The Farming Families SD. April 2019

APRIL 2019

Meet the

BIALAS FAMILY

FAITH

/

FAMILY

/

FRIENDS

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Photo by Eye of a Storm Photography

FARMING

OUR PHILOSOPHY There was a farmer who grew excellent quality corn. Every year, he won the award for the best grown corn. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE April 2019

Hello Everybody,

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “Didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

So is with our lives... Those who want to live meaningfully and well must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

-Author Unknown

Call it power of collectivity.

Call it a principle of success.

Call it a law of life.

The fact is, none of us truly wins, until we all win!

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Proverbs 11:24-25

On May 31st and June 1, our business, AGE Media— in partnership with several local businesses and organizations—are holding the 2nd Annual PorkPalooza event in Downtown Sioux Falls. With the support of the South Dakota Pork Producers Council, Turner County Pork Producers and Pipestone Vet, we had a great inaugural event last summer.

Over 12,000 people attended the festivities in the parking lot of 8th and Railroad in Downtown Sioux Falls. With proceeds from the event, we were able to make a donation to Feeding South Dakota— which was our goal. Our other mission was to promote the Pork Industry in the region and based on the feedback and demand from the public to do it again, we achieved that goal as well.

This year's event is going to be bigger than last year—with more BBQ vendors and more opportunities for guests to try more varieties of products. On Friday, May 31st, guests can participate in the Rib Cook-off from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, if they have “Rib Passport.” The passport allows guests to get a punch card and get a rib from each vendor. We will have 12 BBQ vendors in the lot and ticket holders will get to sample a wide variety of product. Guests can purchase these passports (tickets) on Eventbrite.com or visit the Facebook page “PorkPalooza Sioux Falls.” On the Facebook event page, simply click on the “Buy Tickets” tab.

In addition to the Rib Cook-off on Friday evening, guests can attend the event for free to enjoy live local music including Solera at 6:00 PM and The Guilty Pleasures Orchestra (GPO) taking the stage at 8:00 PM. Last year, GPO was one of the highlights of the festival, and the PorkPalooza planning team is excited to have them back.

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The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

On Saturday, June 1st, the event will start at 11:00 AM and go until 10:00 PM with six bands playing throughout the day and ten vendors set up in the west parking lot of 8th and Railroad. The musical acts start at Noon with headline acts Dustin Evans playing at 6:45 PM and Judd Hoos at 8:00 PM. We anticipate a large turn-out again this year.

In addition to parking in immediate surrounding area of the event, guests can find more parking within walking distance of the event site. There will be places to rest in the shade and some seating available but feel free to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of PorkPalooza II! Be sure to follow PorkPalooza Sioux Falls on Facebook and text "PorkPalooza" to 72727 for updates!

Garrett Gross Principal AGE Media (515) 231-9367 Garrett@agemedia.pub

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!

Mindy Gross Publisher/Content Coordinator AGE Media (605) 690-4071 Mindy@agemedia.pub

Facebook.com/groups/farmingfamilies

April 2019 | The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties

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ADVERTISERS PUBLISHER/ CONTENT COORDINATOR Mindy Gross, AGE Media

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PRINCIPAL Garrett Gross, AGE Media

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ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

Ethan Co-op Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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CORRESPONDENCE | STORY SUBMISSIONS (605) 690-4071 mindy@agemedia.pub The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties is distributed free exclusively to the farmers, ranchers, and producers in rural Davison and Hanson Counties, South Dakota. ©2018 The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties Magazine. All rights reserved. Content in this magazine should not be copied in any way without written permission from the publisher. The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

Content in articles, editorial material and advertisements are not necessarily endorsed by The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties.

Hutch Co H2Og Wash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Legacy Spinal Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover Open Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Palace Motosports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Piper Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Porkpalooza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Tieszen Memorial Home, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

COVER: Julia and Tyson Bialas with their children, left to right: Tucker, Lexie, and Drew

CONTRIBUTORS

pg. 27

GARRETT GROSS Principal garrett@agemedia.pub

MINDY GROSS

Proceeds from event will be given directly to

Publisher/ Content Coordinator mindy@agemedia.pub

CHRISTIAN BEGEMAN

AMANDA RADKE

Photographer

Lead Writer

VINCENT GENE

PETER YOUNG

Photographer

Photographer

TYLER MCENTEE

CALLI WILLIAMS

Videographer

Contributing Writer

pg. 19

pg. 21

pg. 11

LINDA MCENTEE Photographer

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PORKPALOOZA 72727 The Farming Families TEXT of Davison and Hanson CountiesTO | April 2019 TO STAY POSTED ON NEWS AND UPDATES.

