Quality key to Zimbals’ success: Fourth generation keeps mink farm growing

SHEBOYGAN FALLS — While the Zimbal family operates the nation’s largest mink farm, it isn’t necessarily renowned for the number of animals it raises.

Zimbal Mink is best known in the mink industry for the consistent quality of mink pelts the farm produces, family members say.

This page requires Javascript.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAm%96 +:>32= 72>:=J H@F=5?’E 92G6 :E 2?J @E96C H2J] x? 2 G6CJ 4@>A6E:E:G6 :?5FDECJ[ H:E9 E@@ >2?J >:?< A6=ED 7=@@5:?8 E96 >2C<6E 2?5 5C@AA:?8 AC:46D E@ 36=@H E96 4@DE @7 AC@5F4E:@? 7@C >2?J >:?< 72C>6CD[ BF2=:EJ ECF>AD BF2?E:EJ 6G6CJ E:>6]k^Am

kAm%96 7@FCE9 86?6C2E:@? @7 +:>32=D 92G6 >@G65 :?E@ E96 72C>’D @A6C2E:@?[ 2?5 E96 72C>’D >2?286CD D2J E96J H2?E E@ >2<6 E96 72C> DFDE2:?23=6 7@C H96? E96 7:7E9 86?6C2E:@? 86ED @=5 6?@F89 E@ 86E :?G@=G65] %92E’D H96C6 BF2=:EJ 7:ED :?E@ E96 6BF2E:@?] k^Am

kAm“|:?< :D 5:776C6?E E92? >2?J @E96C 28C:4F=EFC2= :?5FDEC:6D[ :? E92E J@FC AC:46 42? G2CJ 8C62E=J 56A6?5:?8 @? BF2=:EJ[” +:>32= |:?< 4@\@H?6C q@3 +:>32= D2:5] “x7 J@F D6== 2 4@H[ J@F 86?6C2==J 86E A2:5 3J E96 A@F?5[ @C :7 :E’D 4@C?[ 3J E96 3FD96=] (:E9 >:?<[ E96 AC:46 @7 2 A6=E 42? G2CJ 2?JH96C6 7C@> 2 4@FA=6 5@==2CD E@ Sg_ @C Sh_[ 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 BF2=:EJ @7 E96 92:C] $@ H6 92G6 E@ 5:776C6?E:2E6 @FCD6=G6D H:E9 @FC BF2=:EJ]”k^Am

kAmq@3 +:>32=’D 8C2?572E96C[ #@=2?5 +:>32=[ H:E9 E9C66 7C:6?5D 3682? >:?< 72C>:?8 27E6C E96:C >:=<\3@EE=:?8 3FD:?6DD 72:=65 5FC:?8 E96 s6AC6DD:@?] x? `hdc[ #@36CE +:>32=[ q@3’D 72E96C[ C6EFC?65 7C@> E96 z@C62? (2C 2?5 DE2CE65 2 72C> H:E9 #@=2?5 27E6C 96 E@@< 9:D D92C6 @7 E96 >:?< 7C@> E96 A2CE?6CD9:A]k^Am

kAm~G6C E96 J62CD[ E96 >:?< 72C> 8C6H 2D >@C6 +:>32= 72>:=J >6>36CD ;@:?65 E96 6?E6CAC:D6] %96 72C>:?8 @A6C2E:@? :D ?@H DA=:E 36EH66? 7@FC D:E6D[ H:E9 2 DE2E6\@7\E96\2CE 724:=:EJ 3F:=E :? a_`b E96 =2E6DE 255:E:@? E@ E96 72C>] p== @7 E96 72C>D 2C6 4=@D6 E@ E96 D9@C6D @7 {2<6 |:49:82?]k^Am

kAm%@52J[ E96 +:>32=D 9@FD6 f_[___ 3C665:?8 76>2=6D 2?5 92CG6DE 23@FE bg_[___ A6=ED A6C J62C]k^Am

