The Farming Families of Minnehaha County (SD)—February 2022

February 2022 | www.AgeMedia.pub

of Minnehaha County

Faith / Family / Friends / Farming

Meet the

SIEMONSMA Family Nick, Ken, Marcia and Jeff Siemonsma.

Story begins on page 26.

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ADVERTISING SALES Garrett Gross, AGE Media (515) 231-9367 garrett@agemedia.pub © The Farming Families, Age Media & Promotion The Farming Families is distributed free exclusively to the farmers, ranchers and producers in rural southeastern South Dakota. All rights reserved. Content in this magazine should not be copied in any way without the written permission of the publisher. The Farming Families assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Content in articles, editorial and advertisements are not necessarily endorsed by The Farming Families and Age Media & Promotion.

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LINCOLN COUNTY FAMILY

The Vander Laan family. Merritt, Nora, Maggie, Mary, Todd, Levi, Payleen, Louis and Carol Vander Laan; Katie, Sheri, Randy and Chelsea Meister; Hannah, Shirley, Joe, and Jackson Dudak. Photos by Maggie Mae, Creative Co.

A WINNING FORMULA: THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK, HAVE PATIENCE AND BE A LITTLE STUBBORN

By Bob Fitch

Louis Vander Laan might have been a John Deere dealer, but he couldn’t get the ringing out of his ears.

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Louis’ dad ran the John Deere dealership in Beresford for many years. “I don’t know many people who worked harder than my dad. He was salesman, parts man and mechanic. In the spring and the fall, the telephone would ring from 6:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night.”

When Deere corporation wanted to move the dealership from downtown Beresford to out along the highway, Louis’ dad tried to get him to join him in the tractor and implement business. “But because I heard my dad answering that phone all day and night when I was a kid, I decided I just wanted to deal with my own problems out here on the farm and not everybody else’s problems like he did.”

Louis’ parents, Louis Sr. and Etta Vander Laan, moved to Beresford from Maurice, Iowa. Louis Sr. worked his way up from

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2022

mechanic to partner at the Beresford dealership.

Although raised in town, Louis always had an affinity for farming and attended Iowa State for two years. He was fortunate to marry Carol Bonine whose parents, Everett and Nora, farmed north of Beresford. “When Carol’s dad was having some health issues, he wanted us to come out and start farming,” Louis said. Carol added, “They had stock cows, milk cows and chickens. That was back in the day when you had a little bit of everything.”

Today, three generations are involved in the grain, cow-calf, beef feedlot and club lamb farm. Louis and Carol’s son, Todd, and their grandson, Levi, run daily operations today.

In his rookie year as a farmer, his father-in-law thought the winter was mild enough and that Louis had a good enough handle on the cattle feeding for the elder couple to take an extended trip to visit family in California. Carol’s parents left for the west coast on Jan. 23, 1962.

Between then and April, South Dakota had 100 inches of snow.

“It was quite a challenge,” Louis said. “Fortunately, we had about as good equipment as anybody at that time. We had a 400 International with a hydraulic loader and a feed wagon. But we had to scoop our way for a half mile to get through the snow to get the feed … then crawl up in the silo and throw the feed down. Then we used the

tractor to scoop our way back because the path was blown shut while we were throwing that feed down.”

Looking back on that first winter, he’s always thought somebody was trying to tell him something. “But it’s always bothered me I wasn’t smart enough to figure it out.”

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Louis joked that he’s hampered by “cattle feeder’s disease” and consequently built a relatively large cattle feedyard over the years. But when Dakota Plains Dairy wanted to purchase their feedyard site, it proved to be an opportunity.

Todd said, “I love the cattle. But when it would blizzard, you knew you had thousands of head of cattle. In the years when it would never quit raining or snowing, there was never-ending mud and that about wiped me out.

I just didn’t want to be as big as we were and have to hire so many people.

I didn’t want to feed at that scale.”

