Identifier

MA 101

Dates

1940-2018

Extent

2.54 linear feet (1 Paige Miracle Box, 1 Newspaper Box), 1 photograph

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.

Historical 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.

Content Notes

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.

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Registration Form

Website

Language

English

Publisher

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Rights

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.

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