Schnepel family preserves the land; passes on love of agriculture to next generation.

You live somewhere long enough, and the place itself collects stories. That’s how it is at the Schnepel Century Farm in Pottawattamie County near Carson.

Herman Schnepel bought the original 160 acres 100 years ago. Since then, the farm has been home to multiple generations of the family including Otto and Anna, Condon and Betty, Mark and Nancy, Con, Aaron and Chrissy, Brock and Baylee, just to name a few.

The original farmhouse is gone. After it was used for storage and developed a leak in the roof, the family allowed a local fire department to burn it during a training exercise this spring.

“We think a raccoon caused the hole in the roof,” said Aaron Schnepel, who lives in the “new” house built on the property in the 1980s.

Aaron and his wife, Chrissy, have two children, Brock, 16, and Baylee, 14. Their family represents the fifth and sixth generations of Schnepels on the farm. Aaron farms with his father, Mark, and his uncle, Con.

Mark and Con’s grandfather, Otto, later purchased 80 acres about 7 miles south of the homeplace. That became Condon’s farm, while Mark remained on the original 160 acres. Since then, Mark, Con, Aaron and Chrissy have continued to expand the operation.

“We’ve been pretty conservative,” Aaron said. “None of us wanted to borrow a pile of money.”

Today, the family owns or rents more than 1,500 acres of corn and soybeans and maintains a cow-calf herd, which Aaron joked that he added because he didn’t like mowing grass.

The Schnepels will be recognized at the Iowa State Fair this week during the Century and Heritage Farm award ceremony, sponsored by Iowa Farm Bureau and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. This year’s program will honor 274 Century Farms and 240 Heritage Farms.

PICTURED ABOVE: The Schnepel family walks through a pasture at their farm last week ahead of being honored as a Century Farm this week at the Iowa State Fair. Pictured, from left to right, are Brock, Con, Chrissy, Aaron, Baylee, Mark and Nancy. PHOTO / CONRAD SCHMIDT


Preparing for the next generation 

Mark and Con have practiced no-till farming since the 1990s, helping protect the soil on the rolling hills of western Iowa. Aaron added cover crops to keep soil in place between growing seasons. Protecting the land for future generations was an easy choice for the Schnepels.

The story goes that when Mark wanted to come back to the farm, his mother, Betty, called Con to come back at the same time. Together, they built the family operation that continues today.

Brock plans to study diesel mechanics in college and hopes to remain involved with the farm.

“The amount I’ve learned just from working with Dad is amazing,” Brock said.

Recently, Brock got a Cub Cadet mower running after it had sat in the barn for more than 30 years.

Mark remembers when his father, Condon, bought the mower as they were returning from the county fair.

“I’m not sure why he decided to buy it. I had just won a ribbon, so maybe he was in a good mood,” Mark said.

Brock also raises 150 laying hens, collecting and selling eggs. He shows the hens at the county and state fairs.

“It’s a good learning experience for him,” Aaron said.

For several years, Baylee has raised a bottle calf. Along with dance team, it keeps her busy. She’s less certain whether farming will be part of her future.

One thing she is certain about is wanting the family’s vintage 1970 green Chevrolet truck, original purchased new by Otto, that Aaron and Brock are restoring.

“I want to drive it to school,” Baylee said.

While some things have changed on the farm over the years, the love and connection the Schnepels have for one another is hasn’t. 

Aaron said a conversation after his grandpa purchased a new tractor left a lasting impression about the changes that occur over a lifetime of farming.

“He said he started with horses, now we’ve got this tractor. ‘I have no idea what you’ll see in the future,’” Aaron recalled.