Mary and Todd Vander Laan with their granddaughter, Nora.

So today’s Vander Laan feedlot is about one-third the size of the previous one. In addition to the feedlot and cow-calf operation, Todd’s son, Levi, has brought sheep into the mix. Levi uses artificial insemination on his ewes, and focuses on selling club lambs and show lambs. He’s a graduate of South Dakota State University. His wife, Payleen, is a stylist with her own shop in Sioux Falls called “The One.” As this issue of Farming Families was going to press, they are expecting their first child to be born.

Todd said, “Levi likes the sheep more than I do. I just like the fact they’re all in a heated barn and there’s no mud and no slop.” But, of course, nothing is that easy. A year ago, Levi’s sheep barn burned down and they lost about 75 percent of the flock. “What a time to build with lumber so expensive,” Todd said. The shed was only two years old when it burned.

Louis agreed with Todd that battles with the mud are harder than battling dust. “The first 25 years, dry weather was the issue we faced most often.

Then we had 20 years of wet weather that was an issue. I’d still almost take the dry over the wet. You can at least do something when it’s dry. You might not get as much crop, but, man, we fought mud for a lot of years.”

Todd said, “In this country, too much moisture has hurt us more often than not enough over the years.”

Louis and Carol Vander Laan with his collection of John Deere tractors.

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The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2022

Todd started out during the dry years of the late 1980s after graduating from

Mitchell Technical College. His wife, Mary, teaches special education in Beresford for grades kindergarten through third grade. They were married in 1989 and live on the farm site where his mom grew up.

Todd and Mary’s daughter, Maggie Vander Laan, is a photographer based in Beresford. Her business is called “Maggie Mae, Creative Co.” She’s been a traveling photographer, shooting weddings as far away as Arizona, Texas and Las Vegas. She photographed 28 weddings last summer. But, with four-year-old daughter Nora at home, she’s going to travel less and shift her business towards doing more photos of seniors and families locally. Maggie’s husband, Merritt O’Connor, works in animal welfare at Smithfield in Sioux Falls.

When they’re not caring for the cattle and sheep, Todd and Levi like to hunt, fish and ice fish.

Louis’ hobby started by accident when, on a farm sale, he purchased a Deere 4020 which his dad had originally sold from the Beresford Deere dealership. Todd said, “We used that tractor every day for quite a few years.”

On a neighbor’s sale, Louis bought a John Deere R, the first diesel John Deere made. They discovered that

tractor had also originally been sold from his dad’s dealership. He added a diesel JD 720 and a rare edition of a 3020.

He also has a Deere AR in the collection. “I’d been John Deere all my life and I never knew they made an AR,” he said. The AR was a variation on the A used on small grain farms which could also be modified for use in orchards and groves. Louis said, “After I buy one, Todd says ‘Now that’s enough.’ But a month later when I go to sell one, he says ‘Oh no, don’t sell.’”

Carol got them started on another activity when they purchased a buggy on a cousin’s farm sale.

“The buggy was just the beginning – you need a horse and harness and more. But it’s a lot of fun,” she said. They have since purchased an Amish-built buggy.

Through the ups and downs of the past 60 years and the tough times of the 1980s, Louis said he succeeded in cattle feeding and farming because of stubbornness.

But Todd said, “The best thing Dad taught me is to always think about it before you say it – although I don’t always follow that. And he’s been good at teaching me patience.”

Louis and Carol Vander Laan with their horse and buggy.

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KEEPING LOCAL HISTORY ALIVE IN TURNER COUNTY

Freeman Rural Mail Carriers in 1913. Alex Wipf, Jacob A. Gering, Andrew W. Gross, and Jacob W. Gross.

