There are many family farms and ranches across the America that have a rich history filled with people who have worked hard for everything they had. These pioneers paved the way for modern day farming and ranching; they passed their work ethic and values down through the generations. The generational family farms that are still in operation today all have one thing in common – the people on them were willing to evolve with changing times.
Here on The G3, we are no different. I married into a fourth generation grain farm and beef cattle operation located along Deepwater Bay – Lake Sakakawea, south of Parshall, ND. My husband Elmer’s family has seen so much change in their years here.
I hope you enjoy this brief history as much as I enjoyed putting it together!
The First Generation
In 1914, Elmer’s great grandparents (Dort & Clara Myers) laid claim to their homestead west of Raub, ND. Dort was born in Iowa and came to ND as a boy with his parents. Clara was born in Russia. The countryside would have looked very different back then without Lake Sakakawea. The original home place was a quarter mile North of where it currently sits. It consisted of a house, shop and barn. The house was built in 1924 and still stands today, functioning as a guest house.
After surviving the Dust Bowl and Great Depression in the 1930’s, drastic changes awaited them in the 1940’s. Construction for the Garrison Dam was about to begin, which would flood over 150,000 acres of prime Missouri River bottom farmland by the late 1950’s. In 1947, construction for the dam began and by 1955 it was operational. Hundreds of families were displaced and began tediously moving their homesteads to new locations as the land started to flood.
The Second Generation
In 1947, Dort & Clara moved to Minot, ND and their oldest daughter, Irene and her husband George Gilbertson took over the family farm. They raised their family for a few years on the original homestead location and farmed – raising durum, spring wheat, barley and oats.
In 1956, they moved the house, shop and barn to its current location as the flood waters crept closer. The reservoir flooded much of the family’s land and ND Hwy 1804 later split up more of it. A threshing machine sits peacefully on a hillside marking the original home place; a reminder of simpler times. Foundations from the buildings can still be seen when the lake’s level is low.
The Third Generation
In 1973, Arlen and Ronna Gilbertson (Elmer’s parents) moved a house onto the home place and raised their two boys here. They began farming with George & Irene and expanded the operation into polled Hereford cattle, continuing what Arlen’s paternal grandfather Swen Gilbertson started. Swen was one of the first polled Hereford breeders in the state.
It is no secret that the later half of the 1980’s was extremely difficult for many farm families across the nation. “The 80’s” are still referenced regularly today because of the high interest rates and less than desirable weather patterns that plagued farmers and ranchers. The farm and ranch operation survived and saw expansion into recreation. Arlen and Ronna began the development of a cabin site over looking Deepwater Bay, utilizing some of the land that was partially flooded by the Garrison Dam for recreational use.
In the 1990’s, Arlen and Ronna developed Deepwater Bay Bed & Breakfast. They had a vision of sharing this amazing place with family, friends and visitors. The area boasts many hunting and fishing opportunities and the B&B remains very busy today. The home place has three guesthouse accommodations; one of which is the house that was moved from the original location, as well as a B&B option in the main house.
The Fourth Generation
After college, Elmer returned home to farm & ranch with his parents. The farming and cattle operations both would see many changes as Arlen and Elmer worked together. Acreage expanded to accommodate supporting a second household. Crop rotations changed as better seed varieties and equipment became available. The cowherd saw major changes when Hereford seedstock became harder to find, making it difficult to maintain. Angus cattle were incorporated and the cowherd also expanded in numbers as more pasture became available.
In 2014, Arlen passed away leaving a large hole in the operation. Since then, there has been a strong emphasis on gaining efficiency so that we can continue to operate without additional hired help. We are so lucky to have friends and family that step in and help out during the busiest seasons – it would be impossible to do a good job without them. Everything seems to need to be done all at once in the spring and fall.
Present Day
In November 2022, we welcomed the fifth generation; our son Sutton. We are so excited that he will grow up enjoying this lifestyle and have the opportunity to continue the tradition here on the G3.
Today, our cattle herd is comprised of Angus cows which are bred to Hereford and Black Angus bulls, producing both Black Angus and the popular F1 cross calves (black baldies). We calve on native prairie pasture along the shores of Lake Sakakawea beginning in late April and continue through early June.
Our grain rotation includes spring wheat, canola, corn, and soybeans. Farming is continually changing with advances in equipment and technology. We are expanding our operation to encompass beef sales and look forward to providing quality beef to the public in the future.
The G3 is once again evolving with the times and trying to implement new methods, always focusing on being more efficient and better stewards of the land.
2 responses to “G3 Ranch History”
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Wonderful family history! Multi-generational farms are such a testament to North Dakota values and hard work!
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Enjoyed
Stacy Tomlinson
Carl and Phyllis Kottke. Ronnie's aunt
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