OKARCHE, Okla. (KFOR) – Based on the Facilities for Illness Management, 8,343 Oklahomans have died of COVID-19.
Each household is aware of a household affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The dying toll has slowed because the widespread administration of the vaccine, however late final yr the pandemic tightened its grip on Oklahoma.
Many rural households have been hit notably laborious.
The Annuschat household of Okarche, Okla., was decimated.
Half of the ten siblings misplaced their lives to the virus.
Ron Annuschat, 58, died Oct. 30, 2023.
Paul Annuschat, 68, died Oct. 31, 2023.
Nick Annuschat, 59, died Nov. 6, 2023.
Vicki (Annuschat) Marks, 66, died Nov. 20, 2023.
Denise (Annuschat) Meyer, 62, died Feb. 12, 2023.
There are three surviving siblings: Sandy (Annuschat) Raupe, Jackie (Annuschat) Walta and Larry Annuschat.
Larry, the youngest surviving son, buried 5 siblings inside three months.
The Annuschat homestead sits within the shadow of an industrial wind farm on the Kingfisher County aspect of Okarche.
Everybody within the county is aware of the Annuschats.
Artwork and Ruth Annuschat raised ten youngsters on the farm, a sprawling 800-acre dairy northeast of city.
The Annuschats farmed wheat, milked cows, bred sheep and ran cattle.
For nearly a half century, 4 Annuschat brothers ran the LLC: Stan, Nick, Paul and Ron.
Stan Annuschat died in 2017.
The surviving brothers, together with Larry Annuschat, saved the enterprise alive after Stan’s dying.
The headquarters was a bustling household farm till COVID-19 wiped them out.
Nick, Paul and Ron all received COVID-19 and died within the span of per week.
Larry is the newborn of the household, little one quantity 10.
Larry has at all times labored on the farm, however by no means formally joined the LLC.
When his brothers died, the farm went to all surviving beneficiaries, six relations who couldn’t agree on methods to divvy up the belongings.
The inheritance went to public sale April twenty third.
Your entire property was auctioned off in tons, together with six tracts of land, the home, pickup vans, trailers and tillage.
The spoils of this dairy farming empire was offered piece by piece to the best bidder.
It was heartbreaking for Larry, who wished to maintain the farm within the household.
The night time earlier than public sale, he prayed for an indication.
He requested for braveness and readability to honor the legacy of his massive brothers.
“I do not know what God’s as much as,” Larry stated. “He is as much as one thing. It isn’t over but.”
Larry walked into that public sale barn along with his son by his aspect, steadfast and hopeful, decided to purchase again the farm.
What Larry Annuschat did not know was the city of Okarche was pulling for him.
Many group members had determined to not bid towards Larry in his try and re-purchase a few of his property.
“We have been anticipating 1,000 folks the day of public sale,” stated Chris Cameron of Lippard Auctioneers.
Lippard Auctioneers organized each a stay and an internet public sale for the Annuschat property.
Out-of-state patrons had no concept what the Annuschat household had endured.
A pair from South Carolina opened the bidding on the homestead.
“There was plenty of speak on the public sale that folks from abroad have been going to bid on-line,” stated Robert Medley of The Okarche Warrior.
Medley is the managing editor of the native paper and had been overlaying this household tragedy since October of 2023.
“This household has a number of roots; lots of people knew them,” Medley stated.
The worth of land in rural Oklahoma has skyrocketed lately, shored up by oil and wind energy.
The public sale was anticipated to fetch greater than $1 million as a result of it included some beneficial tracts of land and dozens of items of well-kept farm tools.
Because the bid value for the homestead inched towards Larry’s restrict, the cattle rattle went silent.
“Supposedly somebody went exterior the shed doorways and informed somebody bidding exterior, ‘Let it go. He is received it.’ And it was over,” Larry remembered.
Larry purchased the farm that day.
“Once we did lastly promote it, the entire barn cheered for Larry,” stated Cameron. “It was an excellent day.”
“That place went nuts,” Larry smiled. “Individuals clapped and cheered. I had folks coming as much as me giving me a hug.”
To be clear, Larry purchased a very powerful portion of the ranch to his household, 160 acres together with the livestock barns and his childhood house.
“I did not purchase this for me,” Larry cried. “I purchased this for my mother and pop and my 4 brothers. (I purchased the farm) due to that bond.”
Larry will start once more on the place the place all of it started.
It’s a recent begin for a brother brokenhearted.
Working the household farm by himself is a monumental process.
“They’re nonetheless right here (with me). They’re watching me. They know it is an excessive amount of for one individual. They do,” Larry stated. “However they have extra energy now than they did after they have been right here. They actually do. and I consider that.”
This lone surviving farmer is now sowing seeds for a brand new period at Annuschat Farms.
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