Tri-States Grain Conditioning

THE VAN BEEK FAMILY

Lincoln County, August 2022

Jaron Van Beek grew up helping with his dad’s commercial cows and he always loved calving season. In 2012, he started developing a purebred Simmental herd. Hilltop Simmental had its first sale in 2015. “Simmentals are a strong market to be in, but also a tough market. You have to build your name,” he said. Customer confidence has grown rapidly, with buyers coming from as far away as Kentucky and Mississippi.

Jaron and his wife, Kadee, are both natives of Hudson, but discovered the perfect spot to plant their flag just north of Worthing in 2018. It’s a former horse farm with a heated barn and a big machine shed. Kadee owns and operates Willow Creek Boutique (shopwillowcreek.com) in Rock Valley with her sister, Shayla Louwerse. Willow Creek offers clothing for women of all ages. Shayla’s husband, Adam, works at Hilltop and the other key fulltimer is Craig Lackmann. Jaron said, “I could leave for a month and this operation would be taken care of just as good, if not better.”

Jaron and Kadee Van Beek with their children, Kyzer and Tatum. Photo by Ashley Dekkers, Ashley D Photography.

ANNIVERS AR Y

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SOUTH DAKOTA FAMILIES - 2022

THE BURGGRAFF FAMILY

Minnehaha County, August 2022

When the derecho struck on May 12th, Wade and Jolene Burggraff’s acreage was hit hard as were many area farms. The next morning, neighbors pulled into the yard with an excavator and loader. “It was the whole community coming together just to help clean up,” Wade said.

Wade has been part of the rural Colton neighborhood his entire life. He is one of 17 children of the late Joe and Alice Burggraff: “Come Christmas, we didn't get much because there was just too many kids. But actually we got a lot – because there was a lot of love there.” Jolene grew up on her parents’ Lennox farm. She and her siblings showed livestock and Jolene was also part of high school rodeo.

Record winds or a peaceful calm evening … no matter the circumstances, the acreage where they raise sheep, run a few horses, and bale hay is home sweet home. Friendly conversations with their neighbors roll right into the friendly conversations they enjoy with customers at their full-time jobs at Equipment Blades of Tea.

Taylor Kuper, and Jolene, Wade and Sommer Burggraff.

EVAN AND IVORY WINTERSTEEN

Hutchinson County, August 2022

Evan Wintersteen was a nuclear missile operator in the U.S. Air Force and considered a career in the USAF, but felt called to return to farm with his parents, Ken and Lynn Wintersteen, of Olivet. The Wintersteens have a stock cow operation, background cattle, and grow corn and soybeans. Evan continues to serve his country as a member of the SD Air National Guard.

His wife, Ivory, is a dental assistant who grew up near Corsica on her parents’ farm. Evan and Ivory were married in June 2021. “I should have married her a long time ago, but I wasn’t ready yet. The Lord had not done enough work on me to be worthy of her,” he said. They are expecting their first child in December.

Evan is planning for the baby to be part of life’s daily adventures. “I'm going to get one of those baby carriers with the front mounts facing forward. We can use that skiing and motorcycling, and we can use it on the farm so they can be strapped in when I'm driving tractor.”