CONNECTING TO THE PAST

By Garrett Gross

In the September 2017 issue of Farming Families, we ran a feature on the value of family heirlooms and memoirs. In that story, we published a photo from 1913 that featured four Freeman rural mail carriers. This image is of significance to me personally as two of the men in the photo, Andrew W. Gross and Jacob W. Gross, are brothers of my grandfather. The photo showcases four Indian motorcycles used by the men to deliver the mail to addresses all over the Freeman area.

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The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2022

Over the years, we have published thousands of images on the pages of these magazines and we always get feedback from readers who say they love the photography. For some reason, no image has struck up more conversations and comments than the Freeman rural mail carriers photograph.

Even earlier this month, someone approached my brother and asked him, “Is that your brother who publishes the magazine with the photo of those guys on the motorcycles?” It wasn’t the most accurate question ever asked, but we knew immediately what they meant.

This photo was taken just three years after automobiles started to outnumber horses and buggies. There is a degree of nostalgia and romanticism that comes through when you see the guys in this image. It's clear the men in this photo are standing with pride as they have a job with a consistent paycheck and, just as importantly, they

Milburne (Mickey) Michael sits on his ~1917 Indian Motorcycle.

Fred Haan sits atop his 1913 Indian Motorcycle which is now on display at Heritage Hall Museum and Archives in Freeman.

Fred Haan's motorcycle at Heritage Hall Museum in Freeman.

Fred Haan's motorcycle from a 1950's image.

get to ride a motorcycle while doing it! Can you imagine the dusty roads traveled and the potholes dodged by these men as they did their job? It sure beats milking cows or mending fences all day; both of which they likely did their fair share of as well.

In the early 20th century, estimates say there were over 300 manufacturers of motorcycles and bicycles in the U.S. People loved the newfound freedoms that were provided by bikes and motorcycles. This included others in South Dakota who loved the experience and independence of riding to a destination versus having to take an older and slower form of transportation. Another added benefit was that the average person, especially those in rural farming communities, tended to be more mechanically inclined with experience working on engines and implements.

One example would be, seventeen-year old Parker area farm kid Milburne (Mickey) Michael proudly shows his ~1917-era Indian Motorcycle in a 1927 photo. Mickey’s son Chuck said, “No one remembers how or when they acquired the Indian. My dad told me that the forward cylinder head broke, so he removed the cylinder, piston and connecting rod. He then sealed the hole and ran it with one cylinder. Farm kids were great mechanics back then. When it finally stopped running, they put it behind the barn in a pile with other old implements.” Over time, weather and

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Pre and Post-Restoration by Lindy of his 1914 Indian Motorcycle.

Lindy and Judy Graber.

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The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2022

Pre and Post-Restoration by Lindy of his 1904 Indian Motorcycle.

George and Olga Williams' photo and their 1912 Indian and side-car.

other factors including the barn literally falling down caused the bike to be lost to the ages, Chuck said.

When it’s your livelihood that counts … count on me.

Another Turner County example is with Chancellor area resident Fred Haan as he sits atop his 1913 Indian Twin motorcycle. This specific bike is on display at the Heritage Hall Museum in Freeman. It is on permanent display from the collection of Lloyd Kauffman. The bike was purchased by Kauffman from a gentleman who purchased it from Haan.

Upon purchasing the bike, it was in good running condition, only needing the replacement of its rear fender.

Finally, here is a fun Indian motorcycle anecdote is from a 1924 photo from the Triangle Ranch in western South Dakota. In this image, you can clearly see a 1912 Indian and sidecar parked in front of the home as people pose for the photo to be taken.

The owner of the motorcycle, George Williams and his wife, Olga, epitomized the free spirit and adventurous mindset to life that the freedom of the road offered. This photo captures one of their final stops on a trip from Chicago which would loop them around the country down the east coast to Florida, across Texas to the southwest, up the west coast, over the Rocky Mountains, and eventually to the family’s homestead near Phillip, S.D. George is seen in the bottom right hand corner leaning on the stoop. That’s an incredible experience and life-adventure in 1924 or 2024.

