Our history.
Our commitment to agriculture through technology, enhancing efficiency, and sustainability for future generations.
The farm homestead
The farm homestead was purchased by Harold Bannister in 1912. He and his wife built the original farm house in 1913. The Bannisters sold the “Oakland Farm” in 1921. At this point, the chain of title is unknown for many years.
The five generations
Emil Reinhold Hammerstrom
1st Generation
Emil Reinhold Hammerstrom, Kay's grandfather, came over to the U.S. from Sweden in 1888, at the age of 18. He touched down in Chicago briefly, then followed the railroad up to the Genoa City, Wisconsin area. Here is where he started farming.
Emil built his first farm house down County Road B, from (now) Poltermann Farm. Kay's Aunt Cora, Emil's daughter-in-law, still lives on this farm today.
Emil & Ruth Hammerstrom
2nd Generation
Emil and Ruth Hammerstrom, Kay's father and mother, bought their first farm house, across and down County Road B from his father, in 1946. Today, Kay's brother, Bill Hammerstrom, owns and runs this farm.
In 1956, Emil and Ruth bought what is now known as the Poltermann Farm.
Bruce & Kay Poltermann
3rd Generation
Bruce and Kay Poltermann moved onto the now Poltermann Farm homestead in 1962. They officially bought the farm in 1986, where they raised three children.
In the late 1980's, they built another house off of the farm and moved there. It's a stone
throw away from the original homestead. This made the farmhouse available for Brad to move back onto the farmstead, making the day-to-day operations easily accessible for him.
Brad & Jennifer Poltermann
4th Generation
Brad and Jennifer Poltermann lived on the original homestead with their children up until 2023, when they too decided to build a new house and move off of the farm, allowing the next generation to move in.
Brad farms every day with his father, Bruce, and son Hayden. Today, the farm consists of approximately 3,000 acres of corn and soybeans, including a large hog operation, feed mill, and food processing facility.
Hayden & Gretta Poltermann
5th Generation
Hayden and Gretta wed on October 5, 2024 and now occupy the original farm house. Hayden has big dreams for the family farm, and they both look forward to growing their family on the farm.