Originally from Holland Michigan, Hessel and Charlotte Houtman married in Brookings in 1925 and farmed in various communities in Brookings County. Before Oakwood Lakes State Park was created, the Houtman family rented this land from the Prudential Life Insurance Company from the 1930s into the early 1940s. They raised corn and oats and kept cattle, hogs, horses, and chickens. On September 7, 1945, Hessel and Charlotte Houtman bought the farm from Prudential, and for more than fifteen years they farmed the land and taught their seven children a passion and love for it. Soon after their purchase, on May 11, 1946, the South Dakota Game and Fish Commission acquired the land through a negotiated sale of $65.00 an acre to create a state park. Although the family would have preferred to keep the farm at the time, their descendants are now thankful for Oakwood Lakes State Park because it has provided a place for generations to gather for an annual family reunion since 1981. The Houtman Silo is the only extant structure from the historic farm and represents the family's past experiences and shared stewardship of the land.