- Abby Driscoll, Newton, Wisconsin, sponsored by St. Anna Veterinary Clinic, Sartori, CP Feeds and Greenstone Farm Credit.
- Mitch and McKenzie Kappelman, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, sponsored by CP Feeds, Greenstone Farm Credit, VanderLinden Custom Services LLC, and Country Visions Cooperative.
- Scott and Katy Kohn, Medford, Wisconsin, sponsored by Taylor Electric Cooperative and Grassland Dairy
- Ryan and Lacey Wendt, Pound, Wisconsin, sponsored by Riesterer & Schnell, Cornette Farm Supply/Vita Plus, Seed Concepts, and Valley Veterinary Clinic
Judges for the event included:
- Maria Bendixen, Cowculations Consulting LLC
- John Brunnquell, PhD, Egg Innovations founder, 1997 WI OYF Winner and 1998 National OYF Winner
- Jennifer Peal, Vice President, Relationship Manager, Agricultural Banking, BMO
Our Emcee for the Saturday evening Awards Banquet was Bob Meyer, retired farm director for Goetz Farm Radio Network, and 2023 inductee to the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
In addition to the important networking events and the awards portion of the program, OYF finalists participated in ag forums learning hands-on training on Farm Safety and Farm Mapping, which was led by Pittsville Fire Department Chief Jerry Minor.
They also toured Food+Farm Exploration Center in Plover, WI. After the tour of the facility, they had an opportunity to meet with Riesterer and Schnell, our Premium Sponsor. The tour concluded in the Cooking Lab at Food+ Farm Exploration Center. Our session was lead by a representative of the Wisconsin Beef Council, where they prepared an appetizer and meal for their lunch.
The 2024 event was held at Hotel Mead, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. The Hosts for this year’s event were Travis and Melissa Marti from Vesper, Wisconsin. Next year, the Hoewisch’s will host the Wisconsin OYF Awards Weekend in January 2025, central Wisconsin location TBD.
Wisconsin has finalists for the 2024 National OYF Awards to be held in Ferndale, WA February 15- 18, 2024. WI OYF 2023 Runners Up, Brody and Carolyn Stapel, Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, are finalists for the 2024 National OYF Award. Please wish these two fine young farmers good luck at National OYF.
About Wisconsin OYF: The Outstanding Young Farmer Program began in 1954 as a National Program for the US Jaycees. Wisconsin’s first winner was named in 1952 and 70 state programs have been held since. Wisconsin has had 22 national winners during the program’s history. Visit www.wi-oyf.org to learn more or submit a nomination or an application form.
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