After the devastating winds of COVID-19 took five family members from Larry Annuschat, the home where he was raised was on the auction block.
But at the last minute, the farm stayed in the family when he made the winning bid.
The story of the April 23 auction at Annuschat Farms will air tonight, Thursday, May 13, on KFOR-TV as told by reporter and news anchor Ali Meyer.
“It is so obvious that the Annuschat family, and Larry in particular, is beloved in Okarche,” Meyer said. “And what an honor it was to meet him and share his story.”
Having covered the pandemic, Meyer has reported on countless tragedies and loss from COVID-19.
“The past year has been so incredibly sad but in the sad news there have been bright spots and resilience and this story really exemplifies all of that.”
Meyer said “It is remarkable to me that one family would endure so much.”
She said only a tractor, pickup and an ATV were left at the homeplace this week. There were no farm animals.
Annuschat Farms, a staple of the Okarche and Kingfisher County farming community for more than six decades, was on the auction block Friday as farmers and others gathered at the historic site.
The farm was started about 65 years ago by his parents Arthur Frank and Ruth Janet (Brueggen) Annuschat, Larry Annuschat said.
“I think it was something really special in Okarche as the community has rallied around this family to help the surviving son keep the family farm,” Meyer said.
The family farm had been most recently managed by brothers Nicholas “Nick” Annuschat, 59, who died Friday, November 6, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City and Paul “Mac” Joseph Annuschat, 68, who died Saturday, Oct. 31 at the hospital.
Paul, born July 19, 1952 graduated in the top of his class at Okarche High School in 1970. Paul was a farmer and rancher who raised Holstein dairy cows.
Ronald “Ron” Stephen Annuschat, 58, of Okarche, passed
away Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma
City.
Their sister Victoria Lynn Marks, 66, lost her battle Friday, Nov. 22.
Denise Annuschat Meyer died in Salina, Kansas of COVID-19 this year.
The special report on KFOR-TV will air at 10 p.m. Thursday, May 13.
Read The Okarche Warrior and follow okarchewarrior.com for updates to local news.
