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.