April 2019 | The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties

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FEATURED NEIGHBORS

THE BIALAS FAMILY

By Amanda Radke Photos by Eye of a Storm Photography (unless noted otherwise)

Julia and Tyson with their children, (left to right): Tucker, Drew and Lexie

Faith, family, farming and financial security — those are the values that drive the Bialas family in life, on their multi-generational farm and in their business dealings.

These “4 Fs” are pillars for maintaining rural communities and ensuring longevity in family farms, and that’s what drives Tyson Bialas in his life as a farmer, rancher and financial planner.

“Small rural communities like ours really rely on agricultural families, so their sustainability is so important,” says Tyson, who works as a financial advisor in his Parkston-based office for Waddell & Reed. “I enjoy raising cattle and watching crops grow, but I also enjoy taking the knowledge to the office and helping farming families pursue their goals, as well.”

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The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

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Left: Drew with one of the family’s chickens Right: Left to right: Tucker, Drew and Lexie

Passionate about working with farm families to discuss strategies for financial stability, longterm investments and transition planning, Tyson practices what he preaches.

Two years ago, the 30-year old, along with his wife, Julia, and three children, Tucker (age 6), Drew (3) and Lexie (2), returned home to the family farm near Mount Vernon.

“We had been living in Sioux Falls, and Tucker was ready to start school,” says Tyson, who graduated with a business finance degree in 2011. “We had to decide if we were going to stay in the city or return back to our small rural community. I wanted to have the chance to work alongside my dad on our family farm, and the timing felt

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right. It will be two years this July since we’ve been back.”

Tyson’s children are seventh generation farm kids in the Bialas family. Their great-greatgreat-great grandparents, Johann and Susanna Bialas, homesteaded to South Dakota from Germany in 1882, settling in Douglas County.

“My grandpa, Ivan Bialas Sr., bought our farm in Davison County in 1963; we have been here ever since,” he says. “My cousin Travis still lives in the original farm house. It’s really a family affair. I love being able to work with my dad, Ivan Bialas Jr. My wife, Julia, can often be found running a grain cart with all of the kids in tow. She, and my step-mom, Deb, are

The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

great at running equipment or making meals to keep harvest going. And my older brother, Casey, brother-in-law Tyler, my uncle Joe, and my dad’s good friend Randy often come back to help with planting and harvest work.”

The Bialas family has a cowcalf operation of commercial Black Angus-based cows. They background the calves and sell in February. They also raise corn, soybeans, winter wheat and alfalfa.

Looking to the future, Tyson hopes that his kids will one day have the opportunity to be involved in production agriculture, as well.

“I’m proud of the farm that my

dad and grandpa built, and our focus now is being sustainable and continually improve our land and make it as productive as possible,” says Tyson. “I want this farm to be here, and I want my neighbors to be here, too.

We love living in a community where so many other young families are raising their kids in agriculture. I know they have the same hopes and dreams for their family farms as we do, and that’s why I’m so passionate about faith, family, farming and financial security — to help ensure our agricultural communities remain intact for generations to come.”

Farming is more than just a business — it’s a lifestyle, too.

Agriculture is a great way to raise children, make memories and teach important life lessons, and that’s exactly what Julia and Tyson are focusing on with their own three kids.

“Almost every night in the summer, we load up the kids in the side-by-side and drive around the farm, checking crops, picking sweet corn and just enjoying a cruise around the place,” said Tyson. “It’s one of our favorite things to do as a family. Our kids also raise chickens and are responsible

for picking the eggs. The farm is a great place to raise kids, and we really enjoy what we are doing.”

This article is meant to be general, and it is not investment or financial advice or a recommendation of any kind. Please consult your financial advisor before making financial decisions. For more detailed information, contact Tyson Bialas, a Financial Advisor with Waddell & Reed, Inc. at 605-928-3933.

Waddell & Reed, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC (03/19)

Four generations of the Bialas family pose for a picture on the farm in Davison County. From left to right, Ivan Sr., Tyson, Tucker, Drew and Ivan Jr. (Photo courtesy of Bialas family)

April 2019 | The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties

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KEEPING LOCAL HISTORY ALIVE Claude Hone’s birthday is today!” Claude, without question, is my oldest friend. I’ve only known him for about five years, but it’s true—he is my oldest friend. In February, Claude turned 99 years of age!

