By Eben van Tonder, 16 February 2025

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Index Page for my work on creativity

Dedicated to Oupa Eben Kok

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Oupa Eben Kok: A Legacy of Innovation and Creativity

Innovation and creativity are the cornerstones of progress, and for me, they run in my blood. As I reflect on my journey in the meat industry—where I strive to push boundaries in creativity and new developments—I have come to see the story of my grandfather, Oupa Eben Kok, as the perfect landing page for all my work on this subject. His life embodies the principles of hard work, vision, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to learning—all of which are the foundation of true innovation.

A Life of Determination and Hard Work

Oupa Eben Kok matriculated from the local school in Heilbron in 1929 and soon joined Standard Bank, working in Vrede, Vredefort, and Koppies. He was a man of discipline, completing numerous banking exams to advance his career. In 1934, he purchased a King’s English Dictionary, which remains in Oom Jan’s possession today—a testament to his dedication to self-improvement.

While working in Vredefort, Oupa Eben met Ouma Susan, and they married on 7 August 1939. Their courtship was marked by dedication and persistence; he would regularly ride his bicycle seven miles to visit her family farm, Leeuspruit. One evening, as he cycled home in total darkness, he unknowingly rode over a sleeping cow—a moment both humorous and emblematic of his unstoppable nature.

A Bold Leap into Farming

Despite his banking career, Oupa Eben’s heart belonged to farming. In 1945, following the birth of Oom Uysie, he took a significant risk—leaving banking to join his father, Oupa Giel, in farming. This was not a simple decision; farming required sacrifice, long hours, and unwavering commitment. Oupa Eben and Ouma Susan made their home at Leeuspruit, later expanding their operations to include Stillehoogte and Christina, two farms located 25 kilometres away.

To work these farms, Oupa Eben endured weeks away from home, sleeping under a trailer insulated by plastic fertiliser bags. Later, a simple shed became his accommodation, where he cooked meals over an open fire. This level of personal sacrifice is often the unspoken reality behind great innovations.

Innovation Through Self-Sufficiency and Ingenuity

One of Oupa Eben’s key strengths was his ability to create self-sustaining systems. The farm was almost entirely self-sufficient, with cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, and turkeys supplying meat, eggs, butter, and cream. Without refrigeration, they relied on traditional methods—meat was cured, biltong was air-dried, and dairy products provided income for purchasing essential groceries in town.

This cabinet was called “the safe,” constructed to keep out vlies and other insects. Every second or third week, a sheep was slaughtered, and chickens, ducks, and turkeys provided eggs. Butter was made from the cream from the few milk cows. Leather reams or straps were made from beef hides and used to span the oxen. The chickens, eggs, cream, and butter provided the income to pay for groceries when they went to town.

They ploughed and planted using oxen. Fertiliser was a luxury and unnecessary expense because before any planting was done, animal dung was removed from the cow and sheep sheds and worked into the fields to fertilise the soil.

The Relentless Pursuit of Progress

Oupa Eben was not scared of hard work. He had three farms: Leeuspruit, Stillehoogte, and Christina. The last two farms were approximately 25 km from Leeuspruit where they lived. Whenever they worked those two farms, he stayed over on the farms from Sunday evening to Saturday afternoon. There were no buildings on the farms. He would join plastic fertiliser bags and hang them around the trailer as protection from the wind and some insulation, and he slept under the trailer on a camping bed. He cooked his food on an open fire. When a shed was later constructed on the farm Stillehoogte, this became his home while that farm was worked. Any great breakthrough goes hand in hand with great personal sacrifice, which goes hand in hand with complete dedication.

The third characteristic of innovation is study and a thorough knowledge of the subject matter. Oupa Eben used every opportunity to study farming and to become acquainted with the latest farming techniques. He eventually managed to convince Oupa Giel that they should buy tractors. Oupa Giel was not very agreeable, but eventually, they bought a blue Fordson tractor. As it happened, the first year they used the tractor, they had a complete crop failure. Oupa Eben and the tractor were blamed for it. At some point, the vision of an innovator becomes crystal clear, and he or she pushes through despite temporary setbacks. Every innovator at some point says: “Well, we have come too far to now f..ing give up!”

Unexpected Recognition

Oupa Eben’s tractor made unexpected world news.

