Choose your friends carefully, Coach Kush told campers during 2024 Farmers Union State Leadership Camp. “Who you hang out with determines who you will become. Respect everyone, but only spend time with those who have goals and aspirations.” Campers connected to the messages shared by the former Boys Town head football coach. And many felt the weeklong Farmers Union State Leadership Camp was just the place to connect with quality friends.
Leadership Camp Continued on Page 12
South Dakota Farmers Union Celebrates Ziebach County Rodeo Family
Lance and Roni Lesmeister’s ranch house sits atop a bluff overlooking the Cheyenne River Valley. From the glass patio doors in their living room, the couple can take in the breathtaking scene of rolling hills, the river and more than a hundred horses – happy horses.
Triple L Ranch bucking horses spend their days grazing the Cheyenne River breaks with their colts bucking in the sunshine. When its rodeo season, they only perform about 16 seconds a week.
Date: July 17
Time: 9 a.m.-Noon central
Location: Zoom
Remote Login Details: visit www.sdfu.org Learn more on page 6
“We don’t train bucking horses – we breed them,” Roni explained. Roni’s parents, Bud and Melissa Annis, began raising bucking horses in the early 1950s for rodeos across South Dakota. She and Lance continue the tradition on the same land today.
“This rough terrain legs them up and the native grasses grow them big and make them strong,” Lance explained.
A good bucking horse has strong bones, a big hip, a short back and solid feet. Good bucking horses are calm in the chute, but once
Scan with smartphone camera and watch a video of Lesmeister horses
Roni and Lance Lesmeister raise rodeo bucking horses on the Cheyenne River.
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“I really love horses. We are around them so much that we get to know them. Once you get to know them, they are comfortable around you, you realize they are just like people, horses all have their own personalities – they are all unique.” – Roni Lesmeister
Lesmeister Family
Continued from Page 1
released, they kick hard and finish their 8-second ride strong.
“These are the traits we try to breed for. They need the power to throw the cowboy off,” Lance said. “Lots of times, the best bucking horses are docile. People think it’s the ornery and wild horses that buck, but a lot of the time this is not true. The better ones are smart and docile – like a good cutting horse. It’s their genetics that make them want to buck.”
Rodeo cowboys depend on a good bucking horse because both horse and rider receive points in bareback and saddle bronc events. Judges are assigned to the horse and the rider. During a ride, up to 50 points are given to each. These points are tallied and the team with the most wins.
“I love watching them in rodeos. It’s like
watching your kid compete,” Lance said.
As rodeo contractors, Roni and Lance’s bucking horses not only compete in South Dakota rodeos, but some of the best horses the Lesmeisters raise are scattered all over the U.S. with different Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) contractors. They can be seen competing in PRCA rodeos everywhere.
Triple L Ranch horses have even competed at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR).
“I have had NFR cowboys walk up and thank me,” Lance said. “I’ve never met them before and they don’t live in South Dakota, but they know us because they competed on one of our horses.”
It’s all about genetics
If you understand a bit about managing genetics for a registered cattle herd, then you can comprehend the decades of records and work that have gone into Triple L Ranch bucking horses.
“It is technical. We write down every mare
and which stud she was bred to; and if the colt doesn’t buck, then we will try a different sire – just like in a registered cattle herd,” Lance explained.
Lance grew up on a ranch his Grandpa Frank homesteaded east of Eagle Butte in 1909. Grandpa Frank also raised horses –Belgian workhorses.
A third-generation cattle producer, as a high school student, Lance began building up his own cattle herd with the help from a Farm Service Agency loan and money earned working for area ranchers.
“Ranching and raising cattle and horses is what I have always done and all I ever wanted to do,” he said.
After Lance and Roni met and after they were together a few years, in 1987 Roni and Lance moved to the Annis family ranch on the Cheyenne River. The couple do raise cattle, but their cow/calf herd’s role on the ranch is to help keep things afloat financially
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so Lance and Roni can focus on their passion – raising bucking horses.