Now after living almost a century on this earth, Claude has seen and done many things. I always enjoy visiting with him to hear his firsthand accounts of growing up in Sioux Falls, his experience being a Marine fighter pilot in WWII and hearing about his philosophy in business and life in general.

Several years ago, Claude and I were driving around Sioux Falls and he showed me several of the hundreds of homes he sold in town over the course of his real estate career. He told me something I’ll never forget: “The toughest part of getting old is that over time, many of your friends and family die.

For some people, this becomes very hard on them because they end up becoming isolated and they get lonely. It ends up being a negative cycle and they just fade away. I don’t want that to happen, so each day I try to meet at least one new person.

Some days I don’t meet anybody, but other days I get to meet a new friend.” It is this perspective that I appreciate most and why I enjoy visiting with him.

MEET WWII MARINE PILOT, CLAUDE HONE

By Garrett Gross

For over five years now, Mindy and I have been producing these publications at a neighborhood and now at a county level. Everyone has a story, and everyone has a unique perspective.

The other day, a message popped up on my calendar reminding me that it was the birthday of one of the people we featured in one of our neighborhood publications several years ago. It read, “Your friend

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The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

Claude and his family lived in Alcester, S.D. until they moved to the big city of Sioux Falls in 1927.

This was at a time when the city’s population was about 27,000 people, and there were about the same number horses in town as there were cars.

Claude has fond memories of living in a home 714 S. Minnesota Ave, which was torn down to become the footprint of Long John Silvers and is now a Mexican restaurant. As a 7-year-old, Claude recalls the excitement of the first electric stop sign being put in Sioux Falls. “At the corner of 21st and Minnesota, we’d sit and watch with amazement as there was a traffic light in the middle of the intersection. Every 30 seconds, it would rotate 90 degrees telling cars from that direction to move forward. I remember thinking ‘What will they think of next?’” This was high-tech entertainment for a 7-year-old who also enjoyed putting pennies on the railroad tracks and following the ice wagon, hoping to find a few chunks of ice to snack on during hot summer days. “The ice man would deliver ice cut from the Big Sioux River. I don’t think that people would like that nowadays,” chuckles Claude.

Claude graduated from Washington High School in 1938 with a class of 450 people. A few years ago, he attended an all-school reunion, and he was the only one in attendance from his class.

Like many other young men his age in the early

Claude Hone at recording room during a recent podcast interview

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Left: Painting of Claude Hone; Right: Corsair replica plane on the roof of Claude’s garage in Sioux Falls

Claude holding a replica plane of the Corsair he flew during WWII.

1940s, he saw what was taking place in Europe and wanted to join the military. So, in the fall of 1941, he and several friends went downtown to sign up to join the Army. When he got to the Army recruiter’s office, there was a sign that said, “Out to Lunch”. As he stood there, the Marine recruiter saw him and suggested to sign up for the Marines instead. And that’s the story of how Claude became a Marine!

On December 7, 1941, Claude was already stationed at a base near San Diego, Calif. when the attack at Pearl Harbor occurred. Immediately following this, there was a large surge in patriotism and enlistments in the military.

Claude was already “tenured”, although he had only been a Marine for a few months, so he was given the role of Drill Instructor. Claude filled that role, but it wasn’t his goal to serve stateside; he wanted

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to fight in the war. One day while working as a file clerk, he saw a letter requesting recommendations for more pilots to be trained and sent to Guadalcanal. This was exciting to Claude, and he asked his commanding officer if they would send him to flight school. He was instructed to pen a nomination letter and his CO would sign off on it. He was accepted in the summer of 1942. By August of 1943, he completed flight training and off to the South Pacific he went.

As a Marine pilot, Claude flew the Vought F4U-1A, commonly known as the Corsair. Known for its speed, the Corsair was adopted by the Marines and operated off both land bases and aircraft carriers. Many historians believe the Corsair was the greatest fighter plane of WWII, and that includes comparisons vs. the P-51 Mustang.

The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

Claude flew many combat missions during battles in the Pacific that included Guam, Siapan, Okinawa and Iwo Jima. On February 16, 1945, Claude flew off the aircraft carrier WASP and was part of the first squadron to attack the Japanese capital, Tokyo.

