FIVE SISTERS, 100 YEARS OF FAMILY FARMING

    This summer at the South Dakota State Fair, Waletich Sisters, Inc, Eden, was recognized as a Century Farm by the South Dakota Farm Bureau during the State Fair in Huron. Accepting the award were Gloria Young, Watertown, Donna Karst, Sisseton, Vickie George, Sisseton, Linda Deutsch, Britton, and Yvonne Lentsch, Eden.
    The lineage of the Waletich Sisters, Inc dates back to when their grandfather John Waletich came from Yugoslavia at the age of sixteen and settled in Marshall County buying land in 1915. He married Katherine Weyer and had eight children. In 1958 their fourth child, Joe and his wife, Lorraine purchased the farm and raised five daughters. Following their deaths, the daughters made the decision to form a farm corporation in 2000 and continue ownership of the farm today, which is located two miles west of Eden.
    Speaking on behalf of their family Gloria Young stated, “Being part of the ceremony and hearing the history of Century Farms caused me to reflect on the hard work and accomplishments of our parents and grandparents. My sisters and I are filled with pride, honor, and appreciation. We know how fortunate we have been. The farm has been a gift that keeps on giving. Our parents and grandparents left us a legacy and as Waletich Sisters, Inc. we have kept the legacy alive. Dad and Mom and hopefully our grandparents would be proud and happy too.”
    Since 1984 when the farm recognition program first began there have been 3,171 farm and ranch families recognized as Century Farms. The 125 Year - Quasquicentennial recognition program started in 2010 with a total of 468 recognized over the last 13 years. The 150 Year Sesquicentennial recognition started in 2017 has awarded three farms this distinction. This year, twenty-two family farms were honored for 100 years, sixteen for 125 years and three for 150 years.