Old iron and antiques capture the imagination of many people.

Specifically, old motorcycles and bikes hold the interest and spark the creativity of Freeman area resident Lyndon “Lindy”

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Graber. He and his wife, Judy, live in the same home place where he grew up. In his shop he has a collection of bikes, scooters and motorcycles that he has been tinkering with and working on for decades.

L-R Carson (son-in-law), Lexi, Lyndon, Judy and Lawson.

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of Minnehaha County

Faith / Family / Friends / Farming

of Lincoln County

Faith / Family / Friends / Farming

Meet the

Meet the

SIEMONSMA Family

VANDER LAAN Family

Nick, Ken, Marcia and Jeff Siemonsma.

Story begins on page 26.

Louis, Levi and Todd Vander Laan.

Story begins on page 6.

Photo by Maggie Mae, Creative Co. February 2022 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

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MINNEHAHA COUNTY

LINCOLN COUNTY

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Faith / Family / Friends / Farming

of Turner County

Faith / Family / Friends / Farming

of Hutchinson County

FEATURE ON VINTAGE INDIAN MOTORCYCLES IN THE AREA

Meet

LYNDON & JUDY GRABER

Meet the

HERMAN Family

Judy and Lindy Graber.

Story begins on page 10.

Vickie and Don Herman.

Story begins on page 18 February 2022 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

TURNER COUNTY

35

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The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2022

HUTCHINSON COUNTY

CONNECTING FARMERS AND BUILDING COMMUNITY For information on advertising: Garrett Gross | garrett@agemedia.pub | 515-231-9367 14

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Lindy developed an appreciation and interest in these items with his father, Cleon Graber, as he too enjoyed fixing and restoring vintage bikes before his death in 2014. “There is something I enjoy about tinkering and working with these old bikes,” explains Lindy.

“I’ve met some great people from all over the country and everybody who does this is so friendly and helpful if someone needs a part or anything.”

Lindy is a contractor by trade, so being mechanically inclined and being able to work on and fix these old items comes naturally for him.

Lindy is active with the Heritage Hall Museum & Archives in Freeman and when a question comes up in this sector, he is likely the first person called.

Several of the restoration projects he’s proud of include a 1904 Indian single cylinder that Cleon found near Springfield, S.D. This is a unique item due to its age and rarity. Indian, as a company, was founded in 1897 and only manufactured bicycles. It was in 1901 when they started building motorcycles, so this 1904 example is a very early example in the lifespan of the company branded as “America’s First Motorcycle Company”. His 1913 Indian was found near Tyndall and partially restored by Cleon and Lindy over the years. Lindy plans to continue the restoration of this bike and return it to its original paint color which is a bit darker red.

Like every hobbyist in any sector, time is often the biggest challenge; so many projects so little time. One of his current projects is a mid-1950’s Vespa Scooter he is working on for his daughter, Lexi. For now, Lindy’s plan is to continue his full-time job as a contractor, but the long-term goal is to find more time restoring bikes and finding parts.

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FROSTY FENCELINE. PHOTO BY BRETT DAVELAAR, BD PHOTOGRAPHY.

February 2022 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

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HUTCHINSON COUNTY FAMILY

Don and Vickie Herman’s family in 2017: Erin, Atticus, Brin, Cory, James, Tricia, Cody, Vickie and Don. Son Casey is not pictured.

(They now have six grandchildren.)

DURING THE HARD TIMES:

WORK A LITTLE HARDER AND SAY YOUR PRAYERS

By Bob Fitch

Don Herman lived in Kaylor and Freeman when he was a child. But his favorite times were spent helping his grandfather on the farm, whether that was picking rocks, baling hay or whatever hard work was required.

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Don and Vickie Herman have crop ground, stock cows, and feed out calves west of Freeman. In addition to farming, Don also works fulltime hauling fuel to farmers for Klaudt Service out of Menno. “I really like the work. You get to know a lot of guys. We cover a big area, all the way from Irene to Delmont to Armour.”

