Revisiting the Family Farm

In the 1950's Clayton and Margaret Quackenbush moved their family from Seattle to Aberdeen, South Dakota. They bought a near-by farm and started cultivating it as their family grew. Especially the two older siblings have fond and vivid memories of their adventures and the freedom they had at a very young age that came with living on a farm. After about 6 years, their parents sold the farm and moved on to Salem, Oregon, but the wonderful memories have stayed with them all these years and have been told and retold at every family gathering. 

As luck would have it, Ross was able to make contact with the present owners of the farm a month or so before the tour began. These people were most hospitable and welcoming and invited us all to come and see it and to meet them. We were all looking forward to this opportunity with great anticipation, especially Ross and Paul, but as we got closer and closer to Aberdeen, we had to make one more tourist stop - to see the "largest pheasent in the world, in Huron, South Dakota. We weren't disappointed; it was very large, and a wonderful photo op.

There was a very large wooden white buffalo on the same street - what a treat! And then we moved on towards our destiny.

After stopping at the Burger King in Aberdeen, a town of about 25, 000, we drove on toward the farm, which is a few miles out of town. We were so fortunate that the weather was sunny this day, as it had been in the Badlands as well.

Curtis and Carmen Haaland, the present owners of the farm greeted us warmly as we drove up. The house and the barn, the shed and the quanset hut were all as the guys had remembered it. The place looked in very good shape. The Haalands have owned it since Carmen's parents, the people who bought it from the Quackenbushes, gave it to them in the late 80's. They have remodeled the house extensively inside, but for the most part, it is much the same. The barn is much the way it was.

The Hallands have not farmed the land and they only own a small portion of the original farm that was sold off to neighboring farmers many years ago. They did raise goats there for several years, but due to health concerns, have given that up. They do love it and have really enjoyed sharing it with their many grandchildren. Both are now retired. That was great for us. They spent most of the rest of the day showing us around and sharing stories with us.

We explored the house, the barn, the sheds, and took walking or riding tours out through the fields and the tree shelter belt, where deer, fox, owls, pheasents, ducks, and birds of many kinds make their homes. Curtis is an avid hunter and he loves hunting there with his friends most of the year. We saw the place where Ross drove into the side of the barn with a truck full of grain, were Paul almost shot his foot off, and where their cocker spaniel, Lady was quarantined for a month when bitten by a skunk. (The boys went to visit her every day anyway, though their parents were unaware.)

All in all, it was a glorious day for even those of us who had not grown up there. Our hosts were so kind and easy to be with, that they were invited to join us for dinner in town. We all met at the "Flame." and continued the stories and celebration late into the evening. It was a wonderful day to remember.