Claude recalls, “On that first raid to Tokyo, eight of us left, but only five returned.” He went on to fly two additional m i s s i o n s to J a p a n e s e homeland strafing a navy base, airstrips and shipping ports.

Near the end of the war, Claude was home on leave and he married his girlfriend, Julie. Once the war was over, Claude and Julie moved back to Sioux Falls, but his military career was not complete just yet. In 1946, Joe Foss and Duke Corning started the South Dakota Air National Guard.

Claude immediately joined and flew a P-51 alongside Joe Foss, which included many hours of

training and flying at area fairs and airshows. One memorable experience from that role was recalled by Claude when he said, “On November 10, 1947, Joe was invited to speak at a Marine Corp banquet in Minneapolis. So, he asked seven of us Guard pilots to fly our Mustangs with him to the event. Upon sighting of the airport, Joe radioed us all to ‘Stack’Em’. Joe said we were to buzz the tower at ground level and then space out the turn so we could all land together.

Joe landed on the left side of the runway, Lloyd Olsen on the right side, I was on the left side, and Bob Schmidt was on the right. It was dark and the runways were coated with ice.

Bob Schmidt got too close to me and in fact he landed on my plane! Bob’s propeller got so close to me that it cut the parachute straps, slicing my jacket and went through the plastic canopy and into the gas tank. Luckily, I thought quickly and killed the engine to prevent an immediate fire. I ended up walking away from that crash with only a small scratch on my cheek.” That experience and many others like it during his military career have given Claude a unique perspective

when situations became filled with pressure or anxiety. “I don’t let anything bother me anymore. Afterall, what if I weren’t here,” explains Claude.

When his military career came to an end, Claude took a job selling insurance and real estate. After selling three houses in his first week, he quickly focused on the real estate aspect more than insurance. “Originally, we did everything with handshakes and no paperwork. The first home I sold was a beautiful house near McKennan Park, and it sold for $12,000. The gentleman wrote a personal check,” chuckles Claude. In 1953, the state started requiring a license to sell real estate, so Claude applied, and he was issued South Dakota Real Estate License #1. Now, the state has issued over 17,000 licenses statewide since.

Claude and his wife were married for 67 years before she passed away eight years ago. Claude enjoys spending time with friends and family in Sioux Falls, St. Paul, and at Lake Okoboji. When he looks back at his life and all his experiences, he summarizes things by

saying, “There were four different times in my military and aviation career where I avoided death by literally 2 inches. I don’t know why I made it and others didn’t, but I’ve been thankful every day for what I have, and I try to show my gratitude in how I deal with others. I’ve always lived by the mantra, ‘There are no excuses in life, just choices.’”

Well, thank you, Claude for your service to our community and country and for sharing your story!

This is one of Claude's realty signs. Garrett found this at an antique swap meet several years ago. He was proud that he was able to negotiate the seller from $99 to $80 for the piece. He recently showed it to Claude, and he told Garrett: "Why did you pay $80 for this? I have over 50 of these in my garage. You should just stop over and help yourself!"

April 2019 | The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties

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PHOTO BY NICOLE HEITZMAN ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

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The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

April 2019 | The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

themselves, let alone make a profit,” Jeff recalls. “I knew there had to be something we could do."

SEEDS OF CHANGE Photos provided by Seeds of Change Jeff Broin, Founder and CEO of POET, and his wife, Tammie, have always been strong proponents of giving back to their community as much and as often as possible.

Their children remember them setting a strong example of the value of serving others, giving them plenty of hands-on opportunities to get involved in and around the Sioux Falls area growing up.

Those experiences fueled a drive to reach out and serve in other parts of the world. In 16

the summer of 2012, the Broins’ daughter, Miranda, had the chance to travel with her high school youth group on a service trip to Kenya. While her parents were initially wary of sending their sixteen-year-old across the globe, her enthusiasm about the trip motivated them and her two siblings, Alyssa and Austin, to go as well.

The group spent ten days in a Kenyan village called Tawa, working alongside a local construction crew to renovate Kakuswi Special School for

The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

the Deaf. Miranda recalls the group immediately bonding with the children of Kakuswi.

"The relationships we made took hold of our hearts and changed us for good."

