The Swisher Farm in Greenwood County was recognized on Sept. 21 with the Century Farm Award, celebrating more than 100 years of family ownership and agricultural tradition. The presentation was held during the Annual Greenwood Farm Bureau Association Annual Members Meeting at the Greenwood Hotel.
The farm’s story began in 1916, when German immigrant William Schonemann and his Danish-born wife, Anna K. Durkopp, purchased land north of Piedmont. William had previously opened the Schonemann Shoe Store in Marion. They raised two children, August and Anna, who would carry forward the family legacy.
Their daughter, Anna, studied medicine at Johns Hopkins University, graduating at the top of her class. She returned to Kansas to care for her mother, later marrying Allen Russell Swisher and raising a family while providing medical care to the Piedmont community.
After her passing, the farm was inherited by her children, Pat and William Allen Swisher. William purchased his sister’s share in 1979 and continued farming, raising crops and livestock. In March 2024, William passed away, leaving the farm to his daughter, Kelley Davidson, and her husband, Jeff Davidson, marking the fourth generation of family ownership.
The Century Farm Award, presented by the Greenwood County Farm Bureau Association from Kansas Farm Bureau, honors families who have owned at least 80 acres of the original farm for 100 years or more and are members of the Farm Bureau. Recipients receive a commemorative farm sign and certificate.
“It means a lot to us to keep the tradition going,” Kelley Davidson said.
The Swisher Farm remains a symbol of perseverance, family heritage, and the enduring importance of Kansas agriculture.
(Courtesy photo)
