Purebred Hereford Rancher Lyla Lytle Attends Golden West 100 Anniversary in Custer, SD

By: Herb Ryan

Custer SD – Golden West celebrates it’s 100 anniversary with a community cookout and an interactive technology exhibit ” Fence Posts to Fiber”at Harbach Park Saturday morning. Enjoying a hot dog and chocolate chip cookies was venerable rancher and Custer resident Lila Lytle, owner of  Hereford Heaven Ranch. Lila who is a young 90 years old, was raised on a ranch in Pringle SD, got married and moved out west on Pleasant Valley Road to raise her purebred Hereford cattle and tend to honey bee hives. Like Golden West, Lila has seen many advances in telecommunications and said: “I even have a telephone I can take with me when I.m out riding my horse”. Lila still carries on the old west traditions of honesty, thrift and hard work.

 

Inside the Golden West interactive technology exhibit ” Fence Posts to Fiber”at Harbach Park Saturday morning. Clockwise,Kate Fleming, Marketing and Communications Manager, Golden West, Warren Graham, Bambi Graham and Arlayne Barmore who was a part-time switch board operator for Lincoln Tel and Tel in Nebraska from 1949 – 1955. Photo:Custer Free Press

 

Purebred Hereford Rancher, Miss Lyla Lytle, one of many western states national treasures. Photo:Herb Ryan/Custer Free Pres

 

 

Deadline for South Dakota 100 and 125 Year Farm and Ranch Recognition is Aug. 11

 

HURON, S.D.-  Agriculture has long been the foundation of South Dakota history. The South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) will again recognize and honor longstanding South Dakota families at the 2016 South Dakota State Fair.

South Dakota families having enjoyed ownership of their farm or ranch for 100 or 125 years have the opportunity to be honored on Thursday, Sept. 1, during the South Dakota State Fair in Huron.

To qualify as a South Dakota Century Farm or Ranch, a family must have retained continuous ownership of at least 80 acres of original farmland for 100 years or more. If the family ownership of land has reached 125 years or more, they may apply to be recognized as a Quasquicentennial Farm or Ranch. Documentation of the original date of purchase must be included with the application.

Application forms are available online at www.sdfbf.org by clicking “Programs” and then “Century Farms” or calling the SDFB at (605) 353-8052. The application deadline is Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.

Since recognition began in 1984, there have been 2,837 century farms and ranches and 295 quasquicentennial farms and ranches acknowledged so far.

Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $25.6 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 115,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.