Bio: Zwaschka - Hribar (Century Farm - 2011)

Contact:stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org  

Surnames: Zwaschka, Hribar

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 10/12/2011

Zwaschka - Hribar (Century Farm - 2011)

Century Farm -- Joanne & Thomas Zwaschka -- Hribar Homestead -- Established May 13, 1909, in Willard by Frank and Anna Hribar and the N.C. Lumber Company, this century farm began with 56 acres of woodland that they cleared themselves. They continued to clear more acres as needed up into the '50s. They milked approximately 30 Brown Swiss cows.

On July 1, 1929, Frank and Mary Hribar took over the farm after Anna's death in 1927.

On July 7, 1977, the Hribar brothers inherited the farm after their mother Mary passed away on Feb. 24, 1977. The acres were split between them, each of them owning 80 acres. Heifers were raised on the farm from the '50s to the '70s, and they no longer had milk cows.

In March 1978, Walter and Clara Hribar bought the property. On March 13, 1980, Tom and Joanne bought 20 acres from Walter and Clara and currently own it today. They raised Columbia/Dorset crossbreed of sheep on the farm from 1985 to 1997.

They have two sons (Adam, 30, and Lucas, 28) who raised pigs and beef cattle to eat as they grew up on the farm. The house they live in today is the original house that was built in 1909, but remodeling and additions have been added as the years progressed. Tom is a carpenter, and that enabled him to be able to do the additions himself.

A unique aspect of this farm is that it is certified organic. There currently is no livestock on the farm, but they are thinking about raising beef cattle in the future. The farm currently consists of 47 acres, and they have rented out their cropland for hay. They raise grapes and make homemade wine with them, maple tree sap for maple syrup and many other garden crops still are harvested off the farm today. The original silo still stands that was built in 1939.