The East Lake Andes Lutheran Church finished the harvesting of their “church ground” on October 9th. This has been an annual tradition for at least the last 60 years. No one is quite sure, nor is there any written documentation that has been found, of when the church first started renting and farming land. This year the church rented 80 acres from Gary Paul with 70 of them tillable and 10 acres Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) ground. Church members, Curt Soulek and Austin Weber, took the lead on organizing and planning the planting, harvesting, and everything else in between of the ground.

All of the equipment, seed, fertilizer, trucking, time etc. was donated by various members of the church as has been the annual tradition. This year’s crop of beans was planted by Curt Soulek. The harvesting crew included Austin Weber, Matt Weber, Butch and Jan Martin, Steve Fuchs, Chad and Angela Eitemiller, and Curt Soulek. Loretta Soulek provided lunch/ snacks for the crew.

When asked why church members have continued this tradition, Pastor Tom Cartney said “it is a way for our farmers/ranchers to directly use their gifts, talents, and equipment to further the church’s ministries.' The church also has another interesting tradition. Instead of going and blessing the ground that the church will be planting, etc., they hold an annual Rogation Sunday. On that designated Sunday which is always at the beginning of the planting season, church members are encouraged to bring seeds, soils, flowers, plants, tractors, equipment, etc., and then the congregation prays for the various materials, the farmers that plant the crops, and the eventual harvest.

It is a unique and wonderful tradition that will hopefully continue for generations to come.

(Pictured, from left: Austin Weber, Curt Soulek, Steve Fuchs, Angela Eitemiller, Chet Eitemiller, Matt Weber, and Butch Martin. Photo by Jan Martin)