Finding Aid
Collection Summary
Identifier:
MA 101
Title:
Hofer/Loewen Family Papers
Creator:
Hofer, Ben F., 1926-2018
Dates:
1940-2018
Extent:
2.54 linear feet (1 Paige Miracle Box, 1 Newspaper Box), 1 photograph
Language:
English
Repository:
South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections
Hilton M. Briggs Library (SBL) Room 241, Box 2115
1300 North Campus Drive
Brookings, SD 57007
Phone: 605-688-5094
Email: arcrefs@sdstate.edu
Access Note:
This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. This material does not circulate and may be used in-house only.
Preferred Citation:
Name of item, MA 101, box #, folder #, Hofer/Loewen Family Papers, South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.
Abstract:
Records of the Ben F. Hofer family farm in Spink County, South Dakota (1949-2000). The collection consists of farm accounting records, material related to Hofer’s 1996 campaign for the South Dakota State Senate, biographical material, and acreage measurements for Milford Township in Beadle County, South Dakota.
Biographical Note
BEN FRANK HOFER was born in Milford Township in Beadle County, South Dakota on August 16, 1926 to Josua and Anna Hofer.
He married Elsie Waldner in 1946. They farmed in Spink County, South Dakota. The Hofer's had three children, Lowell, Darla, and Rachel. Elsie died in 2000. In 2002, Ben married Agnes Glanzer Waldner.
Hofer was a grain and livestock farmer in Spink County, South Dakota. He was named Outstanding Young Farmer by the Redfield, South Dakota Jaycees in 1961.
As an agribusiness man Ben was active in the Spink County community. He served on the Spink County Pest and Weed Board, the Union Township Board, and as chairman of the Yale Board of Directors for the Farmers Elevator Cooperative. Hofer also served on the South Dakota Weed and Pest Commission.
In 1995, their daughter, Darla, and her husband, Harold Loewen, moved to the family farm. Ben and Elsie moved to Huron, South Dakota where he became a member of the Huron Area Chamber of Commerce and served on its Agriculture Committee and Consumer Awareness Committee.
In 1996, Hofer was a Republican candidate for the State Senate in District 21 for Beadle and Spink Counties in South Dakota. He lost to Democrat Charlie Flowers who had 64.78% of the votes to Hofer’s 35.22%.
Ben was also active in the Bethel Mennonite Brethren Church in rural Yale, South Dakota. He served on various church committees, such as the Mennonite Aid Property Board. He also served on the Central District of Mennonite Brethren Churches Conference Board of Trustees as well as the Board of Youth and Evangelism.
Ben died on May 2, 2018.
Contents Note
This collection consists of farm accounting records, material related to Hofer’s 1996 campaign for the South Dakota State Senate, biographical material, calendars, and acreage measurements for Milford Township in Beadle County, South Dakota.
The accounting records contain detailed information on farm operations for each year recorded on South Dakota State College Extension Farm and Ranch Record Books (1947-1949), National Farmers’ Income Tax Record Books, Mitchell (South Dakota) Publishing Company (1950-1956, 1959), South Dakota State College Agricultural Extension Service Farm and Ranch Business Record Books (1957-1958, 1962-1966, 1968-1980), Doane Agricultural Digest Income and Expenditure Record Book (1960), Blackbourn’s farm and Ranch Bookkeeping Record Books (1961, 1967), South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service Account Books (1997-1999), and a Farm Credit Services Farm and Ranch Record Book (2000). Information includes an inventory of land, improvements, buildings and livestock; livestock fees and sales; machinery, equipment and automobile inventory and operating expenses; map of the farm and crop-system summary; crops raised and sold; inventory of feed, grain and supplies; cash receipts and expenses; summary of expenses including taxes and labor; capital purchases and sales; products used on the farm and a financial business analysis summary.
