By Curt Arens / Farm to Family Connection Radio Program, KKYA 93.1 FM, Yankton, South Dakota / October 2004
The following are a couple of narrative excerpts from Farm to Family Connection - a weekly radio program written and produced by Class III fellow, Curt Arens of Crofton, NE. They feature the stories of family farmers and businesses that raise and make quality food and farm products and sell them through direct relationship marketing and other outlets to consumers in the northeast Nebraska, southeast South Dakota vicinity. The show airs Thursday mornings at 7:45 am on KKYA, 93.1 FM in Yankton, SD.
Garrity's Prairie Gardens, Mission Hill, SD - Following a Dream - aired Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004
Pat and Jan Garrity, owners of Garrity's Prairie Gardens northeast of Yankton near Mission Hill are living out their dream. After twenty years in business, they operate a farm market, caring for acres of plum, cherry and apple trees. But Garrity's also have a patch of pumpkins, gourds and squash as well as elderberries, chokecherries, strawberries, raspberries and asparagus. Their orchards and gardens offer pick your own opportunities throughout the year, but they take their produce to farmers markets in Vermillion, Sioux City and Sioux Falls too.
Last year, they harvested 3000 bushels of apples and this June they sold 25,000 lbs. of strawberries. It's all a labor of love for the Pat and Jan who have both spent their adult lives growing things in horticulture related pursuits.
Fall is a special season at Garrity's because they celebrate the fruits of their labor during Apple Fest weekends through September and October. On Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm and Sundays from noon to 6 pm, you can bring the whole family to enjoy hayrides to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard. Kids love the kiddie train rides and Garrity's hay maze and corn maze. Of course they offer lots of treats in their farm store like apple pie and ice cream, caramel and apple slices and their superb apple cider.
Jan and Pat host group and school tours and offer demonstrations in their packing area and apple shed by appointment. Garrity's Prairie Gardens is located seven and a half miles northeast of Yankton on 444th Ave. near Mission Hill. You can call Pat and Jan for information at (605) 665-2806 or visit them on the web at www.garritys.com or by visiting farmtofamily.net.
Tagline - "I'm Jan Garrity with Garrity's Prairie Gardens at Mission Hill. If you want the freshest, best quality fruits and vegetables on your family's table - look first to local family farmers who raise your food with tender loving care."
Sandy Hills Ostrich Farm, Fordyce, NE - Farm with Flavor - aired Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004
If you want to talk about a drumstick, you should visit with Ken and Deanna Lockman, owners of Sandy Hills Ostrich Farm in rural Fordyce. For twelve years now the Lockmans have been raising ostriches and selling ostrich meat to area consumers.
Their massive birds stand heads above everyone and weight around 275 lbs. when they are ready for processing. The Lockmans purchased their first breeding pair of ostriches in 1992. Now they incubate 20-25 eggs successfully every year from their flock, providing animals that will be fed out and eventually make it into someone's ostrich burger for lunch.
Four years ago, the Lockmans started D & K Lunch Wagaon and took their ostrich burgers on the road to large gatherings like Rock Comstock and Country Comstock Windmill festivals where they served over 600 5 oz ostrich burgers to customers waiting in lines up to 200 feet long. They even ran out of ostrich burgers and turned people away. They've served their homegrown ostrich at Riverboat Days and company picnics.
Their customers are always surprised at how good ostrich tastes. The meat is very lean and has healthful qualities. Ken and Deanna market ostrich hides to a buyer in Mexico who makes them into boots and handbags.
If you're interested in trying ostrich - a locally grown, unique and healthful food, give Ken and Deanna a call at (402) 357-3700 or visit the web at farmtofamily.net.
Tagline - "I'm Deanna Lockman with Sandy Hills Ostrich Farm near Fordyce. If your kids want a really big drumstick for supper, try locally raised ostrich, grown right here in the upper Missouri Valley."
