Javascript is required to use this website.

Retzlaffs have been farming in Ellendale area for almost 125 years

By DALE HILDEBRANT, Farm & Ranch Guide
Oct 26, 2007
Oct 26, 2007 Updated May 28, 2026

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

ELLENDALE, N.D. - It's a pleasant fall morning and a few of the leaves are starting to turn color in David Retzlaff's wooded farm yard located a few miles northwest of Ellendale, N.D. That wouldn't have been possible 100 years ago.

kAm%92EVD 3642FD6 2 46?EFCJ 28@ E96C6 H2D?VE 2 EC66 :? D:89E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ t>:= #6EK=277[ s2G:5VD F?4=6[ 2D 96 C642==65 9:D 62C=J 52JD @? E9:D r6?E6??:2= u2C>[ 2 72C> E92E 92D 366? :? E96 72>:=JVD ?2>6 D:?46 :E H2D 9@>6DE62565 :? `ggb]k^Am

kAmt>:= H2D 23=6 E@ C6EC246 E96DE6AD @7 9:D 8C2?572E96C WH9@ H2D 2=D@ ?2>65 t>:=X 7C@> v6C>2?J E@ E96 t==6?52=6 2C62 5FC:?8 2 E:>6 H96?[ :? t>:=VD H@C5D[ E:>6D H6C6 AC6EEJ C@F89 :? v6C>2?J]k^Am

kAmx? `gga t>:= uC65C:4< #6EK=277[ 2=@?8 H:E9 9:D E9C66 3C@E96CD 2?5 >@> 2?5 525[ =67E $E6EE:?[ v6C>2?J 7@C E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] sFC:?8 E96 4@FCD6 @7 E96 J62C E96 72>:=J 6?565 FA :? }63C2D<2[ 2?5 E96 7@==@H:?8 J62C E9C66 @7 E96 3C@E96CD[ :?4=F5:?8 t>:=[ EC2G6=65 ?@CE9 2?5 564:565 E@ 9@>6DE625 :? E96 t==6?52=6 2C62]k^Am

kAmp7E6C 7:=:?8 E96 9@>6DE625 4=2:>[ t>:= uC65C:4< >@G65 E@ (:D4@?D:? 7@C 2 76H >@?E9D] (9:=6 E96C6 96 >6E $@A9:2[ H9@ 3642>6 9:D 3C:56] %@86E96C E96J >@G65 324< E@ E96 t==6?52=6 2C62 2?5 AC@466565 E@ 3F:=5 2 `a 3J `g 7@@E D@5 D92?EJ E@ AC@G:56 D@>6 AC@E64E:@? 7C@> E96 6=6>6?ED]k^Am

kAmtG6? E9@F89 E96 9@>6DE625 4@?D:DE65 @7 `e_ 24C6D @7 =2?5[ 5FC:?8 E9@D6 7:CDE J62CD E96 4C@A =2?5 H2D AC6EEJ =:>:E65] x? `gge t>:= uC65C:4< C2:D65 `a 24C6D @7 H962E 2?5 e 24C6D @7 @2ED] %96 A=@H:?8 H2D 5@?6 H:E9 2 H2=<:?8 A=@H AF==65 3J 2 D:?8=6 @I6?]k^Am

kAm(:E9 2 ?6H 49:=5 @? E96 H2J[ 96 564:565 E96 D@5 D92?EJ 5:5?VE 7:== E96 3:== 2?J>@C6 D@ 96 3F:=E 2 `_ 3J `e H@@5 7C2>65 D92?EJ[ 2?5 r2C= #6EK=277 H2D 3@C? :? `gge] %96 7:CDE H@@56? D92?EJ :D DE:== 36:?8 FD65 2D 2 DE@C286 3F:=5:?8 @? s2G:5VD 72C> E@52J]k^Am