At 2 or 3 years of age, Lance and Roni test their horses by cinching on a mechanical dummy that falls off after 6 seconds. If the horse shows possible potential for bucking, Lance and Roni keep them. If at 2 they don’t show potential with a dummy, they wait until they are 4 or 5-years-old and try them again –but this time with a cowboy.
“Often if a horse doesn’t buck well with a dummy, I will wait and put a rider on them because some will buck good with a rider and not the dummy,” Lance said.
The couple say there is nothing like watching a colt they raised buck.
“I will say to friends that it’s my last year, and I want to quit, and then we start bucking the horses, it’s like watching a good rope horse or a good racehorse, race – I get re-enthused,” said Lance, who is 62.
Horses like Miss Congeniality.
As a colt, wire got wrapped around her hoof. After her hoof healed from the deep cuts, Miss Congeniality was left with a clubbed hoof. So, Lance and Roni did not think she had a chance.
But then, while Lance was caking the horses as he does every day, he noticed the 3-year-old, bucking and kicking and jumping as though nothing was wrong with her hoof.
“I put the bucking dummy on her and she bucked and bucked,” Lance said. “By keeping her hoof trimmed we could buck her.”
In her 4-year-old year, Miss Congeniality won awards in SDRA (South Dakota Rodeo Association) and NRCA (Northwest Rodeo Cowboys Association) and was named Bareback and Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year five different times over the years. Her daughter, CoverGirl, went on to compete in the National Finals Rodeo and two other offspring are bucking in the PRCA.
When she was 24, Miss Congeniality passed away shortly after giving birth to her last colt, LastChance. Lance and Roni took care of him and this year he will start bucking.
“I really love horses,” Roni said. “We are around them so much that we get to know them. Once you get to know them, they are comfortable around you, you realize they are just like people, horses all have their own personalities – they are all unique. I really love having them around.”
Our rodeo family
As a mom, Roni enjoyed raising her now grown twins, Misti and Marty Hebb, on the ranch. “They learned responsibility because they helped with all the horse and cattle chores.”
And she shared her love for rodeo with Marty. As a teen, he qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals in saddle bronc, and Marty was named a world champion saddle bronc rider at the Indian National Finals Rodeo six times. Roni and Lance have seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In addition to taking bucking horses to rodeos and managing them there, Roni also works as a timer for rodeos. She has timed the SDRA, NRCA and the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association (SDHSRA) Finals. She will be there this June.
Miss Congeniality and Joe Wishard at the 2002 SDRA Finals Rodeo.
CoverGirl, Miss Congeniality’s daughter, at the Governor’s Cup Rodeo in Sioux Falls. She is an NFR saddle bronc horse.
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Rural POWER Supports Young Professionals Who Return Home & Invest in Rural Communities
Margaret Doom grew up in Wagner, a rural community on the Yankton Reservation. And like so many young South Dakota professionals, she left her hometown to attend college and launch a career in the more urban community of Sioux Falls.
Today, Doom works as the Economic Development Director in Wagner. Her reason for leaving Sioux Falls is simple. “I genuinely wanted to come home,” Doom said. “I love the ethos of rural South Dakota. I love being part of the rural reservation culture. It is a place where individuals can impact their community in a positive way.”
Making a positive impact in his rural community was also among the reasons Dustin Christensen and his wife, Samantha – both educators – left Rapid City and made their home in the rural community of Hamill.
“I wanted to invest in a small rural community and help it thrive,” explained Christensen, who left teaching in 2022 to work as an insurance agent. “We chose this community because Samantha’s family is in Wall and mine are in Sioux Falls and Brookings – it’s a nice middle point.”
Their drive to invest in their rural communities connected Christensen and Doom to the Billie Sutton Leadership Institute. Both were selected to participate in the 2024 class. Their tuition is covered by South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) through the Rural POWER program.
“Supporting leadership for rural communities aligns with our mission of supporting farm and ranch families who heavily rely on their rural communities,” said Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director of SDFU.