Other material in the collection is campaign material, consisting of advertising, newspaper clippings, posters, pamphlets, and a photograph; biographical material of Ben Hofer and his father, Josua; calendars noting daily appointments and events; and, acreage measurements for Milford Township in Beadle County, South Dakota compiled by Josua Hofer in 1940.
Subject Headings
- Farm management – Records and correspondence
- Political campaigns – South Dakota
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. The materials in the Archives do not circulate and may be used in-house only.
Researchers conducting extensive research are asked to make an advance appointment to access archival material. Please call or e-mail prior to visiting the collection and indicate as much detail as possible about a particular topic and intended use.
South Dakota State University supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted as a result of their fragile condition or by contractual agreements with donors.
Copyright Notice
Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archives are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. There are other materials in the Archive carrying a copyright interest and must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted material.
Box | Folder | Description | Date(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Acreage Measurements for Milford Township in Beadle County, South Dakota | 1940 |
1 | 2 | 1947 Farm and Ranch Record Book | 1947 |
1 | 3 | 1948 Farm and Ranch Record Book | 1948 |
1 | 4 | 1949 Farm and Ranch Record Book | 1949 |
1 | 5 | 1950 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book | 1950 |
1 | 6 | 1951 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book | 1951 |
1 | 7 | 1952 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book | 1952 |
1 | 8 | 1953 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book | 1953 |
1 | 9 | 1954 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book | 1954 |
1 | 10 | 1955 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book | 1955 |
1 | 11 | 1956 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book | 1956 |
1 | 12 | 1957 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1957 |
1 | 13 | 1958 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1958 |
1 | 14 | 1959 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book | 1959 |
1 | 15 | 1960 Income and Expenditure Record Book | 1960 |
1 | 16 | 1961 Farm and Ranch Bookkeeping Record Book | 1961 |
1 | 17 | 1962 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1962 |
1 | 18 | 1963 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1963 |
1 | 19 | 1964 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1964 |
1 | 20 | 1965 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1965 |
1 | 21 | 1966 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1966 |
1 | 22 | 1967 Farm and Ranch Bookkeeping Record Book | 1967 |
1 | 23 | 1968 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1968 |
1 | 24 | 1969 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1969 |
1 | 25 | 1970 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1970 |
1 | 26 | 1971 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1971 |
1 | 27 | 1972 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1972 |
1 | 28 | 1973 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1973 |
1 | 29 | 1974 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1974 |
1 | 30 | 1975 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1975 |
1 | 31 | 1976 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1976 |
1 | 32 | 1977 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1977 |
1 | 33 | 1978 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1978 |
1 | 34 | 1979 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1979 |
1 | 35 | 1980 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book | 1980 |
1 | 36 | 1997 Farm and Ranch Account Book | 1997 |
1 | 37 | 1998 Farm and Ranch Account Book | 1998 |
1 | 38 | 1999 Farm and Ranch Account Book | 1999 |
1 | 39 | 2000 Farm and Ranch Record Book | 2000 |
1 | 40 | Funeral Program | 2018 |
1 | 41 | Josua Hofer Biographical Material | 1967, 2018 |
1 | 42 | Natural Resources Development Corp., Redfield, South Dakota, share certificates and correspondence | 1955, 1959 |
1 | 43 | State Senate Campaign Advertising, Business Cards, Pamphlets, Photograph | 1996 |
1 | 44 | Photograph of Hofer Farm | 1996 |
1 | 45 | South Dakota International Harvester Dealers ad featuring Ben and Lowell Hofer | 1983 |
1 | 46 | History of Hofer Farm written by Elise Waldner | undated |
2 | 1 | State Senate Campaign Newspaper Clippings | 1996-1997 |
2 | 2 | State Senate Campaign Posters | 1996 |
2 | 3 | Calendars | 1988-1994 |
2 | 4 | Calendars | 1995-1999 |
2 | 5 | Calendars | 2000-2005 |
2 | 6 | Calendars | 2006-2010 |
2 | 7 | Calendars | 2011-2013 |