kAmt>:= C642==D 9:D 8C2?5A2C6?ED E6==:?8 23@FE E96 492==6?86 @7 7:?5:?8 >2E6C:2= E@ 3FC? 7@C 4@@<:?8 2?5 962E:?8 E9@D6 62C=J 9@>6D]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_(:E9 92C5=J 2?J H@@5 2C@F?5[ E96J FD65 E@ EH:DE 5C:65 E2== AC2:C:6 8C2DD E@86E96C 2?5 3FC? E92E[ @C C@F?5 FA 5C:65 3F772=@ 49:AD[ H9:49 2=D@ D6CG65 2D 2 D@FC46 @7 7F6=[” 96 D2:5] U2>AjRgaa_%96C6 H2D 2 3:8 D=@F89 ;FDE D@FE9 @7 E96 A=246 96C6[ D@ E96J 925 A=6?EJ @7 H2E6C] *@F 5:5?VE 92G6 E@ 5:8 2 H6== E@@ 566A 7@C H2E6C \ >2J36 a_ 766E @C D@]”k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 E92E E:>6 2 76H >@C6 24C6D H6C6 8C25F2==J 25565 E@ E96 4C@A =2?5 6G6CJ J62C 2?5 3J 7:=:?8 2 EC66 4=2:> 2?5 DE2CE:?8 E@ A=2?E EC66D[ E96J H6C6 23=6 E@ 255 2?@E96C BF2CE6C D64E:@? E@ E96:C =2?5]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_p 72C>6C 4@F=5 86E FA E@ EH@ BF2CE6CD @7 =2?5[ @?6 BF2CE6C H@F=5 36 E96 =2?5 J@F 9@>6DE62565 @? 2?5[ :7 J@F A=2?E65 EC66D @? 2?@E96C BF2CE6C[ J@F H@F=5 86E 2 EC66 4=2:>[” s2G:5 D2:5] U2>AjRgaa_$@ J@F 4@F=5 86E EH@ BF2CE6CD @7 =2?5 7C@> E96 8@G6C?>6?E 2E E92E E:>6] *@F 925 E@ A=2?E EC66D 2?5 <66A E96> 4=62?]”k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 E9@D6 7:CDE J62CD AC24E:42==J 2== @7 E96 7:6=5 H@C< H2D 5@?6 3J 92?5[ H:E9 E96 6I46AE:@? @7 A=@H:?8 H:E9 E96 @I6? 2?5 H2=<:?8 A=@H] %96 H962E 2?5 @2ED H6C6 D66565 3J D42EE6C:?8 E96 D665D 3J 92?5 2?5 E96 C6DF=E:?8 4C@A H2D 4FE 5@H? H:E9 2 92?5 D4JE96 2?5 92F=65 E@ E96 72C> J2C5 H96C6 :E H2D 92CG6DE65 3J 92?5]k^Am

kAmx? `h_c 2 9:A\C@@7 32C? H2D 3F:=E H:E9 =F>36C E92E H2D ?@H DE2CE:?8 E@ 36 56=:G6C65 E@ E96 2C62 3J E96 C2:=C@25] %92E 32C? :D DE:== 36:?8 FD65 E@52J[ 2=E9@F89 E96 H@@56? D:5:?8 92D 366? C6A=2465 H:E9 C65 DE66= D:5:?8]k^Am

kAm%96 =:G6DE@4< ?F>36CD H6C6 2=D@ :?4C62D65 5FC:?8 E9@D6 62C=J 52JD E@ :?4=F56 2 76H 9@CD6D 7@C H@C<:?8 E96 7:6=5D[ 2 D>2== 52:CJ 96C5[ D@>6 3667 42EE=6 2?5 9@8D 2?5 49:4<6?D]k^Am

kAm%96 42EE=6 6G6?EF2==J 3642>6 2 AFC63C65 $9@CE9@C? 96C5 H:E9 D@>6 @7 E96 36EE6C >:=<6CD 8@:?8 :? E96 52:CJ 96C5 2?5 E96 @E96CD :? E96 3667 96C5]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_x C6>6>36C E92E H6 H@F=5 3C665 E96 4@HD E@ 2 3F== E92E H2D <?@H? E@ 92G6 36EE6C >:=< AC@5F4E:@? @?6 J62C 2?5 E@ 2 >@C6 3667 EJA6 3F== E96 ?6IE J62C[” t>:= C642==65] U2>AjRgaa_%92E H2J H6 H6C6 23=6 E@ <66A :>AC@G:?8 3@E9 D:56D @7 E96 96C5]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Cattle-station cookbook helps disaster
Propagating the prairie: Couple creates business out of raising native plants
Longtime dairy farmer leads state dairy organizations
Wisconsin popular destination for turkeys
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
Iowa pork producer grows with focus on efficiency
Back to grass: Focused on conservation, Midwest farmers return cropland to prairie state
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts
Speaking for agriculture: College student finds her calling an ag advocacy
From the ground up: Jade Jandel builds his cattle herd on functionality, longevity
Rodeo legacy lives on in Wessington Springs Family
Long time coming: Cattle to Canada, rain on the ground and remodel progress
Missouri legislature extends ag tax credits
Families invited to experience dairy farming during South Dakota Dairy Fest
Interseeding outcompetes weeds, has host of other benefits

kAmtG6?EF2==J r2C= #6EK=277[ H9@ H2D 2? @?=J 49:=5[ >2CC:65 9:D H:76[ p=>2] %96J 925 EH@ 49:=5C6?[ t>:= 2?5 r2C=[ yC][ H9@ H2D s2G:5VD 72E96C]k^Am