The non-partisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit Billie Sutton Leadership Institute is dedicated to inspiring and preparing the next generation of leaders to build a stronger South Dakota and more vibrant communities and workplaces through service to others.
“This is our sixth year of providing South Dakota leaders with impactful training and opportunities for learning, networking and growth,” said Billie Sutton, a former state senator and founder of the Sutton Leadership Institute. “These folks are leading in communities big and small, and we are proud to support them as they take on ambitious new plans to make a difference throughout South Dakota.”
In her role as Wagner’s Economic Development Director, Doom wears many hats: community organizer, city planner, youth and community educator, workforce developer …
“The definition of what I do is broad. Right now I’m also trying to increase daycare availability.”
Doom also serves as a board member for Ihanktonwan Fund. It’s a nonprofit that helps local students learn about personal finance through gardening and selling the produce raised.
Ihanktonwan Fund is the project Doom will focus on throughout her year as a Rural POWER participant in the Billie Sutton Leadership Institute. In addition to leadership enhancement opportunities, throughout the year, the leadership institute supports each participant as they focus on a project to enhance their rural community.
“Being able to network with like-minded individuals and work together to generate ideas for our projects is amazing,” said Christensen, who is working to establish a Fellowship of Christian Athletes club in the local high school. “I see a need for a group like this to help mentor and guide high school athletes.”
Connecting with a network of rural profes-
sionals is the reason Danielle Duxbury applied to participate in the leadership institute. She is one of seven Rural POWER class members sponsored by SDFU. Sixteen South Dakotans participate in the 2024 Billie Sutton Leadership Institute.
“There is so much good that comes from individuals receiving the support and training they need to give back to their rural communities,” Duxbury explained.
Duxbury is currently a stay-at-home mom. Her project addresses a challenge she realized soon after leaving her career as a school counselor to care full time for her three young children ages 6, 4 and 1.
“It can be isolating and very lonely being at home with just your kids all day. I noticed that any time I spent with other moms it made me feel better. But in rural areas, there are not many opportunities to get together with other moms like there are in Sioux Falls or other more urban areas,” Duxbury explained.
2024 Rural POWER Class: front row: Liz Renner, Ft. Pierre/Utica; Billie and Kelsea Sutton; back row: Jeff Thaler, Sioux Falls; Sydney Schad, Lantry; Dustin Christensen, Hamill; Danielle Kucera, Winner; Danielle Duxbury, Wessington Springs; and Margaret Doom, Wagner.
Our Way of Life Podcast Launched by State’s Largest Ag Organization
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South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) premieres Our Way of Life podcast on their website June 2024.
“Our Way of Life is another way to share the stories of South Dakota’s farm and ranch families,” explained Karla Hofhenke, SDFU Executive Director. “The podcast features the South Dakotans who do the work of our state’s largest industry. Listeners will hear from family farmers and ranchers as well as agriculture industry, business and thought leaders. It will focus on folks of all ages involved in agriculture. Through this podcast, we hope to share who we are, what we do and what we care about.”
SDFU currently publishes a print and digital newsletter and hosts a monthly radio show. Hofhenke sees the podcast as yet another platform to connect South Dakotans with agriculture whether they are involved in the industry or not.
“Sharing the story of South Dakota agriculture and the people involved is so important,” Hofhenke said. “Agriculture is the foundation upon which our state is built. But it is more than an economic driver, for family farmers and ranchers and many who work in other aspects of the industry, agriculture is also a way of life.”
An idea that has been in the works for a few years, Shelby Landmark, the organization’s Communications Specialist, made the podcast a reality. Landmark hosts the podcast. New segments will post to www.sdfu.org at 10 a.m. the first and third Monday of each month and are available at no cost to all.
POWER Continued from Page 4
So, she is starting a Rural Mothers Collective. Beginning with a Facebook page, Duxbury hopes to establish a social network of rural South Dakota moms who can build community and share resources. She also hopes to facilitate
To access the podcast, newsletter and radio show, visit www.sdfu.org and click on the Media Library link under the News and Events tab. Our Way of Life podcast is also available on Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music.
online education opportunities.
