Union Farmer December 2019

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Volume CIV, No. 8 Huron, SD DECEMBER 2019

A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION

SERVING SOUTH DAKOTA’S FARM & RANCH FAMILIES SINCE 1915. Wettest Year on Record

Rebuilding the Future

PAGE 5

Star in Education Award

PAGE 9

PAGE 14

Weather Trends

PAGE 22

United in Tough Times 2019 State Convention

S.D. Farmers Union Celebrates Parkston Farm Family

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South Dakota Farmers Union has served South Dakota farm and ranch families for more than a century. Throughout the year, we share their stories in order to highlight the families who make up our state’s No. 1 industry and help feed the world. This month we highlight the Harnisch farm family of Parkston.

tanding before members carrying a homeplate, S.D. Farmers Union President Doug Sombke explained that before he was passionate about his family and farming, he was passionate about baseball. “Baseball has been a part of my life since I was young. I’ve learned a lot from the sport,” explains the fourth-generation Conde crop and cattle farmer who was re-elected to serve during the 2019

Convention Continued on Page 16 10-11 2020

P roducers FREE ERS! EMB FOR M

January 10-11

For more information, contact Rocky Forman, 605-350-3421, or RFORMAN@SDFU.ORG

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t’s the difference between a boss and a manager, explains Matthew Harnisch of the working relationship he and his brothers have with their parents, Lynn and Sharleen. “A boss tells you what to do. A good manager includes you in on decisions. Growing up, my parents never told us we had to do things. They created an atmosphere where we were always part of the operation. We had ownership in the operation. We had skin in the game.” He and his brothers, Daniel and David, still have “skin in the game.” And although all three men have full-time careers off the farm, most evenings and weekends find at least one, if not all three, back on the family’s crop and cattle farm near Parkston. “What I find enjoyable about farming is being a part of growing a crop from a little seed all the way through harvest,” explains Daniel, who works full-time helping area farmers as an agronomist for Mettler Fertilizer. “I enjoy being able to improve that crop with crop rotation, cover crops, no-till and tiling, all while improving the overall soil health for the next generation,” adds Daniel who has two sons already interested in farming. Lynn and Sharleen are happy their boys decided to remain involved.

Harnisch Family Continued on Page 2


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Union Farmer December 2019 by South Dakota Farmers Union - Issuu