Meet our multi-generational trio of employees!
Shullsburg Creamery has been around for almost a century, and during that time, we’ve seen multiple generations of families take great pride in working within our walls. With our use of traditional techniques passed down through the decades and our respect for our history and heritage, Shullsburg Creamery feels like you’re working with family. But for some of our employees, it’s more than a feeling; it’s a reality. Meet the multi-generational trio of women whose work days are a family affair!
Patricia Wiegel began at the Creamery in 1997. In 2009, she encouraged her daughter, McKenzie McGranahan to join her at the company. A decade later in 2020, McKenzie’s grandmother and Patricia’s mother, Elizabeth Farrey, came on board. Now mother, daughter and grandmother are all part of the Shullsburg Creamery family! (Fun fact: Patricia’s husband Brad also works at the Creamery as Maintenance Supervisor!)
As the Packaging Supervisor, Patricia heads up the packaging department and all its employees. Her daughter McKenzie is a Line Room Lead, overseeing two label lines. And grandmother Liz spends her time on the line, weighing and packaging cheeses. It’s a lucky day for McKenzie when her grandma is on her line! McKenzie also gets extra time with mom Patricia when they work together on the Morale Committee, helping to plan employee events and activities.
There’s no rush to get home to see family after a long day of work because these ladies get to see each other throughout their work day. Of course, the trio still enjoys spending time together outside work, visiting each other’s houses (all three live within one block of the Creamery, so the journey isn’t far.) Patricia and McKenzie also enjoy riding UTVs, vacationing up north and sampling new wineries, distilleries and pizza places.
Tradition is important at Shullsburg Creamery, so we asked the ladies what traditions are special in their family. Every year on Christmas Eve the whole family gathers together for Grandma Liz’s homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, a reminder that food made with love always brings families together.
Of course, family doesn’t always agree on everything – there’s a hot debate among the women on which Shullsburg Creamery cheese is best, with Patricia and McKenzie campaigning for Colby Jack, while Liz insisting the winner is Sharp Cheddar.
Patricia, McKenzie and Liz remind us how fortunate it is to be close to family, and lucky for these ladies, the next family reunion is always only a day away.