Duxbury is taking on a large task, but she said developing this idea with the support of Sutton Leadership staff and classmates has helped.
“It is empowering to work with others who believe in making their rural communities bet-
ter,” Duxbury said.
To learn more about the Billie Sutton Leadership Institute visit https://suttonleadership. org. To learn more about how South Dakota Farmers Union supports family farmers, ranchers and their rural communities, visit www. sdfu.org n By Lura Roti
www.sdfu.org June/July 2024 5
Photo by Becky Rose, 2023 Photo Contest
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Attend July 17 Policy Meeting and Engage in Grassroots Policy Development
The state’s largest agricultural organization invites all members to participate in the South Dakota Farmers Union Annual Policy Meeting held July 17, 9 a.m. to noon.
“This is where Farmers Union’s policy discussions begin each year.”
— Doug Sombke
“This is where Farmers Union’s policy discussions begin each year,” explained Doug Sombke, South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) President and fourth-generation farmer. “Members set our policy. It’s the policy they put in place that guides our organization’s leadership and staff.”
Held each year following the Legislative Session and ahead of the SDFU State Convention, the Annual Policy Meeting provides members with an opportunity to discuss timely challenges or opportunities facing family farmers and ranchers, explained Aberdeen farmer Jeff Kippley.
“From one year to the next, new issues can come to the forefront, so this is an important meeting where members can discuss if we need to make additions or changes to our policy to address these,” said Kippley who serves as Vice President of South Dakota Farmers Union and National Farmers Union. “Not every single person knows or understands all the issues agriculture in our state is facing, so this Policy Meeting also gives members a chance to share what is going on in their area of the state and discuss solutions through policy.”
During the policy meeting, members not only address new and pressing issues, but together they review existing policy to ensure it is relevant.
These are the reasons De Smet farmer Rob Lee makes time to attend the meeting each year. “When you are part of an organization that has
“From one year to the next, new issues can come to the forefront, so this is an important meeting where members can discuss if we need to make additions or changes to our policy to address these.”
— Jeff Kippley
been developing policy for more than 100 years, there are going to be existing policies that are no longer necessary and new policies that are needed.”
For several years, Lee has served on the state Policy Committee alongside family farmers and ranchers representing each District in South Dakota. Prior to the July 17 meeting, Lee and the other members of the committee will review the Policy Book and if any existing policy needs to be updated, they will bring this up to members for discussion during the meeting.
Although additions and changes to policy are discussed during the July 17 meeting, the annual SDFU State Convention held in December is where changes to policy are voted on by members.
“There is enough time between the two meetings that members can do research if they need to, so they have a strong understanding before they vote,” Lee said.
“As a grassroots organization, our members are involved in every step of policy development.”
— Rob Lee
Because summer is a busy time for most crop and cattle producers, the event is virtual for all members. State board members and members serving on the Policy Committee do meet in person.
“We want as many members as possible to attend this meeting,” Sombke said. “In the past travel time became an issue for many. Thankfully, technology makes it so members can attend the meeting without leaving their farms or ranches.
A strong attendance by members is important, Kippley added. “As a grassroots organization, our members are involved in every step of policy development. I encourage all members to participate because this is your organization and policy.”
A link to the policy meeting will be available at www.sdfu.org at 8 a.m., July 17. The SDFU Policy Book can also be found online at www. sdfu.org, just click on the Legislation tab. n By Lura Roti
Lesmeister
Family Continued from Page 3
“I’ve been rodeoing my whole life and I want to stay involved because of the people. They are my rodeo family, and if I don’t go to rodeos, then I don’t see my family,” Roni explained. “I just love it.”
Roni’s events were breakaway roping, pole bending, barrel racing and team roping. Lance also rodeoed. In his younger years he rode bulls.
