“At the junction of Wolf Creek and the James River, north of
Yankton on U.S. 81 and west on U.S. 18 near Olivet, the Wolf Creek
Colony has maintained a fruitful existence as the second oldest
Hutterite community in the state. Wolf Creek Industries, its most
recent business venture, now takes orders for furniture and lumber,
often supplying newly established colonies with necessary building
materials for new churches, schools, and houses. But its staple
remains agriculture, and the colony raises 120 milk cows, 450 pigs,
1,000 beef cattle, 16,000 chickens, and 50,000 turkeys annually.
The Hutterite sect originated in Moravia and Tirol in 1533 as
a branch of the Anabaptists, taking its name from Jacob Hutter
before he was martyred in 1536. Between 1872 and 1879, one hundred
Hutterite familes left Russia to establish new colonies in Dakota
Territory. Persecuted during World War I, most Hutterites fled to
Canada. Gradually, in the 75 years since, Hutterites have returned
to South Dakota, replenished their stock, expanded the number of
colonies, and dramatically increased their land holdings. Once
reportedly numbering less than 100 worldwide, today more than 30,000
Hutterites live predominately in South Dakota and Canada.
Thirty-five colonies currently exist in the state, while 40 can be
found elsewhere in the U.S. and another 200 are operational in
Canada
Preferring a plan and simple life, with little outside
intervention and no exposure to radio or television, Hutterites
quietly go about their business of farming and furniture making.
Theirs is a life of worship and hard work centered around family and
tradition. Men work in the fields and maintain equipment; women
wash, cook, and tend the gardens, as if little has changed around
them and they live at the center of pure and completely
understandable world.
In their simple lives, the Hutterites resemble the Amish, the
conservative Christian agricultural communities of western
Pennsylvania and parts of the Midwest. But unlike the Amish,
Hutterites do not reject technology. Their farms feature the latest
agricultural equipment and computers, each used to create greater
efficiency and more profit for the colonies. Hutterities are
inclined to expand operations, purchase property, create new
colonies as membership increases, and establish manufacturing
businesses to diversify their holdings and provide new jobs as
technology overtakes agriculture in employment prospects.
Nonetheless, farming remains the cornerstone of most colonies,
particularly those in southwestern South Dakota.
Their success in communal living has fostered envy from
neighboring farmers concerned over the amount of property owned by
Hutterites. That concern, which flares every decade or so, has even
led to proposed legislation to restrict land acquisitions by
Hutterites. Fortunately, for the Hutterites, South Dakotans have
always favored individual liberty over state regulation, and such
bills die a quick and meaningfully silent death in legislative
committee.”
Have students create a chart applying traits from
the Natural Rights Philosophy (including the protection of life,
liberty, and property) and traits of Classical Republicanism (self
sacrifice for the common good) to the lifestyle of the Hutterites.
Students can brainstorm suggestions for rationing
programs and create posters to promote their program that would
applicable to the current common good in our country.
