At the Jefferson County Fair, The Dick family was awarded the Aksarben Heritage Award for 150 years of continuous family ownership.
This is only the 3rd farm in Jefferson County to receive this award, and only 102 have been awarded in all of Nebraska.
The Dick family farm is lived on and is a working diversified crop and cattle farm by the 4th, 5th and 6th generations.
A Brief History:
In 1867, Daniel Dick (age 14) accompanies his boyhood friend, William Quinn, and William’s Uncle, John Quinn, on a freighting trip to Jefferson County, Nebraska. The boys dreamed of returning and making it their home.
August 30th 1875, Daniel Dick, wife Lydia Quinn and the Quinn group totaling 12, set out to Jefferson County with others in tow, being led by Lydia’s Brother James Quinn and Uncle John Quinn.
Traveling 533 miles overland by oxen and wagon, twenty-eight days later, they pulled into Fairbury on September 27th, 1875.
Daniel Dick and Lydia Quinn established the Dick Farm on October 13, 1875, in the Rock Creek Precinct, Jefferson County, Fairbury. They erected a log cabin and had frequent visitors from the Indians who camped on the east end of the county.
Second generation, William Dick was born in the log cabin built by Daniel. He married Fannie M Joslin in 1905. She was the daughter of Theodore H Joslin, another early Pioneer, who arrived in Jefferson County in 1868.
A tornado hit the Dick farm in 1929, destroying the original house, barns, and other structures.
William built the current farmhouse and barn, which are currently standing on the farm.
William served on the school board of District 12 for many years.
Third generation, Wayne Dick was a graduate of Fairbury High School in 1935.
In 1941, upon completion of aircraft mechanics courses at the National School of Aeronautics in Kansas City, Wayne moved to Santa Monica, CA, where he worked for Douglas Aircraft.
Inducted into the Army Air Corps in 1942, he attended basic training at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. Wayne served for 3.5 years, with 26 months spent overseas in North Africa and Italy.
He was discharged from service in November 1945.
He returned to the farm in 1947 and married Olive Koukal Dick of Cuba, KS.
He served as Vice-President of the Oregon Trail Local of the Farmer’s Union and with the County Extension.
Wayne received the Pioneer Award in 1975 for 100 years of continuous family farm ownership.
Wayne passed in 1984 leaving farm management to brothers Ron and Gary Dick. Olive passed in 1998 leaving ownership of the original homestead farm to Sharon Kreager, Gary Dick, and Ron Dick.
Sharon, Gary, and Ron, the Fourth Generation, are all graduates of Fairbury High School.
Ron and Gary still operate the farm with help from Gary’s sons Ryan Dick, Craig Dick and Grandchildren.