Our Story
Warm Belly Farm – Fort Atkinson
Warm Belly Farm was founded by Francis Wisniewski in 2017 when he was seeking a vacation home away from his busy trading firm in Chicago. He settled on a beautiful property in Fort Atkinson, WI. The farm housed a few old apple trees which sparked his interest in orchard production. This was the start of a vision that we now know to be Warm Belly Farm.
The next couple years consisted of gaining education regarding fruit production, traveling abroad to learn about progressive hydroponic systems, and developing a management team. Our dedicated crew had to overcome many obstacles constructing our high tunnels for strawberry production and have since planted over 8,000 high-density apple trees creating longevity for Warm Belly’s future.
During the 2020 pandemic we made the decision to open for U-Pick by appointment only and this brought our community to us. It provided an experience and connection that we all needed. We’ve continued the appointment system because our customers appreciate the exclusive access to the farm.
It also allows us time to build lasting relationships while ensuring quality produce for everyone. Word has spread, giving us the pleasure of doing business with many local establishments and high-end restaurants. It’s been a great source of pride to see our name on menus across the state and beyond.
We get so much joy from watching families create new memories spanning over generations. For some, strawberry picking was a tradition and now that tradition can carry on without limitations because our system is designed for ease of picking. When our customers return, we love hearing about all the tasty treats they’ve made with our produce! We look forward to creating new opportunities for our customers to engage with the farm.
Our Staff
Francis Wisniewski
Founder
Francis grew up in Pennsylvania where he received his BS in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel University. He moved to Chicago in 1996 to work on the CBOE. He began trading in 1997 and founded his own trading firm in 2003 with three other partners. He started a few other businesses including Warm Belly Bakery in Chicago. The bakery is now closed, but the name has lived on through the farm which was founded by Francis in 2017. He is the visionary of the whole operation!
Erin Warner
Horticulturalist & Farm Manager
Erin is our staff horticulturalist! She took an unconventional route in life that led to a deep love of plants. In 2012, she participated in a WWOOF program in Hawaii where she lived and worked on John Paul Mitchell Systems Awapuhi Farm. This experience inspired her to pursue a career in plant sciences. She has received her Bachelor of Science, majoring in horticulture, and a certificate in Environmental Science from UW Madison. At Warm Belly Farm she strives to keep our plants as healthy and productive as possible!
Emily Hebbe
Farm Manager
Born and raised on her family farm in Stoughton, WI, Emily took part in running the everyday operations of the dairy herd as well as growing cash crops. Over the course of 20 years, she grew her family and widened her experience in landscape design, property management, and leadership development. Emily today, along with her family, produces quality animals that together they enjoy showing and sharing with the livestock community. Nearly a year ago she discovered Warm Belly Farm and saw that her strengths could be an asset to the unique farm experience that it creates. Emily’s problem solving qualities and passion for agriculture have earned her the title here as mama bear.
Todd Gladem
Property Manager
Todd, a Fort Atkinson resident, is the property manager and takes care of the day-to-day maintenance on the buildings and grounds, as well as coordinating contractors onsite.