kAm“tG6? E9@F89 H6’C6 3:8[ H6’C6 2 72>:=J 72C>[” q@3 D2:5] “x E9:?< E96C6’D 2 =@E @7 >:D4@?46AE:@? H96? A6@A=6 42== 2 72C> 2 724E@CJ 72C>] p =@E @7 =2C86 72C>D 2C6 2 72E96C 2?5 >2J36 2 3C@E96C H:E9 2 4@FA=6 D@?D @C 52F89E6CD] *6D[ H6 92G6 6>A=@J66D[ 3FE H6 4@>6 :? @FC H@C< 4=@E96D 6G6CJ 52J 2?5 H6’C6 @FE E96C6 H:E9 E96 2?:>2=D[ H@C<:?8 2=@?8D:56 @FC 6>A=@J66D]”k^Am

kAm(:D4@?D:? :D E96 ?2E:@?’D E@A DE2E6 :? >:?< A6=E AC@5F4E:@?] x? a_`f[ (:D4@?D:? >:?< 72C>6CD 9@FD65 adf[___ 3C65 76>2=6D 2?5 AC@5F465 `]a >:==:@? A6=ED] %92E H2D 23@FE @?6\E9:C5 @7 E96 76>2=6D 2?5 A6=ED AC@5F465 3J 2== &]$] >:?< 72C>6CD =2DE J62C] k^Am

kAm&E29 :D D64@?5 :? E96 ?2E:@? :? >:?< AC@5F4E:@?] k^Am

kAm!C:46D 92G6 72==6? AC64:A:E@FD=J D:?46 AC@5F4E:@? D9@CE286D D6G6? @C 6:89E J62CD 28@ 42FD65 AC:46D E@ C:D6] k^Am

kAm“(6 925 D@>6 G6CJ 8@@5 J62CD :? a_``[ a_`a 2?5 a_`b[ 2D D2=6D E@ r9:?2 2?5 #FDD:2 H6C6 DEC@?8[” q@3 D2:5] “qFE E96? H@C=5 AC@5F4E:@? 6IA2?565 G6CJ C2A:5=J] (@C=5 AC@5F4E:@? H6?E 7C@> d_ >:==:@? A6=ED 2 J62C E@ >@C6 E92? `__ >:==:@? A6=ED 2 J62C] }@H H6’C6 324< 5@H? E@ 23@FE e_ >:==:@?[ 3FE H6 DE:== 92G6 E@ 86E E@ 2 >@C6 DFDE2:?23=6 ?F>36C @7 23@FE d_ >:==:@? 367@C6 AC:46D 4@>6 324< FA]”k^Am

kAm':CEF2==J 2== @7 E96 >:?< AC@5F465 2E +:>32= |:?< 2C6 D@=5 :?E@ E96 :?E6C?2E:@?2= >2C<6E] k^Am

kAmq@3’D 52F89E6C[ '2=6C:6[ AFCDF65 2 72D9:@? 568C66 :? 4@==686 H:E9 =:EE=6 :?E6?E:@? @7 C6EFC?:?8 E@ E96 72C>] qFE H96? 96C 42C66C =65 96C :?E@ 56D:8?:?8 4=@E9:?8 7@C 2 7FC C6E2:=6C[ D96 42>6 7F== 4:C4=6 2?5 C6EFC?65 E@ 2 ;@3 @? E96 72C> 23@FE 7:G6 J62CD 28@]k^Am

kAm$96 92D 96C @H? =:?6 @7 4=@E9:?8 FD:?8 +:>32= >:?<] k^Am

kAm“x ?6G6C E9@F89E E96C6 H2D 2 A=246 7@C >6 96C6[ 3FE x 5:D4@G6C65 E96C6 H2D[” D96 D2:5] “x EC2G6= E@ 72D9:@? 72:CD 2?5 2F4E:@?D 2?5 H@C< H:E9 @FC 4FDE@>6CD[ 2?5 x 2=D@ 96=A 8C256 E96 >:?<] ~E96C E:>6D @7 E96 J62C x 5@ 72C> E@FCD 2?5 96=A H:E9 D@>6 @7 E96 w# E9:?8D 96C6 @? E96 72C>] %92E’D H92E x =:<6 23@FE >J ;@3 — :E’D 2=H2JD 492?8:?8]”k^Am

