Union Farmer February 2021

Page 1

Volume CVI, No. 2 Huron, SD FEBRUARY 2021

A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION

SERVING SOUTH DAKOTA’S FARM & RANCH FAMILIES SINCE 1915.

NFR Athlete & Rancher

PAGE 6

COVID-19 Impact on Members’ Health

PAGE 8

State’s Largest Agriculture Organization Opposes Governor’s Proposal to Merge Department of Agriculture with Department of Environment and Natural Resources

O

Ag Producer Hour

PAGE 12

Young Ag Leaders

PAGE 14

SDFU Celebrates Edmunds County Ranch Family

Photo by Lexi Johnson

n Jan. 19, Gov. Kristi Noem issued an Executive Order merging the Department of Agriculture with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The new department will be called the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Hunter Roberts will serve as its secretary. South Dakota Farmers Union members voted unanimously to oppose this merger during the 2020 Convention. SDFU was the only agriculture organization to pose opposition to this merger. Below is a letter, issued by Doug Sombke on Jan. 7, publicly expressing members’ views. This letter ran in the Farm Forum, Argus Leader and other publications.

Merge Proposal Continued on Page 10

Don’t Miss... 2021 NFU VIRTUAL CONVENTION

Jan.28-Feb. 28 Weekly Sessions March 1-2 Policy Session To register, visit NFU.org Learn more on page 5.

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 family who makes up Lazy J Bar Ranch: John and Stephanie with sons, Jacob, 12, and Kale, 18.

S

tephanie Jung used to schedule kidding for after the New Year. Then, the purebred Boer goat breeder realized if she moved the date back a few weeks, she and her husband, John, would have some help. “Any smart mother would schedule kidding around Christmas break when she has two, two-legged kids to help her,” explains the Edmunds County rancher. Stephanie’s sons, Kale, 18, and Jacob, 12, are experienced and enjoy the work. “I like being outside and helping,” Jacob says. In addition to helping out with farm chores, both boys raise show animals. Kale shows cattle and goats and Jacob shows cattle and pigs. A senior at Groton Area High School, Kale says he and his brother probably spend more time working with their show animals than they do in football or basketball practice. “We spend several hours a day working with them. You want your animals to be calm, you want to train them and work with them as much as possible, wash them every day, practice setting them up and showing them,” Kale explains.

Jung Family Continued on Page 2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Union Farmer February 2021 by South Dakota Farmers Union - Issuu