By Scout Nelson
Growing up on a Clark County dairy farm, Wallace “Wally” Knock always knew he wanted to follow in his father Arthur’s footsteps. From riding tractors with his dad to learning about hard work and sacrifice, farming became more than a career, it was his calling.
Arthur farmed during a time of big changes, moving from horse-drawn wagons to tractors. Wally admired his father’s resilience but also witnessed the hardships. High interest rates and low markets in the late 1970s pushed Wally to leave college early to join his brothers Paul and Richard in farming. The three struggled financially but stayed committed to family farming.
In 1995, Wally and his wife, Kathy, bought her family’s homestead farm, continuing their shared legacy. Guided by his father’s motto, “It might not work, but try it anyway,” Wally introduced new ideas such as milking cows three times a day and adopting no-till farming. While not every idea lasted, conservation and efficiency practices paid off in the long run.
Today, Wally farms with his son Jared and his wife Katie, who raise cattle on the land. Together with their four children and 15 grandchildren, the Knock family remains deeply connected to agriculture. His children, even while working off-farm, stay involved in farming activities and support the family operation.
Beyond his own farm, Wally has devoted his life to service. He has held leadership roles with the Willow Lake School Board, Clark County Commission, South Dakota Wheat Growers (Agtegra), Dakotaland Feeds, and the National Council for Farm Cooperatives. He also served on the South Dakota Value-Added Agriculture Development Center.
Wally credits his mother Inez for teaching him to always “do what’s right,” advice he carries into leadership and life. In 2025, he was inducted into the South Dakota Cooperative Hall of Fame and honored with the Eminent Leader in Agriculture, Family, and Community Award from South Dakota State University.
His story is one of faith, family, innovation, and service, showing how values rooted in the past can guide a strong future for farming.
Photo Credit: depositphotos-simazoran
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Wheat