While in Kenya, Jeff’s passion for agriculture shone through; it was impossible for him to ignore their sickly, droughtridden crops, which were a stark contrast to the lush fields of rural America. "It was devastating to see that people were essentially unable to grow enough to even feed

After the trip, Jeff shared his experience at POET's quarterly meeting at the Sioux Falls office, which is broadcasted to their 28 plant locations across the Midwest. The Broin family's service trip inspired company team members, so the following summer Jeff provided them with the opportunity to take a similar trip to Kenya with their families. That trip has become an annual tradition, enabling many POET team members to have life-changing experiences and continued involvement in the organization.

Shortly after the first POET trip in 2013, contact was made with boots-on-the-ground individuals in Africa to begin working on Jeff’s mission of reforming agriculture in Kenya. The Broin family became invested in that mission, which they realized would become a lifelong commitment, so they established Seeds of Change in 2014.

Seeds of Change, a not-for-profit organization, was founded on the belief that everyone is entitled to quality education, a reliable food supply, and a healthy living environment. The organization works to bring those things to people around the world through its three missions: Hope, Grow and Breathe. While Mission April 2019 | The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties

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to a POET location, producers can tell the scale master or merchandiser what percentage of the delivery they would like to donate. That amount will then be allocated to an account for Seeds of Change, and the money generated from those bushels will be used to support Mission Grow.

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Mission Grow works with a partner in Kenya to train local farmers in practical, effective agricultural techniques that improve crop yields, increase livestock populations, and boost other agricultural income sources. Before implementing these methods, many farm families were susceptible to drought and famine, but this technology is revolutionizing their operations, in some cases increasing crop yields up to 500-900%. In addition, it is extremely economical; for about the cost of a fast-food meal per person, the program has already impacted the lives 18

of nearly half a million Kenyans – and they’re just getting started.

"What's really great about M issio n G row a re th e 180-degree transformations we see happening in people's lives," says Miranda. "It used to be typical for Kenyan farmers to barely grow enough to feed their families, let alone make a profit. But we’re empowering these farmers to transform their own lives by putting what they've learned into action.

They are able to do far more than just scrape by; they are able to feed their families and generate enough of an income to send their kids to school and grow their farming operations.

It’s inspiring to see, and it has truly been a blessing to be a part of.”

You can get involved too.

Through a new Seeds of Change initiative called Grain for Change, local farmers and producers in the Midwest can support farmers across the globe by donating a portion of their grain delivery at any POET plant. When delivering grain

The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

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“We know that agriculture has the potential to change the world, and Seeds of Change is proving that every day,” says Jeff Broin. “We’re excited to see how many lives we can impact through Mission Grow in the years to come.”

Hope supports two schools for some of Kenya's most vulnerable students – including Kakuswi Special School for the Deaf – and Mission Breathe provides clean-burning biofuel cookstoves to individuals in developing nations such as Haiti and Mozambique, Mission Grow is likely to resonate deeply with American farmers. This mission is centered on what you know best: using sustainable agricultural practices to make a profit.

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COUNTRY NEIGHBOR

Left to right: Jim Erck, his brother Bill, their father, then oldest brother, Bob (2013 Twin Rivers Old Iron Club fall festival in Delmont, SD)

ERCK FAMILY AND THEIR ALLIS CHALMERS COLLECTION

On May 3rd, Wieman Land and Auction will be having a sale west of Tripp, S.D. This event will be slightly different than a typical machinery sale or retirement sale. This sale will focus on the collection of over 40 Allis Chalmers tractors Rolan Erck collected in his lifetime. The collection is as much of a depiction of a family story and legacy as it is an inventory sale bill.

Rolan Erck’s collection include almost every tractor that Allis Chalmers made from the 1930s— when they first started using orange for the color—through the mid 1960s. The collection doesn’t include every variation of each model, but it does represent the majority.

Rolan Erck passed away in 2017, after a career in agriculture farming between Tripp and Delmont. He started actively collecting these trac-

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The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

tors around 1990. “Dad started collecting these tractors for the same reason that most guys in his generation did—it was the brand he grew up on,” explains Rolan’s youngest son, Jim. “Grandpa (Arthur) Erck bought Allis Chalmers from the Allis dealership that was in Tripp. Dad and his brother, Arlen, farmed with Grandpa until his passing in the early 1960s. They continued to farm together into the 1980s, and Allis Chalmers were part of the operation the whole time.”

