Wolff
Company Incorporated
Providing
the best in Agricultural Products since 1927
Like many family businesses, the history of Wolff Company encompasses many years and many tales. In 1921, John Wolff, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit of the Midwest, began his own cream- buying business in Eureka, South Dakota. After a few years, he seized the opportunity to expand his business, through a partnership with Frank Vetter. In 1926, they built their first "grain house", which is known affectionately today as the "leaning tower". In 1937 John bought out Vetter's stock in the company, and with his 3 sons, Albert, Walter and Pete, formed John Wolff and Sons.
John Wolff and Sons quickly grew to include a second grain elevator to the north, plus additional facilities in Long Lake, and Wetonka. After 36 years of growing the family business, John retired and the son's business became Wolff Brothers, Inc. In 1962, the three Wolff brothers decided to split the business and the current owner, John Wolff returned from college and the U.S. Army to assist his father (Albert) and brother, Robert running the business now named as Wolff Co. Inc.
Grain was the primary focus of Wolff Company for many years, reflecting the farming activity around Eureka. In 1892, the Milwaukee Road Railroad shipped over $2,000,000 worth of grain out of Eureka, labeling it the Primary Wheat Production Center of the world. As farmers began to diversify their operations, a cream station was built in 1957 to accommodate the increasing space demanded for cream buying. In the 1960's, Eureka had three egg and cream buying stations. Saturday night was the busiest night in town, when farmers would sell their cream and eggs for the week. They would drop off the egg cases filled with 30 dozen eggs/case and the 10 gallon cream cans to be sold. The men usually headed to the Legion Club to await their check, while the women would do their weekly grocery shopping. The children would play tag along Main Street while waiting for their parents. The stores were open until 10:00 pm or whenever they got done.
At Wolff Company, a typical Saturday night would have over 200 different egg sellers, and over 150 cream customers, which would result in shipments filling 2-3 semi-truck trailers loads of eggs per week and two loads of cream. The eggs were sold to breaking plants where the eggs would be used for making mayonnaise or dried into cake mixes. The cream was sold for butter. In addition to purchasing eggs, in the spring Wolff Company would sell baby chicks for replacing old laying hens. Wolff Company would purchase the old hens, which were shipped out to be used in canned soup. Wolff Company continued purchasing cream and eggs until the late 1980's, when increasing government regulations on both farmers and the cream buyers made the business too costly. This was truly an end of an era in the rural Midwest.
Seeing the decline in traditional family farming, Wolff Company continued to diversify its business by purchasing the Standard Oil Bulk Petroleum business in 1980. As for the grain business, Eureka dropped a long way from being the world's wheat capital in 1892 to only having one buying facility in 1999.
Today Wolff Company, Incorporated focuses on petroleum products, seasonal plants through its greenhouse, as well as specialty food items, including German sausage. For over 70 years through three generations, the Wolff family has followed the trends of agriculture and continues to provide essential products and services to Eureka, South Dakota.