Today, Lance is the President of the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association. When he and Roni are not working at rodeos, they support the next generation of rodeo athletes, trailering bucking horses to local arenas so that cowboys can practice.
“The only way rodeo will keep going forward is if individuals stand up and help the young rodeo athletes practice in order to give them a chance to do better,” Lance said. “Practice, practice, practice is what makes champions.”
To view more photos and a video, visit www. sdfu.org and click on the SD Farm & Ranch Families link under the About Us tab. n By
Lura Roti
Union Farmer
The Family Who Rodeos Together... Winner Rodeo Family Shares Their Story
All three of Heather and Cody Moore’s sons are rodeo athletes.
The Tripp County parents say in addition to all the great life lessons Rowdy, Roper and Rider have gleaned from competing in the sport, it’s the friends they have made that they are most grateful for.
“There’s the rodeo family, and then there’s your other family,” Heather explained.
“The whole family goes to the rodeo together, so we have all met friends,” Cody added. “Whatever rodeo we go to, pretty much all the Tripp County rodeo families will park our campers and horse trailers together. At any given time, there will be about 20 kids hanging out together. We’ll cook a brisket all day long, and at suppertime we’ll all get together and eat together and spend the evening just hanging out.”
Cody grew up rodeoing, so their sons grew up hearing stories about rodeo. Rowdy, 19, and Roper, 16, began competing in local playday and 4-H rodeos when they were in elementary school. As soon as Rider, 11, was old enough, he joined them.
“Rodeo is a great experience, I made a lot of good friends through
rodeo who I still talk to,” explained Rowdy. “I’m glad my brothers are still involved.”
2023 was Rowdy’s last rodeo season. Just a few weeks after high school graduation, he was named All Around Cowboy during the High School Rodeo in Martin.
“Everyone missed the first round of steer wrestling, and on the second round, I got first and then Roper and I placed in both rounds of team roping,” Rowdy said.
At the time, Rowdy said he weighed 120 pounds. “I’m not really built for steer wrestling, but I like it so I sure tried my hardest to do well,” Rowdy said.
To practice, Rowdy spent hours chute dogging at the Winner Arena. Over time he perfected his technique running steers through a chute and grabbing them as they ran out.
Steer wrestling takes speed, timing and guts. “Basically, you fall off a horse on purpose, try and catch a steer by grabbing its horn and then you need to flip it over,” Rowdy explained.
“At first it was nerve-wracking to watch him,” Heather said. “But
The Moore family raises cattle and operates the Winner Livestock Auction. The family also makes time for rodeo: Rowdy, Heather, Cody, Roper and Rider Moore.
after I got used to it, it got more exciting.”
2024 will be Roper’s first South Dakota High School Rodeo season team roping without Rowdy.
“I miss roping with my brother because when you rope with your brother you don’t feel as vulnerable if you miss – because it’s your brother,” Roper said. “And you can always rope together, whereas if you have a partner who is not family, you have to schedule practice.”
Rowdy agreed. “I would get so nervous sitting in that box when I roped with someone else. It took a lot of pressure off when I roped with Roper last year that I actually did better.”
Rowdy team ropes on Apple, a horse Roper bought for only $100.
“There was a horse sale at our family’s auction market and I wanted a hat. My mom said I could not get a hat unless I bought a horse. So, I bought a horse, and he turned out to be pretty good,” Roper said.
Roper was 7 at the time, so Cody was quick to add that it took a few years of experienced cowboys riding him in order for Apple to become the good team roping horse that he is today.
In addition to team roping, Roper also competes in tie down and cattle cutting.
“Cutting is my main thing now – I got addicted to it,” Roper said. “I like the aspect of a good horse. Cutting horses are different in a way, there are not a lot of roping horses where you can just drop the reigns
and they know what to do. I like the feeling of a good cowy horse that will go up and stop a cow.”