Don said, “Vickie keeps asking me when I’m going to retire. But I got a few years to go yet.” Vickie responded, “I don’t like being home all the time by myself out here in

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2022

the puck-a-brush – just me and the dogs and the cows, who like to get out. I have to babysit his cattle. Now and again, I look out the window and here comes a cow down the road. And the pay is not good at all – I’ve never seen a raise!”

Don’s first year on his own farm was 1976. “Three of the first five years I was on the farm, I had less than three bushels an acre for corn. The first year I got hailed out. And those first few years were very bad with drought. It wasn’t a real good start.”

His crop fortunes improved after he put in two center pivot irrigation systems in 1981. “They cost a lot of money, but at least you know you’re going to get a crop every year. I always had cows and I was big into pigs for quite a while. I farrowed, and finished some out, and sold a lot of feeder pigs.”

The Hermans made a good living on their diversified farm for a number of years. But the good times didn’t last. “About 20 years ago, I lost about five quarters of land I’d been renting. So then I had to start working off the farm. I went through a lot rough things. Sometimes I wonder how come I’m still here. I lost a lot of pigs with pseudorabies. Then, in the early 1990s, there was one year that was so bitter cold, I lost 32 cows.

I usually carry over 100 big round bales of hay, but I ended up buying 100 that year. I went to the grain bin to get shell corn to feed the cattle. The vet said the cows just couldn’t eat enough to keep warm. They’d eat in the morning, lay down and they just wouldn’t get up,” he said.

“The pigs kind of helped out then. My uncle, who is more like a brother to me, I worked for him doing carpentry. Then my one brother-in-law asked if I wanted to drive semi for him. I drove for him for about four years.” Then he drove semi for POET for 11½ years, before joining Klaudt Service.

Age Media Qtr Page Color 7-12-19.pdf 1 7/12/2019 11:22:43 AM

Don and Vickie’s newest grandchild at Christmas: Jacob Don Herman, son of Cody and Tricia Herman.

“When it was hard times, I just worked a lot more,” Don said “After my first wife left, I just worked all day and all night. I worked until two or three in the morning. My neighbor was worried about me working out there in the dark, but her husband said, ‘If he hits the fence, he’ll wake up.’” Those neighbors were his former in-laws. He continued to get along very well with them. “I worked with Clinton a long time.

I couldn’t ask him to be any nicer.”

During the hard times, he said, “You’ve just got to work a little harder and say your prayers; and hope things work out for you. I told my boys that when things are good be sure you put a little bit of money away.”

When Don and Vickie got married, she already had two sons: Cory lives in Glenwood Spring, Colo., and Casey lives in Sioux Falls. The couple then had two more sons, James and Cody.

“James works for Ortman Farms by Marion. He loves to farm, but there’s not enough here for me, let alone for him, too.

He does mechanic work and drives semi and does planting and combining. He loves it there. The boss said they needed another one like him. They asked him if knew anyone and he said, ‘The only one I know like me is my dad.’”

Their youngest son, Cody, raises Angus bulls with his fatherin-law in extreme northwestern South Dakota, south of Hettinger, N.D. Cody got a degree in mechanical engineering from South Dakota State University, and worked for 3M in Brookings, but he moved to his in-law’s ranch and loves it.

February 2022 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

19

Vickie said, “When he was young, he didn’t really like farming, so I was surprised.”

Married in 1988, Don and Vickie met in 1985 after she had moved from Portland, Ore., to nearby Scotland. Vickie, her sister and a friend went to a dance at the Scotland rodeo grounds one night that summer. The friend encouraged her to ask Don to dance.

“I said, ‘What?! I don’t even know this man.’

I’d just barely moved there.”