( )

­

The collection started with the need for a couple to do some hobby farming around the farm.

Most of the tractors were purchased privately and within 5-6 years, Rolan had accumulated 14 or so.

“Back then, Dad was on the road almost every day working for AAL (now Thrivent Financial), and he would come across these tractors. He would often know the history of the tractor and if it was for sale.

Eventually, people would contact him if they had something orange they wanted to sell,” says Jim. “As the collection grew, we had to go farther away from South Dakota into Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and even to Alberta, Canada to find the rare models,” continues Jim. “That Canada trip is memorable as they hoped to complete the journey in 60 hours, but due to transmission problems near the Canadian border, it turned into a 5-day adventure.”

­

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Overall, the Ercks have a complete history on almost every tractor and where it came from. There are two tractors that have more sentimental value than monetary value to the family. They are a WC and WD—both of which were purchased new by Arthur Erck, Jim’s grandfather. The WC was found by the family near Wagner and needed a lot of work to restore. The WD was owned by someone local and wasn’t purchased back until about 5 years ago. “This was the last tractor dad worked on. However, he never got around to painting it,” says Jim. Old Iron collectors are a closeknit community, regardless of the color of tractor. Rolan was a founding member of the Twin Rivers Old Iron Association. “Dad truly loved spending time with the other members of that group as they worked on the club’s farm or showing their collections at the annual show,” says Jim. 22

The tractor collection really became a family affair. In the late 1990s, the Ercks started taking tractors to Wagner, S.D. for their Labor Day parade. For the first year, they took six tractors then a few more each year.

The final year they were part of the parade, Jim says there were about 16 Orange tractors in the parade. With that many tractors involved, it took many siblings, cousins, uncles and in-laws to drive them all.

Because it took a lot of hours and effort to move all their tractors 20 miles to Wagner, Rolan eventually decided to host an event on their farm to show the collection to the public. The first time they held the event, the family was surprised how many people attended. As the Twin Rivers Old Iron Club started to grow, their event took over and in 2013, the Ercks displayed all the tractors that year when Allis Chalmers was the featured manufacturer. “It was quite the sight to see them

The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

all lined up, and I think Dad was in his glory.”

Now, the Erck family has moved away from their original family farmstead as brothers Bill and Jim work together in Sioux Falls for Thrivent Financial. Their brother, Bob, owns a company doing leather and vinyl repair in southeast South Dakota, and their sister, Londa, and her husband live in Lisle, Illinois. Their mother, Donna, lives in Sioux Falls and enjoys time spent with her eight grandchildren.

Jim says he and his brothers still enjoy working and playing with their family’s old tractors. The family is keeping a few of the tractors, so Jim adds it won’t be a complete goodbye.

“I would say the tractors represent a lot of memories for everyone in our family. On the day of the auction, there will be some tears—both of joy and sadness. We’ve put a lot of work into this collection, and we have a lot of memories too.”

BEFORE YOU BUILD, BUILD A RELATIONSHIP.

ETHAN CO-OP LUMBER | 117 W Ash St, Ethan, SD | (800) 573-8426 | ethancooplumber.com Find us on Facebook!

April 2019 | The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties

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FFA ALUMNI As Cody and Cassidy check the cattle, crops and fences after the big rain storm, they also explore agricultural careers.

Readers are introduced to veterinarians, truckers, auctioneers, cattle buyers, stockers, cattle feeders, nutritionists, agronomists, conservationists, agricultural scientists and so much more.

SOUTH DAKOTA RANCHER PUBLISHES NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK

Amanda Radke with her new book, “Can-Do Cowkids”

On March 1, 2019, Mitchell-based author and rancher, Amanda Radke, released a new children’s book, “Can-Do Cowkids,” which follows her 2011 published work, “Levi’s Lost Calf.”

“Can-Do Cowkids” tells the story of young beef producers, Cody and Cassidy, who invite readers to help in the pasture after a storm passed through the ranch.

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The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

“Not only do I want young readers to have fun reading the story and getting to know Cody and Cassidy, but I also want them to know that any kid — whether they grew up on a farm or not — can pursue these exciting and rewarding opportunities in agriculture,” said Radke.

According to the USDA, between 2015 and 2020, there will be an average of 57,900 annual openings for college graduates with expertise in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources and the environment. Of those jobs, 27% will be in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); 15% of jobs will be related to sustainable food and biomaterials production; and 12% of the openings will focus on education, communication and governmental services.