Roper’s cutting horse, Ettafied, was purchased by a family friend, Tom Kauer. Roperand Ettafied qualified for the South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals in 2023 and ended up placing in the top 15. This year, horse and rider hope to qualify once again. But even if they don’t make it to the finals this year, Roper said there’s more to rodeo than winning.
“Rodeo teaches you hard work and dedication. It is not something you can get good at overnight. You can be a hero one day and zero the next. It is mentally challenging. I know rodeo has helped me become mentally prepared for life.”
Youngest brother, Rider, agreed. In addition to goat tying and team roping, he competes in basketball, football and golf. “Being in rodeo taught me that if you want to be good in a sport, you need to spend time practicing on your own.”
Heather said Rider honed his roping skills roping dummies at his brothers’ rodeos long before he was old enough to compete. Today he puts those skills to work in the arena.
To watch videos of the Moore brothers competing, visit www.sdfu. org n By Lura Roti
Rowdy and Roper Team Roping
Rowdy Moore bull dogging
Roper Moore on cutting horse Ettafied
Rider Moore goat tying
Scan with smartphone camera to watch video.
Scan with smartphone camera to watch video.
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South Dakota Farmers Union Launches 2024 Photo Contest: Celebrating Life on the Family Farm & Ranch
South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) hosts its annual photo contest, Celebrating Life on the Family Farm & Ranch May 1 through July 31. The winning photographer receives $250.
“Agriculture is our state’s No. 1 industry. This photo contest celebrates the families who do the work,” explained Karla Hofhenke, SDFU Executive Director.
Photographers are invited to submit photos related to this year’s theme “In Their Element.” The images should showcase a farmer or rancher engaged in their work environment on the farm, in the fields, or on the ranch. Entries will be evaluated based on how well they capture the essence of the category.
Qualifying entries will be judged, and the
photographer of the winning photograph will receive $250.
All photos need to be entered through the South Dakota Farmers Union website: www.sdfu.org . To enter and for contest rules, visit www.sdfu.org and click on the Photo Contest link under the News & Events tab. n
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Leadership Camp Continued from Page 1
Goal Setting, Career Exploration, Friends & Fun at Farmers Union Camp
“Farmers Union camp is a great place to meet people and make friends I would not otherwise meet,” explained Lizzy Schoenfelder, a high school sophomore from Dimock.
Highmore-Harrold High School sophomore Mya McCloud agreed, adding, “Camp friends bring out the real me and I feel I can be myself around them.”
Kush gave campers the analogy of good friends being like sails and lifting you up, while bad friends have the opposite impact –weighing you down like an anchor.
He also shared tips for goal setting:
• Set two goals, one long-term, one short-term
• Think of two things that will help you accomplish each of those goals
• Post these goals in two places where you will see them often
Throughout his talk, Kush shared many stories from athletes he coached during his 20 years at Boys Town as well as his own son’s struggle with a football-related injury. The injury was severe enough that his son was not able to play sports. “Whenever you come across adversity, think ‘what an opportunity.’ Adversity is not fun, but don’t let it stop you from succeeding.”
Tips for goal setting and encouragement to find opportunity when faced with challenges resonated with camper Lorelei Ruhnke because she injured her knee during cross country and has not been able to rodeo
Celebrating 90 Years of Farmers Union Camp
this summer.
“I have set goals in the past, but I struggled with the follow-through. So, I am going to try just setting two. I am a person who needs goals because I struggle with self-motivation,” explained Ruhnke, a high school student from Pierre.
In addition to motivational speakers like Kush, during leadership camp, campers also learned from several agriculture professionals.
“We try to bring kids in from anywhere across the state just to educate them on leadership and agriculture,” explained Samantha Olson, SDFU Education Program Specialist. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, anything you do in life always relates back to the agricultural industry, and that’s why it’s important to be educated on it.”
Throughout the week, campers heard from an agriculture communications specialist, agronomist and food scientist.
