Mike Schilling

As a 1982 graduate of the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education, he taught in Franklin, NE for a year before moving back to his hometown of Pawnee City with his bride Sharon by his side. For the next 20 years, both were integral in developing several Ag businesses but if asked, the most fun has been their last endeavor. At any given time you stop in to SchillingBridge you can find Mike in a variety of roles. He may be in the vineyard, brewery, kitchen, wine production room or under the tractor fixing it, but if you ask him he will tell you his favorite thing to do is brew. He loves the brewing process from start to finish—from the recipe formulation to the carbonation. On Friday and Saturday nights, he and Kelly morph into Executive Chefs to provide guests with delicious food that can be ordered off the menu. Besides the business, his passions include our state and local governments, golf, and of course, spending time with his grandchildren.

Sharon Schilling

Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Sharon graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1983 with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Education. In 1984, Sharon joined Mike in the daily operations of the family businesses in Pawnee City. With their combined love for wine, beer, Pawnee City, entrepreneurship, and economic development, Sharon and Mike excitedly planted their first grape vines in 2002. Shortly after, they began crafting their plan to open the Nation’s first farm winery and microbrewery. Her love for marketing, education, bookkeeping, and customer service have deeply contributed to the success SchillingBridge is today. If you have had the privilege of meeting her, you know that her ability to connect with people transforms “customers” into “family.” When she’s not at either the winery or SchillingBridge Cork & Tap House in Lincoln, you can most likely find her spending time with her grandchildren.

 Dallas Schilling

Joining the family business full time after college at Wyoming Technical Institute, Dallas’ focus was on building the SchillingBridge brand through sales. Since September 2014, Dallas has been the owner/GM of the newest business enterprise under our family’s brand: SchillingBridge Cork & Tap House, a brewpub located in the beautiful Fallbrook development in Northwest Lincoln, NE. There, he also gets to share with his many guests, his passion for butchering, curing, and smoking fresh meats on a daily basis. In his spare time, he likes to tinker in his garage building vehicles, smokers or even kitchen cabinets. His beautiful wife Crystal and adorable daughters Emalynn and Abigail can be frequently seen at “The Bridge” helping in any way needed.

Kelly Bletscher

Kelly has been fulltime at SchillingBridge since graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2007. Now married with 3 daughters (Ava, Josie and Kyla), she splits her time between the tasting bar, back office, and the kitchen. Kelly and her husband Mitch are proud to source, not only the winery but also SchillingBridge Cork & Tap House in Lincoln, with quality purebred Berkshire hogs for menu items. When she’s not at work you can find her at softball games or on the farm—don’t let her looks fool you, she’s pretty good with a sorting board.

Jon Schilling

In prior years, you could find Jon behind the bar at SchillingBridge Cork & Tap House in Lincoln, NE, making his own simple syrups, and creating one of a kind cocktails while incorporating our own wine and beer whenever and wherever possible. Since January of 2020, he has been stationed at Camp Pendelton, CA, as a Private First Class in the United States Marine Corp and our family couldn’t be prouder.  In his free time he enjoys trying new foods and spending time with his family and his dog Milo.

While not a Schilling by blood, Max has been an integral part of SchillingBridge having made wine and tended to the vineyard from the very beginning in 2005. Besides winemaking, he also farms the family farm that has been in his family for over a century.  Prior to joining SchillingBridge, he put his degree in Animal Science to work by raising purebred swine seedstock for 40 years but he still managed to find time to make wine as a hobby.  His current hobby is grape breeding, with a goal of creating varieties that are best adapted to our local environment while making superior quality wine.