… in Deuel County. The senior partner of a well-known family corporation called Shady Lane Farms, Inc., John and his brother Milton started in the livestock business with a pair of Angus heifers purchased for them by their father in 1917. The result is a 50-year partnership success story that is probably unequaled anywhere in the cattle business. The Shady Lane herd now contains 1,000 head of registered cattle and is the backbone of a four-farm 2,500 acre operation that supports both brothers plus three boys including Gauger’s son Ardell. Janice, a daughter, teaches at Watertown and also stays at home. While Gauger is probably best known outside South Dakota for his success with cattle, there are a number of things in the community of Deuel and Codington Counties that can be linked with the talent of John Gauger. His interest in agriculture and 4-H probably is best expressed in terms of service: 32 …
… W. F. Wyatt 1941 Eminent FarmerFall River W. F. (Will) Wyatt, arrived in the Black Hills on foot as a young man of 20 in 1884 and spent his first night lost in the mountains in the vicinity of his present ranch in Fall River County. Born in Stafford, England, Oct. 16, 1864, he left home … his 3,600-acre ranch 20 miles south of Hot Springs, and in 50 years of effort, probably did more than any other man in the Southwestern South Dakota to organize cattle ranchers to overcome water shortages and enforce law on the range. On Sept. 25, 1889, he married Sadie M. Henton, a homesteader and schoolteacher who had come to the Black Hills with her brothers. … South Dakota Stock Growers association which was organized in 1981. He also helped organize the Fall River-Custer County cattle association in the 1880s. Wyatt’s “Y and A T” brand was registered in 1890. Wyatt’s greatest interest was in dam building and other range conservation programs. He served as range inspector for the AAA program in the county, from the …
… John Wiersma 1955 Eminent HomemakerBrookings Niesje Wiersma, the former Niesje Kleinjan, and was born in Rhoon, Netherlands, on May 4, 1885. She came to America with the family in 1893. The John Kleinjan family moved to Volga in the spring of 1903. Wiersma resided four miles north of Volga until her marriage to … and remodel the home. When neighbors are in need of help, she is there to see what she can do. Because of her willingness to help, she is often referred to as “the mother of the community.” One neighbor expressed her contributions in this way: “Her five children and their successes best prove her success.” inline--left … John Wiersma …
… graduated with a B. A. degree in 1898. Wilkinson, her brother E. G. Wilkinson and R. L. Cheney proved homestead claims in what is now Haakon County. These homesteads were the beginning of the Cheney-Wilkinson ranch of 6,600 acres owned by them, and many thousands more that are rented. Wilkinson and Cheney were married in 1905. They adopted two children. The Cheney-Wilkinson ranch was, in 1936, a community itself, with three houses and a central electric and water system. Cheney taught a private school for her children and the Wilkinson boys and taught each of them piano and … State Federation of Home Extension Clubs and the State Federation of Women’s Clubs. She interested the club in raising money to establish the telephone to Philip. The club sponsored May Day programs and children’s health clinics. Cheney was particularly interested in furthering every advantage for the young people in the county. Numerous PTA, school and club …
… Henry J. Briscoe 1936 Eminent FarmerPotter Henry J. Briscoe, Gorman, is known chiefly for his experiments in stock raising. He was one of the first men in Sully County to test his cattle for tuberculosis and though he lost 42% of his herd in the first test and 25% in the recheck, he continued to test. His cattle several times topped the Sioux City, Iowa, market during the 1920’s. Another of Briscoe’s specialties, registered purebred Chester White pigs which were sold in his county and in neighboring counties. He was born March 7, 1875, near Dwight in Livingston County, Illinois. He had two … also owned 800 acres of land in other counties, making a total of 1,920 acres. In spite of devoting much attention to his extensive farming operations, Briscoe was active in numerous community and state affairs. He served as a director of the Central Mutual Insurance company, as a state central committeeman for the Democratic party, was a member of the Potter …
… control on sorghum, was honored in 1973 as Eminent Farmer by the South Dakota Board of Regents and South Dakota State University. Eitemiller, 63, known as “a busy man who gets things done without hooting and hollering,” was one of the first in his area to do production testing work, to plant fertilizer and small grain test plots, to practice interseeding, to try new conservation practices and new seed varieties and to keep herd production records. His most significant accomplishment is his work with SDSU entomologists in field testing for greenbug control. It meant risking possible residue problems with untried chemicals, but the system proved out, and now from 50% to 60% of the sorghum in south central South Dakota is treated for greenbug control as the result of his foresight. Eitemiller has served in all offices of the Charles Mix County …
… Benson 1977 Eminent FarmerFall River Willard Benson, 67, honored in 1977 as Eminent Farmer by the South Dakota Board of Regents and South Dakota State University, says he finds ranching just as fun as it was when he bought his first 560 acres of ranch and farmland in 1934, “except it’s a bigger and rougher game than it used to be.” But, it’s still the best place to … sheep. When the children grew up, the Bensons went out of sheep, but in recent years he has returned to it as an enterprise. Benson’s youngest son and partner got him interested in registered Hereford cows, and they now have a herd of about 30 registered cows in addition to the commercial herd, which is bred to registered bulls. It all began as a 4-H project. Benson and his wife Lucy have nine grandchildren, many of whom are interested in 4-H. As the Fall …
… in the farm, so they said they would either pay for piano lessons or help me buy some sheep for a 4-H project,” explains the 2016 Eminent Homemaker from Clark County of the flock of registered Columbia sheep which ended up helping her pay for college. Hurlbert’s 4-H involvement extended beyond sheep to several other projects including the South Dakota State Fair pie baking contest, which she won as a high … to a college fund and gaining practical skills, Hurlbert attributes 4-H to her ability to see projects through. “4-H taught me that you don’t start projects you don’t intend to complete.” Launching successful projects and seeing them through is something Hurlbert has become known for. As several community members put it, “If you want something done, you ask …
… Gordon Brockmueller 1988 Eminent FarmerHutchinson Gordon Brockmueller, 53, is a farmer, registered and certified seed grower, and Shorthorn breeder from Freeman. Community involvement is also a major part of Brockmeuller's life. However, his involvement is not limited to … Producer. Brockmueller is a well-known producer of certified seed and is a member of the Southeast South Dakota Certified Seed Growers Association. In an effort to help improve farming methods overseas, Brockmueller spent time in Thailand and Brazil teaching better farming techniques. He is active in his church, Salem Mennonite, and has served on the board of …
… beef and dairy industries and a full partner in the family's fourth generation farm which includes dairy, beef and crop enterprises. She and her husband Gary and their family milk 375 registered and grade Holsteins, sell and lease springing heifers and registered bulls, background feeder cattle, raise and custom grow nearly 1,000 dairy replacement heifers and crop 1,700 acres of land. She was recognized as the 2005 … one of four U.S. dairy producers to appear on the "Emeril Live" cooking show to promote real dairy products. In addition to her agricultural interests, she is active in the Aberdeen community including: the Ag Committee of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, the Aberdeen Board of Education, PTA, Brown County Fair Board, P.E.O., Avera Saint Luke's Hospital Board, …