South Dakota Ag Connection - S.D. Farmers Union Honors Hoefts with Rural Dakota Pride Award

South Dakota Ag News Headlines

S.D. Farmers Union Honors Hoefts with Rural Dakota Pride Award
South Dakota Ag Connection - 09/23/2020

Tickets for the Stratford Community Theater go on sale the first Saturday each December. Even though there are nine performances, they sell out in three hours.

More than entertainment, these annual performances provide cast and crew members with something fun to do during the winter months and an opportunity for family, friends and neighbors to get together and reconnect in March.

"It's something we all look forward to -- being with people, laughing, having a good time, especially now that Stratford no longer has a bar. That was where a whole bunch of us would go each week for supper, to visit and to play games," explains Connie Hoeft, who together with her husband, Allen, are among the many volunteers who make the event possible since the Stratford Community Theater began nearly 30 years ago.

Since its inception, Allen's carpentry talents were relied upon to help build elaborate sets while Connie helped develop the menu, prepare food and do dishes for the more than 120 theater-goers, volunteers and cast members during each of the nine performances.

"We begin preparing a couple months before the show. I enjoy the time together with the cast and other volunteers," Connie says.

Much of the proceeds raised go to fund six $1,000 scholarships for area youth.

"We always enjoyed giving back to the people of Stratford," Connie says.

March 2020 was the first year Connie volunteered without Allen, who passed away in January. "Allen could do most anything. They would come up with an idea of how the set should look and he would figure out how to do it," she says. "He mentored two gentlemen who do the sets now. He told them they could come over to his shop and use anything they needed. I keep the shop open for them."

Kristi Brunes, who volunteers as the community theater director and owns a local business, she says it really takes a whole community of volunteers to make the event happen. She says Allen is missed. "He did everything -- from act in the play to build sets and all the little handiwork. He could figure out most anything. If we needed someone to jump on stage, he would jump on stage too. He would do whatever it took. He left a big hole."

Brunes adds that over the years, the community theater has contributed more than $400,000 to the Stratford Community. Its funds covered the costs of two additions to the Community Hall which include a new stage, kitchen and restrooms. "Allen and Connie have been a big part of the theater since the beginning. Allen was the ramrod on both building projects."

A family affair for Connie and Allen, this year their son and grandson were servers and daughter-in-law acted in the play. "It is wonderful to see one generation going into another generation, and hopefully another generation being involved in the play," Connie says. "And it's fun to see the local talent. You'd be surprised what these farmers can do once they make up their minds to be in a play."

Her family is another reason Connie enjoys giving back to the Stratford community. "Stratford was good for raising children. When my kids were growing up, they would play outside with all the neighbor kids. They would play ball all summer and everyone would watch out for everyone else's kids. We give back because of the people of Stratford. They are really good people."

The couple raised five children -- four sons and a daughter in Stratford. Today, two of their sons and a granddaughter live close by. Connie and Allen have lived in the Stratford community for 59 years. When their kids were young, Allen ran a local gas station and farmed. He then went to work in Aberdeen for Firestone. Connie was the Warner school bus driver for 30 years.

Active in the community since they were first married, the couple helped prepare for the annual 4th of July picnic and parade by mowing the streets and Allen served on the town board and was chief of the volunteer fire department.

In retirement, the couple remained actively involved in the community and serve as honorary grandparents to many of Stratford's youngest citizens. "Papa Al always had ice cream for all the kids. So, Grandma Connie has that responsibility now. When things were shut down, the Schwan's Man sure missed visiting our house."

Other South Dakota Headlines