Michigan Sugar Company is a cooperative owned by nearly 900 farmers in Michigan and Ontario, Canada. It is our pleasure to introduce you to a few of them.
At age 5, Chris Guza knew he wanted to be a farmer.
Today, he and his wife Angie own Guza Farms LLC, a 2,800-acre operation based in Ubly, Michigan, with land in Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties.
Along with their children – Abbie, Grant, and John – the Guza family annually plants and harvests 850 acres of sugarbeets that become pure, all-natural Pioneer Sugar. They also grow corn, wheat, and edible dry beans.
“In our family we like to say we make hay while the sun shines,” says Angie Guza. “It’s a lot of hard work and it doesn’t just happen by some miracle. Luckily, we have and have had a great group of employees who are willing to help get the job done because when something needs to be done, you do it.
“Your whole life is invested in what you’re doing.”
Chris Guza is active in helping lead the Michigan Sugar Company cooperative. He has been a member of the East District Board of Directors for more than a dozen years and currently serves as President. He also is a past member of the cooperative’s Political Action Committee, past Chairman of the REACh Committee, and currently serves on the Grower Relations Committee.
Chris and Angie also are involved in their community and their church – St. Mary’s-St. Isidore Catholic Church in Parisville, where Angie serves on the Finance Council and teaches religious education classes and Chris is a member of the Men’s Club.
Angie is a former Trustee for Paris Township and currently works as the Assessor for Bingham and Sheridan townships. Chris is a former member of the Paris Township Planning Commission.
Guza Farms was one of the first in Michigan to earn Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program certification through a voluntary program that honors farms with strong sustainability practices.
Meet the Maxwell Family
Peter Maxwell is a third-generation sugarbeet grower hoping to see his sons become the fourth generation of the Maxwell family to farm in Michigan.
"My grandfather started raising beets 80 years ago and my mom’s dad also raised sugarbeets,” says Maxwell, who established Peter Maxwell Farms in Hope, Michigan, in 2008. “I have three sons and I hope someday they’ll be able to farm."
Peter and his wife Allyson oversee the farm that comprises 1,250 acres in northern Midland and southern Gladwin counties. They grow 175 acres of sugarbeets, as well as corn, soybeans, and wheat. Peter serves as President of Michigan Sugar Company’s West District Board of Directors.
Farming in the Maxwell family began with Peter’s grandparents Pete and Doris Maxwell, who founded Maxwell Seed Farms in Hope, an operation now run by Peter’s father Clay and Clay’s brothers Dirk and Scott. Clay and Linda Maxwell also own Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm in Beaverton, Michigan.
Being a pioneer to me is part of my family’s legacy,” says Peter Maxwell. “It’s remembering what my grandfather started, but also planning on … how my kids can impact our farm.
“Pioneer Sugar is the linkage between our farm and your kitchen.”
Peter and Allyson are parents to Mason, Calvin, and Boone.
I know that as a cooperative, as a family, as a group of growers, we have put our best effort forward to raise a pure and natural and safe product that’s going to be in that bag that’s going to end up feeding your kids,” says Allyson Maxwell. “That is 100% our priority.”
Meet the Herford Family
If you are talking about five-generation farm families that have a long-standing relationship with Michigan Sugar Company, you could say Adam Herford’s family wrote the book.
Actually, they did.
And if you visit the Herford farm, located in Oliver Township just north of Elkton in Huron County, that little book filled with family history is likely to come out in helping tell their story.
Today, Adam Herford oversees the family’s farm operation that includes about 1,900 acres of sugarbeets, a crop Adam says has “made the good times better and the hard times not so hard.” The family also grows alfalfa, navy beans, white wheat, corn, and soybeans and raises cattle.
“Growing sugarbeets is a unique opportunity that over the years has really helped our farm grow to where it is today,” said Adam, who graduated from Laker High School in nearby Pigeon in 1997 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management from Michigan State University in 2001.
