Visiting with families that have farmed the same land for several generations is like taking a step into our state’s history. Jonathan Schaaf in Iowa County is the fourth generation on his family’s Sesquicentennial Farm. He says his great-grandfather bought the land with the intention to mine it. He says lead mines were common in Southwest Wisconsin, which is how Wisconsin became the Badger State. His great-grandfather processed the lead on the farm, which left its mark on areas of the property that you can still see today. This conversation is part of our Century and Sesquicentennial Farm series brought to you courtesy of Compeer Financial. Honorees will be getting together for a celebratory breakfast at the Wisconsin State Fair in August. Pictured: John Schaaf (b. 1844)