Don said, “I was standing there talking to some buddies and all of sudden someone taps me on the shoulder. I turned around and she said, ‘Would you dance with me?’ And I said, ‘Well, I guess so.’” Vickie continued: “Later my sister went up to Don and asked him if he’d give me a ride home – even though we had walked there! But I guess it kind of worked.”

The Portland native became a farm wife even though she knew nothing about farming and was afraid of the cows. But she laughed about the time Don was trucking and she was forced to do the chores. “The snow was so deep, I kept falling down trying to get to the barn. Our son James – I don’t remember how old he was – told his dad W when he got home that need to get ahether yo‘You u’re se e k in g livwife.’ a sk ing cIsn’t ommthat different toilled, assist unitayterrible able for youthing th in rs g e s lf is or for a lo say about his a mom?” sense o

we’re numb er In the 1980s, archaeologists and students from South Dakota State University sifted through several of the Indian burial mounds on Don Herman’s land. The pre-Sioux mounds showed that a battle between tribes must have occurred there because they found a skull which had been smashed in and another one with an arrowhead stuck in the back of it.

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m“Ifort. Let T Don said they’re a pretty low-key couple. guess we’re just common, down-to-earth people who like to stay home. I’ve seen too many hard times to throw money away

of Sioux County

OUR PHILOSOPHY There was a farmer who grew excellent quality corn. Every year, he won the award for the best grown corn. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “Didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn.

If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

So is with our lives... Those who want to live meaningfully and well must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

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Call it power of collectivity.

Call it a principle of success.

Call it a law of life.

The fact is, none of us truly wins, until we all win!

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Proverbs 11:24-25

February 2022 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

21

on something stupid. It’s enough that farming is a gamble every year. You stick money in the ground and you don’t know if it’s going to come up or not.”

He shakes his head about “all these younger guys who buy these bigger tractors and combines. It’s all got to be paid for. I’ve seen the other side when you don’t get a crop. I’ve been dried out, hailed out, drowned out. But a lot of the younger guys haven’t seen that.”

Our publications are based on families and their stories. Our goal is to build community and connections within the Ag circles of Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner and Hutchinson Counties and surrounding areas. If you have a fun story or would like to suggest a family to feature, reach out to us at Bob@agemedia.pub.

22

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2022

All the same, he said, “I don’t want to quit. I know too many guys who farmed and then retired early and ended up being planted in the ground. I don’t want to be one of them. I feel good, my health is good, so I’ll keep farming. I just love to be out here. It gets in your blood. In the springtime, I love the smell of the fresh dirt; I love bringing in new calves; and working with new cattle.”

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February 2022 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

23

FOCUS ON HEALTH

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MANAGE TINNITUS?

By Melissa Baker, M.A., CCC-A, FAAA Baker Audiology & Hearing Aids

Tinnitus is a condition that causes noise in the ear, often described as a ringing or buzzing. Tinnitus can be caused by many factors, including age, excessive exposure to loud noises and wax buildup in the ears.

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Tinnitus can be diagnosed by an audiologist using various hearing tests. One of the most common ways to diagnose tinnitus is for your doctor to conduct an ear examination, including listening with a stethoscope or special tuning fork for specific sounds in your ears that are only present when you have tinnitus. You may also hear different pitches and tones while not experiencing any pain. A visit to an audiologist will help determine if there's anything blocking sound from entering one side of your head, which could indicate some form of hearing loss. The diagnosis process often requires more than just visiting the family physician.

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HOW IS TINNITUS DIAGNOSED?

The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2022

Hearing aids can help with tinnitus by amplifying soft sounds and reducing the volume of loud ones. This means that if you have tinnitus, your hearing aid will amplify more delicate noises while suppressing more audible noise to prevent them from experiencing any discomfort or pain caused by tinnitus. In addition, tinnitus is often associated with hyperacusis, so wearing a hearing aid might also help reduce this sensitivity.