kAm$96 92D EC2G6=65 E@ H@C< H:E9 3FJ6CD :? w@?8 z@?8[ r9:?2[ |@D4@H[ {@?5@?[ z@C62[ xE2=J 2?5 r2?252 :? C646?E J62CD] k^Am

kAm+:>32= |:?< :D E96 @?=J 72C> :? E96 H@C=5 E92E D@CED 2?5 8C256D :ED @H? >:?< 7@C D2=6] '2=6C:6 D2:5 E96 72>:=J 7:?5D E96 AC@46DD E@ 36 G6CJ :>A@CE2?E[ 2D :E 96=AD E96 72C> 6?DFC6 :ED AC@5F4ED 2C6 4@?D:DE6?E J62C 27E6C J62C] k^Am

kAm“(6 DE2J :? E@F49 H:E9 @FC 4FDE@>6CD F?E:= H6 <?@H H92E E96J H2?E[” q@3 D2:5] “xE’D 2 H2J 7@C FD E@ DE2J 29625 @7 E96 82>6 2 =:EE=6 3:E] xE’D F?FDF2= 7@C 2 72C>6C E@ 5@ E92E] &DF2==J E96 >2C<6E:?8 4@>A2?:6D 5@ E92E[ 3FE H6’C6 <:?5 @7 AC@8C6DD:G6 E92E H2J]”k^Am

kAm|:?< 3FJ6CD 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C A6=ED E92E 2C6 F?:7@C> 2?5 4@?D:DE6?E[ q@3 D2:5[ 2?5 =2C86C A6=ED 2C6 >@C6 G2=F23=6] k^Am

kAm|:?< 2C6 42C?:G@C6D[ 2?5 23@FE hd A6C46?E @7 H92E E96J 62E :D 2?:>2= AC@E6:?] (:D4@?D:? :D H6==\DF:E65 7@C >:?< AC@5F4E:@? 3642FD6 @7 E96 G2C:6EJ @7 28C:4F=EFC2= 3JAC@5F4ED 2G2:=23=6 :? E96 DE2E6 E92E 42? 36 >256 :?E@ >:?< 7@@5]k^Am

kAm“(6 5@?’E 62E E96 DA=66?[ =F?8D @C =:G6C :? @FC 3667 2?:>2=D[ 2?5 E96J 2== >2<6 8C62E =62? AC@E6:? D@FC46D[” '2=6C:6 D2:5] “(6 92G6 2 D=2F89E6C9@FD6 :? vC66? q2J[ 2?5 $2AFE@ r966D6[ $2CE@C:[ $2C86?E@ 2?5 ~=5 (@C=5 (:D4@?D:? 2== AC@G:56 FD H:E9 AC@5F4ED E96J 42?’E FD6] (6 92G6 2 D6A2C2E6 7@@5 @A6C2E:@? H96C6 H6 >:I E96D6 3JAC@5F4ED :?E@ E96 7@@5 E92E :D 765 E@ @FC >:?<]”k^Am

kAm$@>6 ~9:@ >:?< 72C>6CD C6=J @? 2?:>2= AC@E6:? 7C@> 49:4<6?D[ 2?5 :? x@H2[ A@C< 3JAC@5F4ED 2C6 E96 AC:>2CJ 7@@5 D@FC46] k^Am

kAmp== @7 E96 :?8C65:6?ED >:I65 :? E96 2?:>2=D’ 7665 :D D@FC465 7C@> H:E9:? `__ >:=6D @7 $963@J82? u2==D]k^Am

kAm“(6 =:<6 E@ 42== @FCD6=G6D C64J4=6CD[ 3642FD6 H6’C6 FD:?8 E96 :?65:3=6 3JAC@5F4ED E92E 2C6 =67E 369:?5[” q@3 D2:5] “x?DE625 @7 E9@D6 AC@5F4ED 8@:?8 :?E@ 2 =2?57:==[ H6 42? >2<6 D@>6E9:?8 G2=F23=6 @FE @7 E96>]”k^Am