kAmx? E96 62C=J `ha_D EC24E@CD DE2CE65 C6A=24:?8 9@CD6D 7@C D@>6 @7 E96 7:6=5 H@C<]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_%96 7:CDE EC24E@C >J 525 925 H2D 2 %H:? r:EJ 82D\A@H6C65 EC24E@C E92E H2D AFC492D65 2C@F?5 `hab[” t>:= D2:5] U2>AjRgaa_xE H2D FD65 7@C E9C6D9:?8 2?5 A=@H:?8 2?5 @E96C 7:6=5 H@C<]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_{2E6C @? E96J AFC492D65 2 >@56= # |:??62A@=:D |@=:?6 4@>A=6E6 H:E9 2 724E@CJ 423[” 96 25565] U2>AjRgaa_%92E H2D E96 @?=J @?6 :? E96 4@F?ECJ E92E 925 2 423 @? :E] xE H2D E96 7:CDE EC24E@C E92E 925 2 724E@CJ\>256 423 @? :E] p 76H A6@A=6 925 9@>6>256 423D @? E96:C EC24E@CD 2?5 >@DE @7 E96> H6C6 AC6EEJ C@F89 =@@<:?8 E9:?8D[ 3FE E96J <6AE J@F @FE @7 E96 H:?5 2 =:EE=6 3:E]”k^Am

kAm%96 72>:=J DE:== @H?D E92E 62C=J >@56= |:??62A@=:D |@=:?6 EC24E@C]k^Am

kAmt>:= C642==D E96 5:77:4F=E:6D @7 E96 U2>AjRgaa_s:CEJ %9:CE:6D[” H96? >2?J 72C>6CD :? E96 2C62 =@DE E96:C =2?5 3642FD6 @7 E96 D6G6C6 5C@F89E 2?5 2 A@@C 64@?@>J]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_|J 8C2?5525 H2D 4@?D6CG2E:G6 2?5 >J 525 E@@[ D@ H6 >256 :E E9C@F89[” t>:= D2:5] U2>AjRgaa_%96 8C2DD9@AA6CD H6C6 D@ E9:4< @FE :? E96 7:6=5D E92E H96? J@F H2=<65 2=@?8 E96C6 H2D ;FDE 2 4=@F5 @7 E96> 7=J:?8 FA 29625 @7 J@F] %96C6 H6C6 2 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD H96? :E H2D C62==J 5CJ 2?5 5FC:?8 E96 36EE6C J62CD E96 CFDE H2D C62==J 325]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_%@ 7:?5 6?@F89 92J 7@C E96 =:G6DE@4< H6 925 E@ D4C2E49 2C@F?5 :? 2== @7 E96 =@H DA@ED] (6 925 2 D=@F89 2C62 ;FDE ?@CE9 @7 96C6 E92E H6 8@E 2 =@E @7 92J @FE @7 5FC:?8 E9@D6 5CJ J62CD 7@C E96 42EE=6 7665[” 96 25565]k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 E9@D6 J62CD 2 72C> 72>:=J H2D AC6EEJ D6=7 DF77:4:6?E[ H:E9 6249 72C> 92G:?8 G2C:@FD DA64:6D @7 =:G6DE@4< 7@C >:=< 2?5 >62E A=FD 2 =2C86 82C56? 7@C G686E23=6D 2?5 D@>6 7CF:E]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_x C6>6>36C E96C6 FD65 E@ 36 2 7=@FC >:== :? E96 zF=> 2C62 2?5 H6 FD65 E@ E2<6 H962E FA E96C6 2?5 92G6 :E >:==65 :?E@ 7=@FC[” t>:= D2:5] U2>AjRgaa_(6 H@F=5 5@ E92E :? E96 72== @7 E96 J62C 2?5 H6 H@F=5 AC@323=J 86E 6?@F89 7=@FC E@ =2DE FD E96 H9@=6 J62C[ D:?46 E96 7=@FC H@F=5 <66A E9C@F89 E96 H:?E6C 2?5 :?E@ E96 ?6IE DF>>6C]”k^Am

kAm|2:?=J v6C>2? :>>:8C2?ED D6EE=65 :? E96 2C62 ?@CE9H6DE @7 t==6?52=6[ 2?5 E96J H@C<65 E@86E96C E@ 3F:=5 2 49FC49 \ r9C:DE {FE96C2? r9FC49 \ :? p=3:@? %@H?D9:A] %96 49FC49 :D ?@H 4=@D65[ 3FE 2 46>6E6CJ DE:== C6>2:?D @? E96 D:E6]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_%96 2C62 96C6 2?5 7@C 23@FE 7@FC @C 7:G6 >:=6D 2C@F?5 H2D D@=:5 v6C>2? H9@ 42>6 7C@> v6C>2?J[” t>:= D2:5] U2>AjRgaa_%96J 2== D66>65 E@ 4@?8C682E6 :? @?6 DA@E[ >@C6 @C =6DD] $@FE962DE @7 E@H? E96C6 H6C6 }@CH68:2?D 2?5 $H656D]”k^Am

