While population decline in rural South Dakota may dominate the narrative of late, last month Wessington Springs experienced a baby boom — four girls born to area women within eight days! In fact, two were born on the same day, another the following morning and one more little girl was welcomed into the world just a week later.
As part of a special feature, the True Dakotan introduces you to the newest area residents and shares with our readers the celebration of healthy, growing, local families...quadruple the fun, just in time for Mother’s Day.
Emery JoAnn Kraft
Birth date: April 11, 2022
Birth time: 8:35 a.m.
Parents: Drew and Catherine Kraft
Weight: 6 lb 13 oz
Length: 19 3/4 inches
While his wife Catherine was in the early stages of labor, Drew Kraft ran into fellow Wessington Springs residents Curtis and Andrea Collins in the hallway of the maternity ward. It was no surprise what the track and field hall of famer and track coach said next, “Race you!”
“It was kind of crazy that there were three people from Springs on the labor and delivery floor at the same time,” noting that later in the day after Emery was born, Weston and Chelsea Waters arrived at the hospital. “Drew and I were thinking ahead to what it will be like when they’re all in school together in the future.”
Emery joins brother Asher, 2, who can’t wait until she’s big enough to play with him.
Drew on the other hand is already setting his sights on forming a relay team, after all he said, “we have four within eight days!”
Wrenley Dru Waters
Birth date: April 12, 2022
Birth time: 11:51 a.m.
Parents: Weston and Chelsea Waters
Weight: 7 lb 12 oz
Length: 19 inches
Chelsea Waters and her husband Weston knew that her daughter Wrenley would have future classmates with birthdays near hers but had no clue that four babies in a town of a population of less than 1000 would be born within a week.
“I knew Cam, Catherine and I were due near each other but when we saw Drew and Catherine and heard about the Collins’ I thought geez, everyone is here!”
Baby sister Wrenley was welcomed home by siblings Rhaelyn Dee, 4 and Eastyn Dean, 2.
“They like to hold her and love her very much — they always want to help!”
Payton Leigh Collins
Birth date: April 11, 2022
Birth time: 1:36 p.m.
Parents: Curtis and Andrea Collins
Weight: 6 lb 10 oz
Length: 19 inches
Curtis and Andrea Collins had no idea there were other people in town expecting at the same time as them. “Then we saw Drew and Catherine in the room right next to us,” Andrea laughed. “Later one of the nurses told us there were three from Wessington Springs and asked us how big of a town it was. When we told her she said there must have been something in the water nine months ago!”
Payton joins siblings Alicia, 14; Emmy, 8; Easton, 6 and Cece, 2.
“The transition from four to five kids has been easier than I thought it would be,” she said, adding that her oldest sisters adore her. “Cece is a work in progress, at two years old she is way more work than this one is!”
Kit Colleen Fagerhaug
Birth date: April 19, 2022
Birth time: 11:09 a.m.
Parents: Tyler and Cam Fagerhaug
Weight: 7 lb 15 oz
Length: 19 3/4 inches
When Cam and Tyler Fagerhaug arrived at Avera Queen of Peace in Mitchell a week after the initial part of the baby girl boom, upon discovering that they were from the Springs area, their nurse said, “Wow, we’ve been full of Springs people.”
Kit joins brothers Lawson, 7 and Cecil, 3 at home on their ranch located north of Wessington Springs. She was welcomed by what Cam and Tyler call “Fagerhaug Brothers Sister Protection Services.”
“Cecil sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to her,” Cam said. “Lawson wants to hold her all the time, he has been really helpful. He even wakes up an hour early, comes in to the bedroom and asks to hold her. As soon as he gets off the bus it’s the first thing he asks us to do, hold his baby sister.”