Farmers from Sutherland and the Koue Bokkeveld move their animals during the winter away from the severe cold of the Karoo to the Ceres-Karoo and Roggeveld. In the late 1800's a cow by the name of Hartjie wandered away from the herd. Her owner later found her in a trekkraal on the land which today forms the farm Hartjieskraal.

This farm is in the hands of the Marais family since 1896. The fourth generation started with the production of jams and preserves in 2002 and today supplies several farm stalls and sell directly to the public.