Ryan Schomaker had a dream – to purchase his grandmother’s farm in Thomas Township, Michigan and raise a family in the farmhouse adjacent to the property.
When that home was not available for purchase, Ryan and his wife Taylor decided to take matters into their own hands and build a brand-new home on the farm property. In 2019, they turned the key, walked into their new home, and never looked back – but it took a lot of work to get to that point.
Six Months of Dedication
After purchasing the family farm in 2018, Ryan and Taylor were determined to build a home as quickly as possible so they could give their full attention to farming. They met with GreenStone Financial Services Officer Anthony Pegley who helped them secure the financing they needed to break ground and begin work on the farm. Sensing their passion to farm and give back to the community, Anthony was excited to help them make this dream a reality.
“Our purpose here is to help people pursue their passions and their dreams, and that’s the best part of the job,” said Anthony. “Ryan and Taylor are excellent people. They’re great for the community, very ambitious, and I don’t have enough nice things to say about them.”
“The application was very simple, being first-time home buyers,” said Taylor. “We went in, sat down with Anthony, and it was a very positive experience for us.”
Later that year, the two worked with an architect on the floor plan and were able to start their self-build. Living out of a camper on the property, they worked long hours outside of Ryan’s full-time job as a lineman to get their home completed.
“We would work on the house until two in the morning, and then I would get up a few hours later at six for work,” Ryan explained.
Ryan and Taylor not only spent long hours doing physical labor like laying flooring, but also researching and learning how to complete certain projects. Building a home was a whole new ballgame for them.
“We had a house before and did some basic remodel stuff, but that was it,” said Ryan. “If you watched us tackle this, you’d notice we don’t build houses every day.”
“I grew up in the building industry, but neither one of us had done anything more than simple home repairs before,” said Taylor.
The 2,000-square foot home sits on the Schomaker family farm.
Home Sweet Home
Six months later, a beautiful three-bedroom home with an attached garage sat at the front of the 40-acre farm ready for Ryan and Taylor to make memories in.
Moving in to the home they spent countless hours building and perfecting was a reward of a lifetime.
“It feels good to be in the home we spent to many hours making,” said Ryan. “It’s sweat equity.”
“Building it from the ground up like that is awesome because you know all of the nooks and crannies of the house,” said Taylor.
The home is equipped with an open floor plan, sliding wood doors, custom cabinetry, white oak floors, a stone fireplace and a black walnut staircase – just to name a few features. It’s the perfect place to raise their one-and-a-half-year-old son, Bennett.
“The fact that we built it ourselves makes it even more of a homestead,” Taylor remarked.
For Anthony, seeing the final product is one of the best parts of the experience.
“They’ve been great to work with throughout the process,” said Anthony. “They built a beautiful house, and it was great to watch it go up and see them move in.”
Ryan and Taylor's home features natural wood accents throughout the home.
Trailblazers in Agriculture
Not only is the 2,000-square foot home the perfect place to make memories and share meals, but it’s the perfect operation center for their ever-growing farm. After completing their home-build, they dove head-first into making their farm a success.
The two have turned the traditional cash-crop farm into a produce operation – selling things like corn, tomatoes, peppers and onions to the community at their self-serve stand on the property and to some local restaurants. The couple also offers you-pick flower options throughout the property.
Although the farm is a staple in the Saginaw community now, it took some hard work to get there.
“We started with nothing,” Taylor explained. “The first year, we used a tractor that Ryan got from his grandpa. Every year we get a piece of equipment or two that will make it a little easier. It’s a huge undertaking, but it’s extremely rewarding to see it come to fruition.”
And they’re sharing that reward with the community. Ryan and Taylor founded the Thomas Township Farmer’s Market in 2022. The market houses about 20 vendors and serves nearly 1,000 members of the community.
“It’s definitely awesome to see people come out and support it,” said Ryan.
“It really inspires you to put your ideas in action to make a bigger impact,” said Taylor. “Seeing people come to your produce stand is rewarding, but when you go the next step and see the acceptance of your ideas outside of the farm and in the community, that’s a good feeling.”
The Schomaker family isn’t slowing down any time soon. They plan to keep expanding the farm, market and making core memories in their homestead for years to come – and we’re excited to support them as they grow.
“It’s fun watching people, over time, accomplish what they set out to do, and if we can help, that’s even better,” Anthony reflected.
To view the article in the online 2023 Fall Partners Magazine, click here.