kAm|:?< 82C>6?ED 42? 2=D@ 36 4@?D:56C65 “8C66?” AC@5F4ED[ q@3 D2:5[ 3642FD6 E96J 86?6C2==J =2DE 2 =@?8 E:>6 2?5 D@>6E:>6D 2C6 A2DD65 5@H? 7C@> @?6 86?6C2E:@? E@ E96 ?6IE]k^Am

kAm“p >:?< 82C>6?E >:89E =2DE 7@C e_ J62CD 2?5 6G6? :7 :E 6G6?EF2==J 6?5D FA :? 2 =2?57:==[ :E 3:@568C256D G6CJ 72DE[” 96 D2:5] “x7 J@F E2<6 2 72<6 7FC 82C>6?E >256 @FE @7 A=2DE:4[ :E H:== DE:== 36 :?E24E :? E96 =2?57:== `[___ J62CD 7C@> ?@H]”k^Am

kAm%96 +:>32=D’ 76>2=6 >:?< 2C6 3C65 :? |2C49 2?5 8:G6 3:CE9 E@ 2? 2G6C286 @7 7:G6 323:6D[ @C “<:ED[” bb 52JD =2E6C] %96 323:6D 2C6 23@FE E96 D:K6 @7 2 9F>2?’D =:EE=6 7:?86C]k^Am

kAm%96 <:ED ?FCD6 7@C 23@FE 7@FC H66<D 367@C6 E96J 368:? 62E:?8 @? E96:C @H?] pE D:I H66<D[ E96J C646:G6 E96:C 7:CDE G244:?2E:@?D[ H96? E96J 2C6 23@FE g :?496D =@?8] %96J 2C6 H62?65 2E `_ H66<D[ 2?5 3J E96?[ E96J’C6 86EE:?8 4=@D6 E@ E96 D2>6 D:K6 2D E96:C >@E96CD] p 7F==\8C@H? 76>2=6 >:?< H6:89D 36EH66? c]d 2?5 d A@F?5D 2?5 2 >2=6 H6:89D 36EH66? f]d 2?5 g]d A@F?5D]k^Am

kAmqJ E96 E:>6 E96J 2C6 c E@ d >@?E9D @=5[ E96 >:?<D’ D<6=6E@?D 2C6 7F==J 7@C>65] %96J AFE @? H6:89E :? E96 72== 2?5 3J ~4E@36C @C }@G6>36C[ E96J DE2CE 86EE:?8 E96:C H:?E6C 7FC] k^Am

kAm“%96:C H:?E6C 92:C :D >F49 E9:4<6C 2?5 56?D6C[ 2?5 E92E’D H96? H6 92CG6DE E96 >:?<[” q@3 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 72C> AC@5F46D D6G6? 4@=@CD @7 >:?< — 3=24<[ H9:E6[ >29@82?J[ A2DE6=[ 3=F6 :C:D[ D2AA9:C6 2?5 G:@=6E — 3FE 23@FE 92=7 @7 E96 A6=ED 2C6 3=24<] k^Am

kAmu2C> H@C<6CD FD6 42C3@? >@?@I:56 E@ 6FE92?:K6 E96 2?:>2=D 367@C6 E96 A6=ED 2C6 92CG6DE65] q@3 D2:5 E96 2?:>2=D 2C6 F?4@?D4:@FD H:E9:? D64@?5D @7 H96? E96J :?92=6 E96 DF3DE2?46]k^Am

kAm|:?< 72C>D 92G6 366? E96 E2C86E @7 2?:>2= C:89ED AC@E6DE6CD @G6C E96 J62CD 2?5 +:>32= |:?< 92D?’E 366? :>>F?6 E@ E9@D6 AC@E6DED]k^Am

kAm“xE’D 2? :DDF6[ =6E’D ?@E AC6E6?5 :E’D ?@E[” q@3 D2:5] “%96 5:77:4F=EJ :D H6’C6 2 D>2== :?5FDECJ 2?5 G6CJ 76H A6@A=6 2C6 :?G@=G65] *@F 92G6 A6@A=6 :? E96 4:E:6D H9@ 92G6 ?6G6C 366? @? 2 72C> H9@ 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 56E6C>:?6 H92E J@F 5@] (6 36=:6G6 :? E6==:?8 @FC DE@CJ @FCD6=G6D[ C2E96C E92? D@>63@5J 6=D6 E6==:?8 :E 7@C FD]”k^Am

