Our History
We are blessed to have a full life and part of it is our real farm. R.L. also spent near 37 years as an agricultural consultant, researcher, an agricultural speaker at the Noble Research Institute of Ardmore, OK prior to “retirement” and he continues some of the activity in our farm and grass seed business farming and providing seed of ‘Quick-N-Big®’ Crabgrass, ‘Quick-N-Big Spreader®’ Crabgrass, ‘Dal’s Big River®’ Crabgrass and ‘Red River’ Crabgrass.
Statistics reveal that less than 2% of farm and ranch country transfers to the second generation. And, less than 1% transfers to the third generation. We are fortunate to be in these percentages. We were born, reared, worked, and will die ‘aggies.
Part of our farm was formerly R.L.’s parents place and where he grew up from the age of four. This depending on the past of the farm. Dad’s name was Elmer and Mom’s Stella, thus “Dalrymple Farm,” and “Elstel Farm”, formerly part of our farm was my Grandparent Dalrymple’s original pioneer homestead. We are very comfortable and fortunate with our farm family history.
Grandpa and Grandma Dalrymple and four young children came to Western Oklahoma in a covered wagon in about, or slightly before 1900, staked out their claim in the Arapaho/Cheyenne Indian country, raised their family, and died owning the farm and with a few pennies left in the bank. What more could one ask for? Grandparents Dalrymple’s first home was a 1 room dugout house, dug into the side of a hill.
Grandpa’s 160 acre claim consisted of about 50 to 60 acres of arable (farmable) land and the rest was rangeland and creeks. The rangeland was good buffalo range of mid and tall prairie grasses. The two creeks were perennial spring fed streams with one having the initial spring on his land.
Someone asked Grandpa why he claimed that land and not some “smoother farmland” available. Remember that this settlement was about 1900. Little was known of the area potential and water available. The settlers goal was to provide shelter and food for his family and be able to pay his creditors. Grandpa’s answer was, “This place had spring fed water year long, tall grass for the cattle, horses, and mules, and enough good land to farm crops and a garden. We did not know if the flat land had water for a well.” He was correct. At that time, there was no thoughts of radio, TV, cars, tractors, etc.
My Dad was born in the earth bank dug out house where he lived the first three years of his young life. Times are better now, aren’t they? Sometimes I wonder. But, then history gives us a deep and sincere appreciation and respect for those who came before us.
The original farm is a producing farm, with a recreational value and dedication, too. It is about 1/3 virgin native prairie in the “Rolling Red Prairie” region. It is about 1 /3 planted introduced pasture/conservation grasses, and the remaining 1/3 is arable (farming) land. We employ that land for cropping and grass seed production. For wildlife enjoyment, we have a few deer, occasional turkeys, and a few quail, plus more usual critters. We have been fortunate to add some additional acreage for Improved Variety Crabgrass seed production and wheat. The total of which now comprises, “The Dalrymple Farm.”