Union Farmer All States Camp 2023

Each summer, South Dakota youth who have distinguished themselves as leaders are given the opportunity to attend NFU’s AllStates Leadership Camp. They join with youth from across the United States to explore their personal leadership skills, identify issues important to their generation and discuss their role in affecting positive change throughout rural America. n

“Farmers Union is a great organization to be a part of.” –

Garrett Kruger

“Through this experience of planning All States Camp, I learned about leading by example.”

– Levi Nightingale

Camp Season

Continued from Page 7 store or credit union,” Olson explained. “We partner with many local cooperatives and ag-businesses who explain how their co-op works or help provide farm safety demos.”

For decades the organization has hosted a State Leadership Camp for middle and high schoolage youth, but 2023 is the first year South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) hosted a Jr. State Camp for youth 9 to 12.

“We did have some reginal camps for younger kids, but camp is more fun when there are more kids,” said Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director of SDFU. “A state camp also allows us to pool our resources so we provide more opportunities to campers and their families. This year we provided transportation to and from camp.”

This year SDFU youth members to attend were Tyler Hanson, Britton; Levi Nightingale, White Lake; and Garrett Kruger, De Smet. These young leaders also helped organize the camp because they were elected during 2022 All States Leadership Camp to serve on the National Youth Leadership Council.

“I encourage youth to get involved in Farmers Union because of the opportunities to learn about cooperatives, travel and meet other members from across South Dakota and other states.”

– Tyler Hanson

SDFU also keeps the cost of camp under $100.

“We want camp to be something affordable for rural youth,” Hofhenke said. “Our organization is focused on supporting farm and ranch families and their rural communities. We feel educating rural youth is one of many ways we can do this.”

To learn more about South Dakota Farmers Union educational programming, visit www.sdfu.org

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By Lura Roti