kAmq@3 D2:5 >6>36CD @7 E96 !6@A=6 7@C E96 tE9:42= %C62E>6?E @7 p?:>2=D 3C624965 E96:C D64FC:EJ DJDE6> 2?5 C6=62D65 D@>6 @7 E96:C 2?:>2=D @? EH@ @442D:@?D[ 3FE E96J 5:5?’E 5@ >F49 52>286 6:E96C E:>6]k^Am

kAm“xE’D <:?5 @7 =:<6 :7 J@F 92G6 2 82D DE2E:@? @C 2 >:?:\>2CE[ J@F 92G6 E@ 92G6 D64FC:EJ[” 96 D2:5] “xE 364@>6D A2CE @7 H92E J@F 5@]”k^Am

kAmq@3 D2:5 E96C6 :D ?@ C62D@? 7@C 2?J EJA6 @7 =:G6DE@4< 72C>6C E@ 23FD6 9:D @C 96C 2?:>2=D[ H9:49 D@>6 2?:>2= C:89ED 24E:G:DED 2AA2C6?E=J 36=:6G6 :D 92AA6?:?8]k^Am

kAm“!6@A=6 H9@ C2:D6 2?:>2=D 86?6C2==J 92G6 2 A2DD:@? 7@C 42C:?8 7@C E9@D6 2?:>2=D[” 96 D2:5] “%96C6 :D ?@ =@8:42= C62D@? 7@C 2 72C>6C E@ ?@E 7665 @C ?@E E2<6 42C6 @7 E9@D6 2?:>2=D] %96 36EE6C J@F E2<6 42C6 @7 E96>[ E96 36EE6C E96J AC@5F46] u2C>6CD H2?E E@ >2<6 E96:C 2?:>2=D 4@>7@CE23=6 2?5 C65F46 DEC6DD 2?5 8:G6 E96> BF2=:EJ 7665 2?5 BF2=:EJ H2E6C 3642FD6 E96 2?:>2=D 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 5@ 36EE6C]”k^Am

kAmpE @?6 E:>6 (:D4@?D:? 925 23@FE `[___ >:?< 72C>D[ 3FE E96 ?F>36C 92D 5H:?5=65 E@ =6DD E92? `__] k^Am

kAm“xE’D E96 D2>6 2D 52:CJ 72C>:?8 — E96 @?6D E92E DFCG:G6 :? E96 :?5FDECJ 86E 3:886C[” q@3 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 72C> E92E H2D 3F:=E :? a_`b H2D 3F:=E H:E9 E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C 255:E:@?2= 32C?D E@ 36 25565[ q@3 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“x7 J@F’C6 ?@E 6IA2?5:?8 J@F’C6 86EE:?8 D>2==6C[” 96 D2:5] “|J 525 D2:5 96 H2?E65 E@ >2<6 E9:D 2 G:23=6 A=246 7@C 9:D 8C2?549:=5C6?[ 2?5 D@ 5@ x]”k^Am

kAm$6G6? +:>32= 72>:=J >6>36CD H@C< :? E96 72C>:?8 @A6C2E:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 q@3j 9:D 49:=5C6? '2=6C:6 2?5 y:>j q@3’D 3C@E96C #:492C5j 2?5 #:492C5’D D@?D #:4<[ y2D@? 2?5 y@6] k^Am

A mountain of wool

Celebrating a belated Easter with family

Support Local Journalism! Select a subscription and get started today.

Heroics for Annie

Quality key to Zimbals’ success: Fourth generation keeps mink farm growing

Farm

Country Life

Opinions

Markets

Yarns of Yesteryear

Events

Horses

Classifieds

General Store

Rate:
Begins:
Transaction ID:

Log In Using Your Account

Featured Local Savings

Tags

Recommended for you

Trending Now

Sign Up

You're all set!

Log In

Reset Password

Forgot Password

Email me a log in link

Promotional Offers

Purchase Gift Purchase Access

You're all set!

An error occurred