Adam serves on the Michigan Sugar Company Board of Directors and is a current Board Chairman. In serving on the board, he follows in the footsteps of his father William “Bill” Herford, who served the board from 2002 to 2018.
The Herford farm was established in 1890 by Adam’s great-great-grandparents, Andrew and Elizabeth Herford. His great-grandparents, Edwin Sr. and Frieda Herford, continued the farm and grew sugarbeets.
“They hauled the beets to Elkton and threw them off wagons into train cars,” said Bill Herford. “Then, the beets went to Sebewaing.”
Meet The Bednarski Brothers
“It takes all of us to make it happen.”
Those are the words of grower-owner and Central District Board Secretary CJ Bednarski. CJ, along with his brothers Michael and Nathan, runs Greenfield Ag LLC in Unionville, a 3,200-acre operation with 750 acres of sugar beets along with corn, edible beans, and white wheat.
The Bednarskis grew up just down the road from the farm, and all three graduated from Unionville-Sebewaing Area High School, eventually taking over the farm from their father Carl. Carl is the current president of Michigan Farm Bureau, and lives in Lansing with his wife Lisa.
CJ is the oldest of the three brothers. After high school, he attended Owens Community College in Ohio, where he completed the John Deere Tech Program. He started farming full-time in 2013. His wife Erica is also a grower-owner; she farms with her dad Joel at J&L Gremel Farms in Sebewaing.
Michael lives just up the road from the farm with his wife Kendra, and their two children Blair and Lane, and a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois named Duke who they found wandering the side of the road earlier this year and rescued.
Nathan is the youngest of the Bednarski trio, and lives at the house that’s located on the farm with an 8-year-old Basset Hound named Gus and a 12-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer named Rex.
Improving the farm year over year is the No. 1 goal for the Bednarski trio.
“We love the challenge of trying to make something better every season,” said CJ.
When they aren’t farming, the Bednarski family enjoys spending time together at their home in Caseville.
Earlier this month, the Bednarski family welcomed their newest member. CJ and Erica’s daughter, Emersyn Jaye, was born on July 5!
Meet Jason, Randy, and Preston DeShano
DeShano Farms can trace its roots all the way back to 1884, when Joseph DeShano (Duchanault, at the time) came to Beaver Township from Three Rivers in Canada and purchased the land 2.5 miles northeast of Williard on Seidlers Road – land the family still farms today.
In 1906, Joseph sold his house and land to his son Alfonse, who eventually sold it to his son and daughter-in-law Vernard and Cecilia. In 1959, the farm changed hands again, this time to Vernard’s son and daughter-in-law Gerald and Norma. Meanwhile, Vernard’s oldest son Wilferd (Jason’s grandfather) and his wife Leona purchased farmland of their own. In 1985, Wilferd and his two youngest sons Vernard and Randy (Jason’s father), were farming about 1,800 acres, including Gerald and Norma’s original farmland.
Today, seven generations later, Norma still lives in that original farmhouse and DeShano Farms has grown into a 3,200-acre operation spread across Bay County, including 750 acres of sugarbeets, corn, dry beans, soybeans, and wheat. The farm is run by Jason, Randy, and Jason’s son Preston.
When Preston came onboard the farm full-time, it gave Jason the opportunity to run for a seat on the Co-op Board of Directors. Jason was elected to the Board this year.
“Sugarbeets are a huge part of our operation, and a crop that we are passionate about,” Jason said. “Being on the Co-op Board gives me the opportunity to continue to bring about positive change for our industry and make things even better for the next generation.”
Jason also has four daughters: Savanah, Grace, Stella, and Tessa. Savanah is a nurse practitioner and lives in Ypsilanti with her husband Steven Patterson. Grace, an animal lover who lives in Frankenmuth, can often be found riding or tending to her horses. Stella and Tessa are high school students at Bay City Western.
The DeShanos are an active family, to say the least. In fact, Jason recently bought a sprinter van to take all of his kids – and their friends – to their varying activities and sporting events. Preston competes in snowmobile races across the state, and the family also likes to ski. When summertime comes, you’ll find the DeShanos wake surfing off Jason’s boat on the Saginaw Bay.
