Duemelands Commercial Success Story
Duemelands Commercial LLLP Winner of the Vicki Clarke Prairie Family Business Award |
Duemeland Commercial
Recieve the 1st Bismarck/Mandan Family Business Award
While Duemeland family may not have conscientiously worked on any of the three criteria: holding family meetings, enact strategic planning and establish an effective advisory or board of directors. The criteria was developed during the first three generation transfers, their commitment to strong family values and a shared vision have helped them transition through three generations and working on the fourth generation transfer. For most families, it takes the family meetings and the strategic planning to get a point where they are able to put the family values into writing and develop a shared vision. With this family, the values and vision have let them into focusing on the three “success” items to assure continued success.
Four Patterson brothers and George A Duemeland founded the Patterson Land Company in November of 1905. For $1 per acre and only 10 cents down, the group brought more than one million acres of railroad land between Bismarck and Jamestown. At one time the company owned and operated ranches near Napoleon, Pettibone, Wing and Sterling, as well as a farming operation.
The Patterson’s, traveling westward on a train to Bismarck, stopped at a country general store in Mankato. That evening, while telling stories around a potbelly stove, the Patterson brothers were joined by George and Henry, the young sons of Earnest A. Dumemland, the store’s owner. Having recently graduated from Mankato Business College, the two brothers were asked by the Patterson’s if they would be interested in selling land in Bismarck. George and Henry realized the potential opportunity, but had differing reasons for heading west. George wanted to sell land, but only if he would receive a percentage of the Patterson Land Company. George accepted 20 out of 1,820 shares. Meanwhile, Henry established a store on Sixth and Main in Bismarck, much like their father-selling supplies to settlers.
Upon situating themselves in Bismarck, the Patterson’s went back East and left George in charge of managing and selling land. Thanks to the Homestead Act, many German and Norwegian immigrants were arriving by train. Many stayed in the Bismarck area and were looking for more than the 160 acres allotted by the Act, thus buying from the Patterson’s was ideal.
Eventually, sever blizzards killed herds of livestock on the Patterson Ranch-first the sheep and then the Angus cattle. In 1917, the first Hereford cow was introduced and became the ranch’s main business for the next 70 years.
In 1929 the Patterson Land Company lost all the acreage due to the Great Depression. Yet, a few years later business was back on track, and the Company bought back all the land for $4 per acre. A few short years later, WW II took its toll. The War brought tough times for the Patterson’s and Duemelands as land sales diminished and many young men shipped overseas to help the war effort. During this time the Company often accepted chickens, cows, or pigs in exchange for land payments. At this point, the Patterson’s offered to sell all of their shares. George and his son, Lorin, gathered every penny they had and purchased the Patterson shares. The Duemelands paid roughly $20 per share. In 1987, two –thirds of the ranch lands sold. The only remaining land is the Apple Creek Ranch, which is presently under contract.
Shortly after the birth of third generation George T. Duemeland, the economy experienced a boom. Following the legacy of his father and grandfather, George “Skip” Duemeland attended college at NDSU, but became the first family member to get a four year degree and continue on to graduate school.
Jill Duemeland , the fourth generation to lead the family enterprise, was born in 1979. Like the generations before her, a sound education was a critical aspect of developing family leadership for the business. Jill earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member Designation (CCIM) at the age of 26 by completing over $15 million in real estate transactions and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Real Estate from University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota and is licensed in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
From the beginning, the Duemelands had found their niche in the world. This accomplishment has followed through to four generations accompanied by many accomplishments. Lorin Duemeland, the son of George, was president of the American Hereford Association in 1966. Lorrin’s son Geroge T “Skip” learned the family heritage of work ethics through ranch experiences. Today Skip holds the title of CEO of Duemelands Commercial, the family’s real estate and investment firm. Skip also resides on the CCIM Board of Directors and on the Small Business board of Federal Reserve Bank Minneapolis. In December 20004 the fourth generation joined the Duemeland legacy when Jill Duemeland and her spouse, Aaron Stenberg, joined the firm as Senior Associates, creating 300%growth in the company.