Hillrise Farms


At the age of 18, Ryan Theusch took all the money he had been saving, bought a baler and started doing custom baling. He had always liked farming and as he was growing up on a farm that had been in his family since 1854, it seemed like the right thing to do to get started in the family business. But somewhere down the line, he decided that maybe he should try a different career direction and went to work at a tool & dye shop. He worked there a few years before it was announced that the shop was going out of business. It was during that same year that his dad passed away. Ryan made the choice to take over the farm.

Ryan and his wife, Brooke, are the 6th generation of the family to own the farm in Boltonville, WI. At their Hillrise Farms, raising beef, growing crops and doing custom work are all part of their operation. Ryan enjoys watching how everything grows, whether that is beef or crops, but admits he is always trying to get a little better. “I am always looking for ways to improve, to push my yields higher,” he said. “I set my goals high, push the boundaries and try to get better results.”

Ryan is confident that agriculture was the right choice for him as a career. “It is in my blood,” he acknowledged. “I worked off the farm for a few years and for me 8 hours in a shop was a longer day then working 14 on the farm.”

As a member of the Boltonville Fire Department, Ryan stays involved with his community. He has been a member of the department for 23 years and is serving his 2nd year as the president. The Annual Boltonville Fire Department Rain Days Picnic is later this month, so he has been busy helping organize that event. He also serves on the Town of Farmington Board of Appeals. When Ryan manages to get some free-time, he enjoys playing with their dogs, hanging out with friends and watching Wisconsin sports. The Badgers, Brewers, and Packers are at the top of his list.

Thank you to Ryan for letting us share his story for our Farmer Friday post this week. You are part of an operation with a long history. It is excellent to see that not only the farm, but also the passion for the work continues to be passed down through the generations. We extend our best wishes for continued success!

#FarmerFriday ...post #71. To show our appreciation to our producer members Country Visions Cooperative will be giving a snapshot look of our customers and their operations in this feature each Friday