FARM HISTORY

Eenigenburg Blueberries Farm History

In 1943, Mr. John Sauer relocated to DeMotte, IN from Cedar Lake, IN, bringing with him six blueberry plants that would lay the foundation for what is now known as Eenigenburg Blueberries. Having received essential advice regarding soil requirements and care for blueberry plants from the Earlman Plantation in Michigan, he planted these initial six plants at what would eventually become our farm—marking the beginning of the first blueberry farm in the DeMotte area.

To expand his blueberry fields, Mr. Sauer started root cuttings in peat moss using propagation boxes. He later became a licensed nurseryman in Indiana, a designation that enabled him to sell plants to other local farmers, many of whom established their own blueberry farms using plants derived from that original batch.

In 1956, when Mr. Sauer retired, Ernie Eenigenburg purchased the farm located on the East side of DeMotte. By that time, the blueberry farm was already 13 years old and boasted around 8 acres of blueberry bushes. Ernie and his wife, Alice, not only continued to expand their blueberry farm but also inspired numerous local growers to do the same. Ernie established another farm on the North side of town and built a family home there. Together, Ernie and Alice raised five children—Robert (Bob), Pat, Richard, Donna, and Sheila—who spent countless hours working on both blueberry farms.

In 1966, their eldest son, Bob, married Barbara Werth and welcomed their first daughter, Laura, in 1967. By 1968, Bob and Barb had begun managing the East farm. In 1970, they celebrated the arrival of their second daughter, Marcia, and that summer, Ernie invited them to take over the East farm entirely, reducing Alice's need to travel back and forth between the farms. A formal rental agreement was established in 1970, allowing Bob and Barb to manage the day-to-day operations of Nadat een paar jaar werken, werd hen het eigendom van de farm aangeboden. In ruil voor hun inspanningen zouden ze een aandeel in de opbrengsten behouden en jaarlijks een percentage van hun netto-inkomsten aan Ernie en Alice betalen, een afspraak die tot hun overlijden in stand bleef.

In 1973, Bob and Barb welcomed their third daughter, Kathleen. Ernie Eenigenburg passed away in 1985, followed by Alice in 1994, at which point Bob and Barb became the sole owners of the East farm, which continued to operate as Eenigenburg Blueberries. Meanwhile, Sheila, Ernie and Alice's youngest daughter, along with her late husband Jack DeBoer, took ownership of the North farm, now known as Eenigenburg’s Berry Farm.

Today, both farms continue to be owned and operated by the Eenigenburg families, with Barb's daughters and grandchildren now tending to the East farm in her stead.

Chronology of Events:

1943     First blueberry plants 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

1968     Bob and Barb begin managing the East farm

Today - East farm still owned and operated by the Eenigenburg family.