Schneider sticks to his roots

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Growing up on a farm just outside of Chilton in Calumet County, Troy Schneider knew just where he wanted to return after getting his law degree.

“I call myself a farmer’s lawyer,” said Schneider, who works at Twohig Rietbrock Schneider & Halbach SC in Chilton. “About 90 percent of my work involves farmers or some part of the ag sector. I really like helping people solve their problems.”

Since most farms in the area are owned by families, his workload is a mix of family law as well as business. Schneider also deals with real estate transactions as farmers buy and sell land.

“There’s really a lot of variety when you work with farmers,” he said. “There’s a lot of transitioning and planning from one generation to the next that I work with families on or transferring ownership.

“Farms are unique since they are a heavy-asset business with not a lot of cash flow.”

Schneider practices throughout the state and is frequently on the road visiting farmers at their homes.

“That’s where they feel the most comfortable and it’s much easier for me to come to them …” he said. “They are very busy and it can be hard for them to get away and come into town.”

By seeing the farmers in action, Schneider said he learns a lot about the work they do.

“It helps me to better understand their business,” he said, “which means I am able to do a better job of representing them.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What activity could you spend hours doing outside of working?
Troy Schneider: Cutting grass. I could spend hours doing it. I just love it.

WLJ: What was the last book that you read?
Schneider: ‘Killing Kennedy’ by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

WLJ: What is your greatest accomplishment?
Schneider: Having people ask for my advice.

WLJ: What was your favorite toy as a child?
Schneider: A plane that carried a space shuttle. It was really cool.

WLJ: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Schneider: A hill

WLJ: What’s your favorite thing to do in Wisconsin?
Schneider: Believe it or not, shoveling snow. Getting to do that a lot this year.

WLJ: If you could have one super power, what would it be?
Schneider: Wisdom

WLJ: Do you have a phrase or word that you tend to overuse?
Schneider: I repeat people’s names back to them during conversations. That really bugs my wife.