Oom Jan Kok (my uncle), eldest son of Eben Kok writes, “I remember the incident like yesterday. Japie’s dad, Uncle Freek, phoned to say that the shed was on fire. Oupa Eben immediately jumped in his jeep and hastened to Stillehoogte (his farm). In the corner were a few 44-gallon drums with power paraffine used for the tractor. Fortunately, the fire was put out before they exploded. The parts of the tractor that could burn or melt were all gone. Oupa Eben and Uncle Rademan Marx, who had a garage on Reitzburg, re-did the wiring and everything that had to be replaced was bought. Eventually, the tractor could be used again. It was a blue Fordson.”

Oom Jan continues that “the thing that made a huge impression on me was Ouma (grandmom) who sat on the bed with her head in her hands, crying.” Oom Jan again tells about the disagreement brought about by the use of the tractor. “There was a serious argument between Oupa Eben and his father-in-law and mother-in-law over the tractor. The first year they used the tractor, there was a complete harvest failure and Oupa Giel and Ouma Santjie staunchly believed that this was the tractor’s fault that the harvest was so bad.”

Such is the course of events of all great innovations and creative moments. What is innovative today, real proper innovation, becomes the normal and generally accepted of tomorrow.

The Woodys Example

In Woodys, we did many things that speak to a culture of innovation and creativity. One of the first things we had to do was to project an image “bigger than ourselves.” Dawie Hyman was instrumental in helping us achieve this by creating four memorable adverts for Woodys which instantaneously got us appointments with the right buyers. I remember how one of these adverts was featured at a national conference of the largest retailer in Africa. Oscar, myself, and Ehrhardt were there to represent the company. We were nobody in everybody’s eyes, but the advert made an impression and got us appointments with the right people. In my research on bacon, I came across a very short mention of Oupa Eben in newspapers in 1953 and 1954 across America. What probably happened was that these papers either belonged to the same owner or had some agreement about sharing content, and so it happened that the story of Oupa Eben and his tractor was reported on across America. By itself, it is not a headline-grabbing article, but the fact that Oupa Eben and his tractor made newspapers across America is in itself remarkable and fits the discussion on creativity. The exact article that appeared across so many newspapers is given below.

The newspapers that carried the exact same story of Eben Kok were:

• The La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Wednesday, May 27, 1953 (quoted above);
• The York Dispatch, York, Pennsylvania, Thursday, March 04, 1954;
• The Times, Shreveport, Louisiana, Sunday, May 03, 1953;
• The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Tuesday, July 27, 1954
• The Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colorado, Sunday, May 03, 1953
• Lubbock Morning Avalanche, Lubbock, Texas, Friday, May 01, 1953
• The Morning Call, Paterson, New Jersey, Monday, August 17, 1953
• Fort Lauderdale News, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Friday, May 15, 1953
• Wausau Daily Herald, Wausau, Wisconsin, Tuesday, May 19, 1953
• The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, Florida, Friday, May 08, 1953
• Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa, Thursday, May 07, 1953
• The Knoxville Journal, Knoxville, Tennessee, Sunday, May 03, 1953
• Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, Tuesday, May 12, 1953
• Dayton Daily News, Dayton, Ohio, Tuesday, May 12, 1953

Oupa Eben is my role model for creativity and innovation and has been for my entire life.

A Role Model for Innovation

As I continue my work in the meat industry, exploring new techniques, formulations, and technologies, I draw strength from his example. His legacy will serve as the foundation for my ongoing discussions on creativity and innovation—an ever-evolving journey that blends tradition with forward-thinking advancements. The story of Oupa Eben Kok is, and will remain, the defining entry point for all my work on creativity and new developments in the meat industry.

Here are some of the Woodys Adverts that Dawie Hyman created.

Conclusion

In reflecting on the life of my grandfather, Oupa Eben Kok, it’s evident that true innovation is rooted in hard work, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to learning. His journey from banking to self-sufficient farming exemplifies how embracing change and overcoming adversity can lead to remarkable achievements. This legacy inspires my endeavors in the meat industry, where I strive to blend tradition with forward-thinking advancements. By honoring his example, I aim to foster a culture of creativity and continuous improvement, ensuring that the spirit of innovation remains at the heart of all my work.

Index – My Work on Creativity and Innovation

• A New Vision for Organizational Development: Blending Structure, Spirituality, and Innovation
• Applying the Lessons of Evolvability to Product Formulation
• From Biology To The Science of Systems and the Appropriation of Innovation
• Parallels Between Industrial Innovations and Biological Processes