South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) celebrated 44 farms and ranches that have been in the same family for 100 years or more at the South Dakota State Fair this past month.
SDFB President Scott VanderWal joined Governor Kristi Noem, Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden and Sec. of Agriculture and Natural Resources Hunter Roberts to recognize farms and ranches that have been in the same family for 100, 125 and 150 years.
This year there were 20 Centennial (100), 18 Quasquicentennial (125) & 6 Sesquicentennial (150) awards given, including some notable local farms. Over the next couple of weeks, the Journal will highlight these farms.
Ogren Farm- Centennial Award
John Gustav Ogren was born in Sisseton Township in 1886 on the homestead farm seven miles east of Langford. John and wife Lydia purchased the farm, located one mile from the homestead place, from Fred and Ida Lindgren in 1922. John and Lydia had three children – Kenneth, Kathryn and Marjorie. Kenneth took over the farm and raised two children, John and Karen (Mikkelson), with wife, Ruth, there.
After Kenneth’s passing in 1995, Karen and her husband Denis did some updating of electrical and plumbing before moving from Britton to the farm. Karen and Denis rent the farmland and pastureland out to cousins.
The house is the original home built by the Lindgrens. It is a Sears house, ordered from a catalogue and came by train and assembled on the farm. Additions have been made to it over the years including an entry, garage, front porch and downstairs laundry room and bathroom.
The farm consists of four quarters – two owned by Denis and Karen and two owned by John Ogren who resides in Brooklyn, NY.
Vrchota Farm- Quasquicentennial Award
The Vrchota farm was awarded with a Quasquicentennial Farm Certificate at the State Fair. The farm dates back to the beginning of the 20th century when brothers Joe Sr. and Frank Vrchota built a claim shanty on land in Veblen Township. Joe subsequently moved out to the land. He and his wife Anna raised 15 children there who all loved that special place in the hills.
The couple’s son Joe Jr. lived on the homestead after. Joe never married. His brother Ed and Ed’s son Chuck purchased the farm. Ed retired and moved to the homestead while Chuck spent summers there. In 2014, Chuck’s son moved there and in 2017 Chuck and his wife Cindy permanently moved there as well. They live in the house Joe Sr. built.
Joe and Anna’s 15 kids spread over the U.S. but they always try to come home every year for a reunion. The big group of Vrchotas and the extended family is represented on a huge family tree that Chuck has been adding to for years.