kAmt5F42E:@? 5FC:?8 E96 62C=J 2?5 >:5\`h__D H2D 92?5=65 3J @?6\C@@> 4@F?ECJ D49@@=D[ H:E9 4=2DD6D @?=J 8@:?8 E@ E96 6:89E9 8C256] t>:=VD H:76[ {@:D[ H2D 2 J@F?8 E62496C 2E E96 =@42= 4@F?ECJ D49@@= 2?5 t>:= 42F89E 96C 2EE6?E:@? 3J 36:?8 E96 DF446DD7F= 3:556C @? 96C 32D<6E 2E 2 32D<6E D@4:2=]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_|J H:76VD 72>:=J >@G65 7C@> z2?D2D E@ 2 A=246 D@FE9H6DE @7 ~2<6D 2 76H J62CD 27E6C D96 H2D 3@C?[” t>:= C642==65] U2>AjRgaa_(96C6 D96 >256 96C >:DE2<6 H2D D96 42>6 @G6C E@ E9:D 2C62 E@ E6249 D49@@= 2?5 D96 8@E 42F89E] x 42F89E 96C] x 3@F89E 96C 32D<6E 2E 2 32D<6E D@4:2= 2?5 H6 >6E E92E H2J 2?5 E96 C6DE :D 9:DE@CJ]k^Am

kAmU2>AjRgaa_(:E9 2 D:?8=6 E62496C E96C6[ 2== @7 E96 6=:8:3=6 32496=@CD H@F=5 4@>6 2C@F?5 7@C E96 r9C:DE>2D A2CEJ 2?5 D66 :7 E96J 4@F=5?VE 3FJ E96 E62496CVD =F?49 32D<6E E92E D96 925 >256[” 96 6IA=2:?65] U2>AjRgaa_x H2D 3@F?5 2?5 56E6C>:?65 E@ 3FJ E96 E62496CVD 32D<6E] x 3:5 @? @?6 32D<6E 2?5 8@E :E 7@C `d 46?ED] $:?46 :E H6?E D@ 4962A x E9@F89E :E H2D?VE E96 E62496CVD 32D<6E D@ x EC:65 E@ D6== :E E@ D@>6 @7 E96 @E96C J@F?8 3F4<D 2C@F?5 E96C6[ 3FE ?@3@5J H@F=5 E2<6 :E @77 >J 92?5D[ D@ x H2D DEF4< H:E9 :E] qFE :E EFC?65 @FE E@ 36 E96 E62496CVD 32D<6E 27E6C 2==]”k^Am

kAm%@ 3C:?8 E96 DE@CJ FA E@ 52E6 \ E9C@F89 E96 J62CD t>:= 72C>65 H:E9 r2C= yC] 2?5 9:D H:76[ tDE96C] r2C= yC] 2?5 tDE96C 925 EH@ 49:=5C6? \ s2G:5[ H9@ ?@H =:G6D @? E96 72C> 2=@?8 H:E9 9:D H:76[ s2H?j 2?5 D@? xD224[ 2?5 2 52F89E6C s@??2[ H9@ =:G6D :? t==6?52=6] t>:= 2?5 9:D H:76 925 7:G6 49:=5C6?[ 9@H6G6C @?6 H2D AC6>2EFC6 2?5 5:65 2E 3:CE9]k^Am

kAm%@52JVD 72C>:?8 @A6C2E:@? :?4=F56D C2:D:?8 H962E[ 4@C? 2?5 D@J362?D[ H9:=6 E96 =:G6DE@4< D:56 4@?D:DED @7 2 4@H\42=7 @A6C2E:@? @7 23@FE `__ $9@CE9@C? 4C@DD65 4@HD 2?5 E96J 7:?:D9 @FE E96 42=G6D E@ D=2F89E6C H6:89E]k^Am

kAm$@? xD224 >2<6D E96 7:7E9 86?6C2E:@? @7 #6EK=277D =:G:?8 @? E9:D 72C>[ H9:49 H2D 9@>6DE62565 324< :? `ggb[ 2?5 6249 @7 E9@D6 86?6C2E:@?D 92G6 6IA6C:6?465 E96 492==6?86D 2?5 E96 ;@JD 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 72C>:?8 :? D@FE9 46?EC2= }@CE9 s2<@E2] k^Am