Cultivating a Legacy: The Schmieder Family Farm's Journey to Permanent Protection and Future Success

Perched on a picturesque hill in Alexander, NY is one of the prettiest farms you'll find in Western New York. You will recognize it by the sight of cows grazing in a nearby pasture or the tall silos standing sentry beside the kind of old-fashioned red gambrel-roofed barns that used to dot Western New York. 

The Schmieder Farm is an organic dairy operated by Paul Schmieder Jr. and his wife, Lynnette. It's been family-owned and operated since 1951, when Paul's dad bought it with his grandfather's help. For Paul and Lynnette, the farm is their happy place–and even after they retire, they plan to stick around. Like anyone who has found a calling in life, it’s more than a job to them: it’s a passion. They have seen just about everything there is to see on this idyllic Genesee County property. Through the years they've watched with sadness as many of their friends and neighbors' farms went out of business. 

Paul and Lynnette understand the difficult economics involved in running a farm. Like many farms, Lynnette's off-farm job has been essential to keep the family farm afloat. Before Paul made the fateful decision to go organic in 2017, he was shipping around 1.5 million pounds of milk per year by operating according to conventional practices, which included feeding his 60 cows grain and milking them twice daily, seven days a week. As the farm's only full-time employee, Paul was running himself ragged. Going organic meant that Paul could switch to a "low-input, low-output" model that drastically cut down his expenses as well as the amount of work he would have to do each day. The cows are grass-fed now, grazing in the pastures as long as the weather permits, and he milks them just once a day now. Thanks to the increased revenue from organic milk production, even though the farm produces less milk, they actually increased the farm's total revenue. 

"We keep it simple," Paul says. "We let the cows do what they naturally do. It's a lot more relaxing this way, less stressful."

Although the switch to organic practices helped reinvigorate Paul's love of farming and stabilized their finances, it didn't solve the question of the farm's succession. For that, Paul and Lynnette turned to our Farmland Conservation Director, Rachel Chrostowski, who has assisted numerous farmers through her farmland protection efforts. Paul and Lynnette’s 25-year-old son, Dustin–who works for his father part-time during the peak summer months before returning to his full-time job at a neighboring farm between the fall and spring–is eager to take over for his father when the time comes.

"We understand what the struggles are like when you're young and starting out," Paul says. "Everything costs money. Equipment gets older and things need to be replaced. The cost of new equipment can be prohibitive. We want to make sure the transition is easier for Dustin." 

Working in partnership with Paul and Lynnette, Rachel submitted a successful Farmland Protection Implementation Grant (FPIG) application. Thanks to this grant from NYS, the 432.9-acre property will always be farmland. Even better, it also means that Dustin will begin his career on solid footing. Because of Paul and Lynnette’s commitment to conservation, the next generation in the Schmieder family will be operating the farm as a vital part of the local community. 

When you drive by years from now, you will still see dozens of plump, happy cows munching on some delicious grass in the pasture. As the sun sets over the rolling hills of Alexander, the Schmieder Farm will continue to stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of family, tradition, and a deep-rooted connection to the land—a place where the past and future of farming come together in perfect harmony.

All photos above: Angie Woodworth.