Our Story
Joe Henry’s roots run deep into the soil of the family farm his father bought in 1946. He tried to move on, but the pull was too strong. Today he continues his father’s work and has added a whole new dimension.
Common practice of early farming was to save the best seeds from the field for the next year’s planting. In the 1930s, a true breakthrough in agriculture occurred with hybrid corn seed development. Hybrid seeds perform better and today 95 percent of corn acreage is planted to hybrid corn. From the very beginning, the Henry farm raised hybrid seed corn, soybeans and small grain seeds.
Through the Henry’s hard work, perseverance and imagination the farm remains successful. Joe married in 1985 and together with his wife, Liz, he made the farm a place where their children, Joe Z. and Jack could enjoy a childhood much like their father’s—helping with the chores, cutting their own Christmas trees, playing with the farm dogs and living life to the fullest.
The Henrys are also prioritizing sustainable farming techniques such as crop rotation, the use of cover crops, and erosion control in order to keep the land healthy for future generations. They’re honoring and preserving their past, while drawing on the technologies of the present to create a business that will flourish into the future.
In The Press
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A Who's Who of Wisconsin Agriculture
Joe Henry among four farmers joining the prestigious list of Master Agriculturists honored across the state. March 2019
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Joe Henry Paves Way for Next Generation
Dane farmer manages 2,000 acres while operating a seed business and Henry Farms Prairie Spirits.
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Generational Farms: Flourishing into the Future
As a farmer ages, it’s much easier to relax into retirement when there are children to hand things off to.
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Meet: Joe and Liz Henry
Already established in the seed corn business, their dream of adding a value-added product to the marketplace and agritourism opportunity comes true.