Finally, suppose you are struggling to manage tinnitus symptoms after trying numerous treatment options. In that case, it's worth visiting an audiologist who may recommend using a device such as a white noise machine in combination with other treatments, including counselling sessions.

Allowing yourself some time to recover from chronic tinnitus symptoms is crucial. In addition, if you are experiencing pain, tinnitus can be very difficult to treat, so it's essential to visit an audiologist as soon as possible.

WHAT OTHER TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE? There are many treatment options available for those who experience bothersome tinnitus symptoms. If you've been struggling to manage your tinnitus, consult a physician or audiologist about some of the following treatments: Hearing aids, counseling sessions and sound therapies such as white noise machines can all help with managing troublesome tinnitus symptoms. Other therapies that may be recommended include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is often used in combination with other forms of management, including relaxation techniques and biofeedback training.

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This involves learning how to control specific bodily responses through breathing exercises and positive imagery, among others. Treatment will vary depending on the individual's circumstances, so it's important not to lose hope if one method fails. Instead, it's worth giving several therapies a try to find the one that works best for you. In addition, it's important to remember that tinnitus is a complicated condition, and there are no guarantees your symptoms will disappear after treatment.

TIPS ON MANAGING TINNITUS It's essential to try your best to manage tinnitus symptoms which can be achieved by combining several treatments.

If you've been struggling with managing tinnitus, consider using some form of sound therapy such as white noise or natural sounds during the day and also at night when trying to sleep. While it might not seem like the most appealing option, adding some background noise could help reduce bothersome tinnitus symptoms.

Additionally, ensure that you are getting plenty of rest every night because lack of sleep is often associated with chronic diseases, including depression. This will help improve your overall wellbeing too. Tackling stress levels is another excellent way of dealing with symptom management. Relaxation techniques include meditation exercises, which can help reduce stress levels and encourage a better night's rest.

Tinnitus is a condition that affects the lives of several people, so it's essential to be patient with the recovery process and remember that everyone is different.

Tinnitus can be a complex condition to manage, especially if it's left untreated. However, there are numerous treatment options available for those who experience bothersome symptoms, so don't lose hope.

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February 2022 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine

25

MINNEHAHA COUNTY FAMILY

‘WE WANTED TO BE OUR OWN BOSS’

By Bob Fitch

In 1988, after several good profitable years raising hogs, Ken and Marcia Siemonsma built a new house on their farm east of Dell Rapids. But, in farming, what goes up must come down. In 1997, when hogs were eight cents a pound, “You couldn’t buy a ham for Christmas with what you were getting for your hogs at Morrell’s,” Ken said.

Jeff, Ken, Marcia and Nick Siemonsma.

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The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2022

Front: Andrea, Marcia, Ken and Krayton. Back: Andy, Willie holding Asher, Nick and Jeff.

Ken was born in Dell Rapids and lived in town until he was five years old when his dad started farming. He helped milk cows every morning before going to school. “I remember when I was a kid I didn’t want to farm. It just looked like too much work.”

After graduating from high school, “I worked at a gas station over in Colton. I worked six 10-hour days and made $74 a week. But I lived at home and helped with chores, so I was even able to save a little money.” Later, he worked at the Dells elevator for several years where he made $3.10 an hour.

“In 1976 – a dry year – the elevator started cutting my hours.

Morrell’s was hiring, so I went there. I pretty much doubled my pay to $6.17 an hour.”

Marcia grew up as a “city girl” in Humboldt. “It was not my intention to marry a farmer. When we were little, my friends and I would say ‘We’re never going to marry a farmer.’”

Ken and Marcia were married in 1977. She was a nurse at McKennan Hospital. “A year later, this farm came up for sale,” Ken said. “It was 40 acres and the only one who would give us a loan for it was Morrell’s Credit Union. Back then, you could still start on your own. Morrell loaned me most of it and the owner let me do contract-for-deed on the rest. If they wouldn’t have loaned us the money, we wouldn’t have got to be farmers.” Marcia added, “We didn’t have family to help us.”

