Our Stories
The stories shared here reflect the many paths that lead people to Macon Creek. Each member arrives with their own craft, curiosity, and lived experience, adding another thread to the fabric of this evolving creative community. As these voices gather over time, they reveal something larger being built here – a place where creativity, collaboration, and belonging matter. These stories celebrate the power of imagination, making, and shared experience to bring people together and shape a vibrant community for today and the future.
Chad & Paula Wagenschutz
The making of CPW Farms LLC…and our partnership with Macon Creek
Chad Wagenschutz was born and raised in Macon Township, where he developed a love for farming at a young age. His family farmed the land and operated a local grain elevator until 1989. After high school, Chad left the farm to attend Western Michigan University, where he earned a degree in Business Management while working construction for his father’s business.
In 2009, Chad found his way back to his roots and his true passion—farming. He returned to work at the old family elevator and homestead, now known as John Marion, Inc. Today, he remains a dedicated employee, focusing on crop production and continuing his family’s agricultural legacy.
Paula (Young) comes from a large family that grew up on a small hog farm on the outskirts of Manchester and Ann Arbor. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that she discovered her passion for agriculture when she began working for Crop Production Services (now Nutrien) in Saline. Over 11 wonderful years, she gained valuable knowledge and built lasting friendships within the farming community. After several meaningful years balancing work and family, she stepped away for a time to focus on raising her three daughters.
In 2014, Paula began working at John Marion, Inc., further deepening her roots in the local agricultural community.
Their love story began through their shared connection to agriculture. Chad and Paula became acquainted through their workplaces, and when the time was right, their lives blended. Chad took on one of the greatest roles of his life—becoming a proud stepdad to Paula’s three daughters: Peyton, Mallory, and Karsyn.
Chad’s deep desire to farm led to leasing a few hundred acres and establishing CPW Farms LLC. Over the years, they have been fortunate to farm ground for the Hive Project for nearly five years and now grow corn and soybeans across 300 acres in Washtenaw and Lenawee counties. Chad handles the “dirty work” in the fields, while Paula manages the bookkeeping and grain marketing behind the scenes—truly a partnership in every sense.
As a family, they cherish the beauty of planting and harvest seasons. While the girls may have outgrown earning ten cents per rock picked from the fields, every now and then they still enjoy delivering dinner to Chad during long days in the tractor—continuing the simple traditions that make farm life so special.
“What makes The Hive special is Macon Creek’s genuine commitment to supporting artists—and in our experience, they truly live that mission. We feel supported, encouraged, and inspired here in ways that go beyond just having a desk. The Hive isn’t just a co-working space, it’s a meaningful asset to the creative community, and we’re grateful to be part of it.”
Erica Hampton
Project Director, Firewatch Studio
“Macon Creek grows from a simple belief: when people are given space to create, listen, and work side by side, something larger than any one of us begins to take shape. That’s how community is built, and it’s how the future finds its footing.”
Founder, Macon Creek
“Everyone is an artist” is more than a tagline. It’s a recognition that the visual, creative, and performing arts are part of our every day lives, and everyone is touched at some point in time by the vulnerability of a friend, a family member, a coworker, or a complete stranger whispering, “Here, I made this…” We are nudged to actively listen and to embrace creativity as an essential human practice.”
Founder, Macon Creek
BECOME A MEMBER
Our members reflect the many paths that lead to Macon Creek – artists, educators, makers, and neighbors who believe creativity belongs in everyday life. Their work and stories shape the spirit of this community.
Becoming a member offers opportunities to connect through events, workshops, performances, and shared creative experiences across the campus. Members enjoy invitations to special programs, opportunities to engage with artists and educators, and a meaningful role in supporting a growing arts and land/purpose-based community in southeast Michigan.
There are many ways to be part of Macon Creek – by creating, participating, volunteering, or supporting the work that happens here. If this kind of community speaks to you, we invite you to join us.