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Hofer/Loewen Family Papers

Finding Aid

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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.

Container list for MA 101 Hofer/Loewen Family Papers
BoxFolderDescriptionDate(s)
11Acreage Measurements for Milford Township in Beadle County, South Dakota1940
121947 Farm and Ranch Record Book1947
131948 Farm and Ranch Record Book1948
141949 Farm and Ranch Record Book1949
151950 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book1950
161951 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book1951
171952 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book1952
181953 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book1953
191954 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book1954
1101955 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book1955
1111956 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book1956
1121957 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1957
1131958 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1958
1141959 Farmers' Income Tax Record Book1959
1151960 Income and Expenditure Record Book1960
1161961 Farm and Ranch Bookkeeping Record Book1961
1171962 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1962
1181963 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1963
1191964 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1964
1201965 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1965
1211966 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1966
1221967 Farm and Ranch Bookkeeping Record Book1967
1231968 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1968
1241969 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1969
1251970 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1970
1261971 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1971
1271972 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1972
1281973 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1973
1291974 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1974
1301975 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1975
1311976 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1976
1321977 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1977
1331978 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1978
1341979 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1979
1351980 Farm and Ranch Business Record Book1980
1361997 Farm and Ranch Account Book1997
1371998 Farm and Ranch Account Book1998
1381999 Farm and Ranch Account Book1999
1392000 Farm and Ranch Record Book2000
140Funeral Program2018
141Josua Hofer Biographical Material1967, 2018
142Natural Resources Development Corp., Redfield, South Dakota, share certificates and correspondence1955, 1959
143State Senate Campaign Advertising, Business Cards, Pamphlets, Photograph1996
144Photograph of Hofer Farm1996
145South Dakota International Harvester Dealers ad featuring Ben and Lowell Hofer1983
146History of Hofer Farm written by Elise Waldnerundated
21State Senate Campaign Newspaper Clippings1996-1997
22State Senate Campaign Posters1996
23Calendars1988-1994
24Calendars1995-1999
25Calendars2000-2005
26Calendars2006-2010
27Calendars2011-2013