Meet the Houghtaling Family
Looking for Michigan Sugar Company grower-owner and Co-Op Board Director Mike Houghtaling? You’ll know it’s him when you spot his signature pink glasses – he orders them by the dozen.
A native of Reese, Mike is the owner of Houghtaling Farms, a fifth-generation, 2,500-acre operation stretching from Indiantown to Sandusky. Sugarbeets are grown on just more than 600 of those acres, alongside white wheat, corn, pumpkins, soybeans, hay, oats, rye, pickling cucumbers, and edible beans.
The Houghtaling family includes Mike and his wife Erin and their sons Felix and Phin, who are in eighth and 11th grade. They also have a Labradoodle named June.
Vern and Pearl Houghtaling, Mike’s great-grandparents, started the farm with 100 acres in 1895. His grandfather Allen Houghtaling expanded it to 500 acres, and Mike’s father Kent Houghtaling and Kent’s brother David Houghtaling added some additional acreage. Mike’s grown it even further, making it into the operation it is today.
Growing up, there was no doubt in Mike’s mind that he’d be a farmer, following in the footsteps of his dad, Kent, a previous Co-Op Board Member, and Uncle David.
“There’s just something about it,” he said. “Being out in nature, growing things – it’s what we were meant to do. I’ve been growing sugarbeets since I was 4 years old.”
The Houghtalings also own Johnson’s Pumpkin Farm, as well as P&C Ag Solutions. Johnson’s is a seasonal farm in Saginaw County that Erin’s family began in 1985. What started as a roadside pumpkin stand has grown to include a petting zoo, corn maze, events and activities, a full concession stand complete with homemade donuts.
P&C Ag Solutions, the Houghtalings’ agricultural technology consulting company, was founded in 2003. When Mike graduated from Michigan State University in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in crop and soil science, he developed an interest in the new technology that was out there for growers, but soon realized it wasn’t yet available in Michigan. Sensing a need, and an opportunity, Mike decided to sell it himself.
Mike will be the first to tell you that he’s not a typical “farm guy.” He is, however, a music buff, a hockey fan, a Michigan State Spartan, and a car guy. When he’s not farming, watching his sons’ track meets, running a business or operating the pumpkin farm, you’re likely to find Mike in the kitchen, cooking with Erin, sailing at the family lake house in Au Gres if it’s summer, or skiing in northern Michigan in the winter. The Houghtaling family also enjoys traveling, especially to Mike’s favorite vacation destination: New York City.
Meet the Smith Family
Being outside. Watching things grow. No set hours.
Those are just a few of the reasons that fifth-generation grower-owner Scott Smith loves about farming.
“Farming has always been in my heart,” he said. “I’ve always known I was going to farm.”
After graduating from high school, Scott attended Michigan State University before returning home to the family farm that was started by his great-great grandparents George and Anna Smith.
Today, the Pigeon-based Smith Family Farms is a 2,300-acre operation that includes 500 acres of sugarbeets along with navy beans, wheat, corn, and soybeans. Scott farms with his brother Jeff and father Sid, along with some help from his brother Dean.
Scott was elected to the Co-op Board of Directors in 2022 and also serves as a Board Member for the American Sugarbeet Growers Association.
Scott has been married to his wife Nancy for 40 years and they have three children: Jason, a professor of engineering at MSU; Sara, a teacher at Standish-Sterling Elementary School; and Katie, a stay-at-home mom of four.
When he’s not farming, Scott likes to travel with Nancy – whether it’s to visit his eight grandkids, who range in age from 6 months old to 7, attend a meeting for the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, or head out to the lake.
What We Guarantee
Join the Movement
Your kitchen choices help support sustainable farming practices, ethical farmer-owned agriculture, and real families who grow our beet sugar with care. Choose sustainably produced, Michigan and Ontario-grown sugar that supports responsible land stewardship and ingredient-conscious kitchens.