Ken continued the story: “Every time I got a paycheck at Morrell’s, the government had already taken their cut out of

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it. We wanted to do something where we had our own business. We wanted to be our own boss.” He worked the line at Morrell’s for about eight years. “Then we started raising hogs full-time, which was our main source of income all these years. I ran farrow-to-finish for many years. We bought most of our corn in Dell Rapids and hauled it home in a wagon.” Marcia stayed working parttime as an LPN after their kids started coming. “And I helped outside with chores a lot,” she said.

In the early 2000s, they stopped farrowing, but continued with feeder pigs.

Ken and Marcia with their grandchildren. Standing: Krayton and Asher. Seated: Marcia holding Brinley, Everly is between Marcia and Ken. Ken is holding Ashlyn. Seated on the ground: Hadleigh and Blakely.

Over the years, Siemonsma’s were able to buy more land and, three years ago, their sons, Nick and Jeff, took over most of the farm work. The sons also custom-farm for a neighbor. Both sons have continued the tradition of pork production. Nick feeds hogs for a large producer from Larchwood, Iowa. Jeff custom-feeds hogs on the home place in the summer.

“There is room for expansion,” Ken said. “Minnehaha County is the most populated county in the state, but it’s pretty easy to get a permit, especially up here on the north end. There’s some Minnehaha County commissioners who see the development value of livestock production, especially with the new packing house that is coming to Sioux Falls.”

Nick also works in agronomy for Central Crop and lives on the farm site where Ken’s mother grew up. Jeff keeps the machinery on the farm in good working order. “Jeff can fix anything,” Marcia said. “Our other son, Andy, comes out to help at harvest, hauling the grain.”

Andy is an insurance salesman based in Dell Rapids.

The South Dakota Pork Producers Council recognized the Siemonsma family when they put up a new hog finishing barn in 2016. Left to right: Marcia, Ken, Nick, Jeff, Andrea and Krayton.

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The Farming Families Magazine | www.agemedia.pub | February 2022

Ken and Marcia’s daughter, Paula, works for U.S. Bank in Des Moines. Their daughter, Andrea, is a stay-at-home mom living in Ramsey, Minn.

The family has had more than their share of health problems over the years.

Jeff had leukemia as a child; daughter Paula had thyroid cancer; and Marcia

has fought cancer for 15 years.

On the positive side of life’s ledger, Ken and Marcia have eight grandchildren and three stepgrandchildren; and Nick is getting married this summer.

The couple has remained active with the South Dakota Pork Producers Council. They’ve helped with the Farmer Appreciation Day at the Sioux Empire Fair for 25 years and have cooked pork at many other events.

Ken is also on the board of directors of the South Dakota Association of Towns and Townships. “I’ve been on the local township board for about 40 years. After I quit Morrell’s, I went to one of the township meetings. And then, just like that, I was on the board.”

He said the South Dakota Association of Towns and Townships lobbies the legislature for state support of infrastructure in townships and small towns. “We have some money in our county, but the townships really struggle in in northern South Dakota. They don’t have tax revenue up there.”

Marcia retired about a year ago from Avera after 46 years. Since 2003, she worked at an Avera clinic with Dr. Brian Knutson, a

Nick, Ken, Marcia and Jeff Siemonsma.

dermatologist. “I’d still be working if I could, but I was going through cancer treatment so my doctor didn’t want me to be working at the clinic.” She still gets together with her former co-workers. “I really enjoyed what I did and the people I worked with.”

Even with all the highs and lows, the years have been good for Ken and Marcia Siemonsma. “I wouldn’t do it any different. Farming is a good life,” Ken said.

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Contact Bob Fitch at (712) 551-4123 or Bob@agemedia.pub 30

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4. To serve, dust pastries with confectioners' sugar. Serve with raspberry sauce and, if desired, fresh berries and additional chips.

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