Marquard

Where Time Stands Still

Marquard was founded on the farm Varschfontein. On Thursday, 25 May 1905, the first 125 sites were sold at record prices for the region, because the need for a town in this area was well known. The town was named after a Dutch Reformed Reverent, Ds. JJT Marquard who wrote a letter to the local government asking to start a town on the farm Varschfontein.

To this day the people of Marquard are very passionate about their town. The son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren of the first person to be christened in the newly established Marquard town in 1905, Hester Potgieter still live in the Marquard district and town. ORD 1, the number plate usually reserved for the mayor of a small town was the pride and joy on Hester Potgieter’s car until the day she died. Her father was the first person to own a car in the district.

Beef, beef everywhere

Marquard is also home to Sparta, one of the largest cattle farms in South Africa. This international operation brings a diverse community to the small rural town.

The Sparta operation was established by Dirk van Reenen (son of Hester Potgieter) and his wife Betty on the farm “Sparta” in the Marquard district as a small cattle feeding facility in the mid 1960’s with about 30 head of cattle on feed all year around. The Sparta group is a leading supplier of beef and beef products in South Africa. It is family-owned and operated and comprises a cattle feedlot, farming concern (situated in Marquard), abattoir and meat processing plant (situated in Welkom).

Over the last 40 odd years the business has grown into the SPARTA group of today:

• a staff count of approximately 1 200;

• some 60 000 plus cattle in the feedlot and on the farms;

• an abattoir and meat processing plant in Welkom; and

• a substantial monthly contribution to the Free State economy.