This is the best book I have read dealing with any ethnic group—in this case the Hutterites of South Dakota. As a native-born South Dakotan, deeply involved for many years in the educational, cultural, and political life of the state, I supposed that I knew well the Hutterite community. But Joanita Kant, by means of brilliant photography, careful research, and excellent historical writing, opens our eyes and warms our spirits with a fascinating up-to-date tour of the religious, economic, cultural, and societal treasure of the unique Hutterite way of life.... If a reader is looking for a dramatic, carefully written, beautifully illustrated story of one of the most fascinating ethnic groups in American history, this is the book to read. We will not soon see its equal.                 —Senator George McGovern

HUTTERITES OF SOUTH DAKOTA: THE SCHMIEDELEUT is an unprecedented pictorial review of their lifestyle in 44 of 53 colonies in the state during all four seasons of 2004. Three branches of Hutterites came to southeastern Dakota Territory (today South Dakota) in the 1870s from Ukraine, Russia. As always, since their founding in central Europe in 1528, they were escaping religious persecution. Although there are three divisions of ethnic Hutterites, namely Schmiedeleut, Dariusleut, and Lehrerleut, only Schmiedeleut remain in South Dakota, which has more Hutterites than any state in the USA.