DeKam Construction

Egg sales from Hy-line Brown hens are a significant part of the revenue stream at Berrybrook Organics. Food Co-op, Queen City Bakery, and the Hy-Vee locations on Louise and Minnesota Avenues. Their meat is processed under USDA inspection at Hudson Meats & Sausage in Hudson, S.D. In their online store, Ortmans also sell freshground flour, cornmeal, wheat berries, and grain seed. “We also have a partnership with Happy Hydros in Pukwana,” Sherilyn said. “Every Friday, Mark Scholl of Happy Hydros drives to Sioux Falls and drops off his lettuce and tomatoes; then he picks up some beer at a brewery by Renner; drives to Stensland Dairy near Larchwood to pick up milk and ice cream; and then I meet him somewhere with eggs and beef. He takes all that west to Rapid City and Spearfish.”

Berrybrook’s products, including various meat bundles, are available for sale in the family’s online shop at www.berrybrookorganics.com and at both Freeman super markets – Freeman Shopping Center and Jamboree Foods. The products are also sold in Sioux Falls at Look’s Marketplace, M.B. Haskett Delicatessen, Pomegranate Market, Sioux Falls Will said innovation is in his family genes. His grandfather, William J. Ortman, was the first in the Marion area to plant soybeans. His father, Arlan, experimented with different crops and animals, and was ahead of his time in harnessing wind energy, as the iconic farm tower testifies.

In addition to farming, Will is an experienced speaker. Combining personal anecdotes, research and critical analysis, he focuses on issues facing today’s farmers, especially in the realm of food economics and its effect on rural communities.

Will and Sherilyn met at Bethel College in North Newton, Kan. Sherilyn is originally from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where her parents operated a dairy until 1988, and then had some beef cattle while working in town. Although they were raised 400 miles apart, they discovered in college they both had run strawberry u-picks and sweet corn patches in their youth. Sherilyn’s parents re-located to Freeman about seven years ago. “Will and I both grew up with grandparents right on the same farm site and another set of grandparents in town. And that’s just what our boys have today,” she said. While on a college choir tour before they even started dating, Sherilyn asked Will what he saw himself doing in 10 years. He said he wanted to be married and doing something that allowed him to work beside his wife "from sunup to sundown.” Dreams can come true because that is the life they live today.

DRAIN TILE DESIGN, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND INSTALLATION RURAL WATER & DIRT WORK TREE REMOVAL

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1973

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