Justin and Crissa Fruechte
Justin and Crissa moved to Pipestone County in the early 2000s. Justin grew up in the area on a diversified livestock operation. Crissa grew up in northeastern South Dakota. They met and married as students at South Dakota State University, where they both majored in agricultural programs. In 2012, they bought an abandoned farm site from Justin's dad, Mike, that had been in the family and owned by his Grandpa David.
Today, Justin and Crissa run 250 Katahdin ewes and 80 Red Angus cows on their operation. The farm ground has been dedicated to growing forages or seed production crops. The main goal of the sheep operation is to sell registered seedstock but also market lamb through restaurants and direct to consumers. Seedstock is marketed through two annual production sales and live shows and sales. The cow/calf sector has been focused on breeding quality Red Angus to sell as replacement females and backgrounding the remaining calves. The couple’s philosophy with raising livestock has been to keep them grazing as many days in the year as possible and improve the quality of the soil.
Justin and Crissa work alongside their five children, Mason, Lily, Faith, June and Wells.
The Fruechtes are members of the Pipestone Lamb and Wool Program, the Red Angus Association, and the Katahdin Association. Justin serves as vice president of the Katahdin Hair Sheep International Board. He's a board member of the Northern Plains Forage Association, and a national board member of the Forage and Grassland Foundation, and serves on the parish council for St. Leo Church. Justin also volunteers as an assistant for the Pipestone wrestling team. Crissa has enjoyed her time as a Pipestone County 4-H club leader, 4-H livestock project bowl coach, and a 4-H ambassador advisor. FFA SAE projects and coaching various individual and team competitions are time well spent in her mind. Justin and Crissa love attending livestock shows throughout the year with their children.