Along the way, kids learn how to be “can-do cowkids,” which means working hard, dreaming big and never giving up, no matter how big the obstacles ahead may be.

“Inspiring kids to become ‘can-do cowkids’ is a central theme in the book,” said Radke. “My hope is that after young readers discover this story, they will realize that anything is possible if they set their minds to it.”

Yet, despite these 57,900 available career opportunities in agriculture, there are only 35,400 new U.S. graduates with expertise in these fields of study. The USDA says young people are, “essential to our ability to address the U.S priorities of food security, sustainable energy, and environmental quality in the years to come.”

“With so many job openings available, the sky is really the limit in food production; it’s just

a matter of finding the right fit for a kids’ special talents and applying it to a career where we are nourishing people with food, fiber and energy,” said Radke. “My goal with this project was to share an agriculturally-accurate story with elementary students that will nurture their talents, their passions and their confidence in pursuing these exciting opportunities in agriculture.”

National Ag Day on March 14.

Radke will be reading her story at a community-wide event held at the Sanborn Central High School on March 14 at 9 a.m. Anyone is welcome to attend. Books are also available to purchase on Amazon or at www.amandaradke.com.

“C an - Do Cowkids” was published by the Georgia Beef Board, with cooperation from the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Beef, Beef Checkoff, Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Department of Agriculture.

The book was illustrated by Michelle Weber, a rancher and western ar tist from Lake Benton, Minn.

“What’s really neat about this book is the illustrations were painted from photographs of my family on our ranch in South Da kota ,” s a id Radke. “My three kids — Scarlett, Thorne and Croix — posed for these images, which helped to bring the story to life.

My cowkids love seeing themselves in the pages of the book, and I hope other ranching families will be able to relate to the characters in the story.”

The book’s release coincides with

hog confinement cleaning & disinfection

LOCAL, DEPENDABLE & EFFICIENT hog confinement maintenance

(605) 251-6374 hutchcohogwash.com facebook.com/hutchcohogwash April 2019 | The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties

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FROM THE KITCHEN

It’s never too late...

CHEESE POCKETS (Shooten Kropflen Hutter)

...to have the smile you’ve always wanted.

A lot has changed in dentistry. Find out what we can do for you.

This is the official Schmeckfest Cheese Pocket recipe. Thank you to the folks at Schmeckfest for sharing this recipe.

SIFT INTO MEDIUM SIZE BOWL: • 3 cups flour • 1 tsp. baking powder • 1 tsp. salt 714 West 18th Ave., Mitchell, South Dakota 57301 (605) 996-0650 | hart-dental.com facebook.com/HartFamilyDental

MAKE A WELL AND ADD THE FOLLOWING, MIXED TOGETHER: • 1/2 stick oleo (melted) • 1 cup milk • 1 beaten egg DIRECTIONS: Knead dough until smooth. Roll into 2 long rolls.

Cut off little pieces. Roll out a shell. Spoon on filling* and seal edges well, using a finger-pinch method.

Drop into boiling water. Boil slowly for 7 to 8 minutes. Drain and pan fry until lightly browned.

We offer

23 Varieties of Cheese 8 Cheese Spreads 6 Gift Box Options Fundraising Opportunity

Serve with plain white sauce, a bacon white sauce, sweet or sour cream, or corn syrup.

*FILLING: Mix: 2 cups dry cottage cheese (squeeze out excess water)

• 2 eggs beaten • 1/2 cup bread crumbs • 1 Tbsp. Browned onion • Salt to taste

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The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019

Along HWY 37-South of Mitchell

1100 S Burr St, Mitchell, SD 57301 (605) 996-7102 dalesa1transmission.com

400 Main St, Dimock, SD | 605-928-3833 cheese@dimockdairy.com | dimockcheese.com April 2019 | The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties

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HEADACHES and MIGRAINES? With specific x-rays, spinal analysis and gentle adjustments, we can help.

“I had headaches and migraines for years.

I know the pain.... the laying on the couch.

The pain that interferes with life.

I know what it’s like when you want to engage, go out and play with the kids.

But you can’t.”

-Dr. Seth

CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION.

605-292-2992

Dr. Seth Severtson, Chiropractor

409 S Ohlman St | Mitchell, SD 57301 | www.drsevertson.com 28

The Farming Families of Davison and Hanson Counties | April 2019