5 minute read
Teveldal State Farm
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.”
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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
“We protect against what can go wrong so you can enjoy the things that go right!” “We protect against what can go wrong so you can enjoy the things that go right!” “We protect against what can go wrong so you can enjoy the things that go right!”
Ty Teveldal State Farm Agency
InsuringRuraISD.COM
When you run a farm or business, Ty Teveldal you invest more than money.
State Farm Agency As born and raised SD farmers we 3928 S. Western Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57105 get it. We will work with you to provide the very best plan for your (605) 339-2999 specific operation. teveldalinsurance.com Stop questioning if you have the right 205 10th St, Rock Valley coverage at the lowest possible price. 712-476-5419 Know you are protected by the industry’s very best. 209 S Main St, Inwood 712-753-2200 CALL US TODAY to see why State Farm is the most trusted insurance company.
When you run a farm or business, you invest more than money.
Ty Teveldal As born and raised SD farmers we State Farm Agency get it. We will work with you to 3928 S. Western Ave., Sioux Falls provide the very best plan for your (49th St. & Western Ave.) specific operation. TateTeveldal Stop questioning if you have the right State Farm Agency coverage at the lowest possible price. 5322 E Arrowhead Parkway, Sioux Falls Know you are protected by the (E. 10th St., across from Walmart) industry’s very best.
Stop by one of our offices or call today!
CALL US TODAY to see why State Farm is the most trusted insurance company. 605-610-4521
Stop by or call today. Ty Teveldal
State Farm Agency
3928 S. Western Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Text (605) 339-2999 QUOTE teveldalinsurance.com to 72727205 10th St, Rock Valley 712-476-5419 209 S Main St, Inwood 712-753-2200
When you run a farm or business, you invest more than money. Want a Quote?
As born and raised SD farmers we get it. We will work with you to provide the very best plan for your specific operation. Stop questioning if you have the right coverage at the lowest possible price. Know you are protected by the industry’s very best. CALL US TODAY to see why State Farm is the most trusted insurance company.
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.
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. 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. 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. 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
