Eenigenburg's Blueberries

Eenigenburg Blueberries - Farm History

Mr. John Sauer moved to DeMotte, IN from Cedar Lake, IN in 1943.  He brought six blueberry plants and brought them with him to DeMotte.  He had received information on what type of soil was needed, as well as how to care for blueberry plants, from the Earlman Plantation in Michigan.  He planted those six plants in what would later become our farm – Eenigenburg’s Blueberries.  Because of this, we have the distinct honor of being the first blueberry farm in all of the DeMotte area.

Mr. Sauer started root cuttings in peat moss from propagation boxes so that he could further expand his fields.  He later became a licensed nurseryman in the state of Indiana, and that designation allowed him to sell plants to other farmers in the area, who then started their farms.  Many of the plants sold by Mr. Sauer came from those initial six plants that he brought to DeMotte.

Ernie Eenigenburg bought the initial farm on the East side of DeMotte in l956, when Mr. Sauer’s retired.  By 1956 the farm was 13 years old and had approximately 8 acres of blueberries.  Ernie and his wife Alice continued to expand his farm, as did many other local blueberry growers.  He started another farm on the North side of town, and built a house there for his family.  Ernie and Alice had five children who spent many hours working on both blueberry farms – Robert (Bob), Pat, Richard, Donna, and Sheila.

In 1966, the eldest Eenigenburg son – Bob – married Barbara Werth. In 1967 Bob and Barb had their first daughter – Laura.  In 1968 Barb and Bob began to manage the East farm.  In 1970 Bob and Barb had their second daughter – Marcia.  It was that summer when Ernie asked them to take over the East farm completely so that Alice didn’t have to run back and forth between farms.  A rental agreement was drawn up at that point in 1970.  Bob and Barb would manage day-to-day operations of the farm.  In exchange, they would keep a portion of the farm proceeds, and pay Ernie and Alice a percent of their net earnings each year.  This agreement was a long-term agreement, and would remain intact until Ernie and Alice both passed away. 

In 1973 Bob and Barb had their third daughter – Kathleen. 

Ernie passed away in 1985, and Alice passed away 9 years later in 1994.  At that point, Bob and Barb Eenigenburg became the sole owners of the East farm, now known as Eenigenburg’s Blueberries.  Ernie and Alice’s youngest daughter Sheila and her husband Jack DeBoer became the owners of the North farm, now known as Eenigenburg’s Berry Farm.

Barb’s daughters have now grown up and have families of their own.   Laura is married to Dan Hanewich, and has two step-children – Cameron and Casey.  Laura still lives in the area, and has a house with her family in Wheatfield, Indiana.   Marcia married Mike VanDenburgh, who retired after serving 20 years in the Air Force.  They traveled throughout his career across the US and spent time serving in Guam, Japan, England, and Italy.  Their last duty station was in Tucson, Arizona, where they live today.  Just like her parents, Marcia and her husband had three daughters – Brandi, Kelli, and Shelby.  Bob and Barb’s youngest daughter Kathy has four children – Summer, Robert (the ONLY grandson), Destiny, and the baby of the grandkids - Madalyn.  Kathy lives nearby in North Judson, and stops by the farm every day after she finishes working her day-job.  Kathy works at the DeMotte Post Office.

Both of the farms continue to be owned and operated by the Eenigenburg families.  On the East side, you will almost always see Barb running around the shed.  Her daughters and granddaughters also all help out on the farm.  Marcia and her family spend their summers in DeMotte working on the farm.  Brandi usually starts her day working in the fields picking berries, and then in the shed cleaning and packing berries and helping all the customers.  Kelli is a fast picker and picks with the picking crew in the mornings, then comes into the shed to help out with customers, as well as with cleaning the berries.  Summer and Kelli share the responsibility of working the U-pick field, helping customers, washing buckets, and another else that grandma needs help with.  If you have visited us in the past couple of yours, chances are you have seen Barb’s youngest granddaughter Madalyn in her stroller or sleeping in her playpen.

Chronology of Events:

1943     First plant bushes planted on East blueberry farm by Mr. John Sauer

1956     Mr. Sauer retires – Ernie and Alice Eenigenburg purchase the farm

1966     Bob and Barb Eenigenburg marry

1967     Bob and Barb have first daughter – Laura

1968     Bob and Barb begin managing the East farm

1970     Bob and Barb have second daughter – Marcia

1970     Bob and Barb have long-term agreement drawn up and take over operations on farm

1973     Bob and Barb have third daughter – Kathleen

1985     Ernie Eenigenburg passed away

1994     Alice Eenigenburg passed away

2006     Bob Eenigenburg passed away

Special Thanks - Many details provided by Marilyn Longstreth, daughter of John Sauer.