Campers
Recognized
Extra Miler Award: Kaiden Colombe
Happy Camper Award: Joey Bear Hill
I’ll do it award: Coltyn Raymond
MVP Award : Kole LaMont, Chase Blotsky, Julian Rodriguez, Ethan Mutter and Joey Bear Hill
All Star Award: Joey Bear Hill
Sportsmanship: Ben Shoenfelder
Caterpillar Award: Hayden Fessler
The Bob Janish Memorial Friendship Award: Lizbeth Crosby
Clean Cabin: Room 4 Boys: Coltyn Raymond, Ben Schoenfelder, Chase Blotsky, Chord Blotsky, Billy Kezena, Lennox Rumpca
Winning KP: Jamaica: Chaz Blotsky, Joey Bear Hill, Avril Fletcher, Ben Schoenfelder, Coltyn Raymond, Raymond Wynia, LizBeth Crosby, Logan LaMont and Aeriel Eitreim
“I love learning that in agriculture there is more than one career, with good pay that I could one day do,” said Ethan Mutter a freshman at Sturgis Brown High School.
Seventeen-year-old Faulkton farmer, Chase Melius agreed. “Hearing from ag professionals about what they do in their careers really opened up my mind to jobs we can do after high school,” said Melius, a senior at Faulkton Area High School.
Leadership in action
Chase also served on the Junior Advisory Council (JAC). He was elected by campers during 2023 Leadership Camp and worked alongside the other JACs to plan and facilitate the 2024 camp as well as serve as camp counselors.
Along with Melius, the 2023-2024 JACs elected by campers were: Madi Raymond and Sean Thompson. The JAC selected through an interview process was Cadence Konechne. The
Leadership Camp Continued on Page 15
Celebrating 90 years of Farmers Union Camp! Former campers met up at State Leadership Camp to reflect and reconnect. Camp photos, photo books and other camp memorabilia were on display for alumni to enjoy. Some alumni posed for a photo: Front Row: Cindy Birgen, Catherine Davis, Denise Mushitz, Melanie Raap and Lisa Nugteren; Middle Row: Chaz Blotsky, Gail Temple, Garett Kruger, Wanda Nearhood-Helmers, Cassie Langehn, Rod Putnam and Aeriel Eitreim; Back Row: Nate Nugteren, Jesse Carlson, Bruce Nearhood, Ken Birgen, Ana Nemec and Caleb Nugteren.
Coach Kush
2024 STATE LEADERSHIP CAMP
2024 COUNTY CAMPS
2024 Camp Dates
June 18 .................Corson County
June 19 .................Campbell/Potter/Walworth County
June 20 .................Kingsbury County
June 21 .................Clay/Lincoln County
June 25 .................Beadle County
June 26 .................Minnehaha County
June 27 .................Harding County
June 28 .................Dewey/Ziebach County
July 1 ....................Marshall County
July 1 ....................Jr State Camp Registration Deadline
July 2 ....................Roberts County
July 8 ....................Spink County
July 9 ....................Brule County
July 10...................Hughes/Sully/Stanley County
July 11 ...................Brown County
July 17 ...................McCook County
July 18...................Davison County
July 21-24..............Jr State Camp
July 30 ..................Turner County
July 31...................Brookings County
August 1 ...............Jerauld/Buffalo County
FORGING COOPERATIVES
Leadership
Camp Continued from Page 12
2024-2025 JACs elected by campers are Brooke LaMont, LizBeth Crosby, Billy Kezena and Cadence Konechne. Campers selected to serve as JACs through an interview were Julian Rodriguez and Chase Blotsky. Get to know the 2024-2025 JACs by reading the story on page 16.
Mentoring the JACs throughout the camp planning process as well as helping them facilitate camp programming were Senior Advisory Council members Aeriel Eitreim and Chaz Blotsky. Both Eitreim and Blotsky grew up attending Farmers Union Camp and served as JACs. Both SACs recently completed their first year of college.
“I enjoyed taking a step back during camp and watching the JACs come into their
leadership roles,” Eitreim said. “It is good to know that when I am not here, the next generation of leaders are here to make sure that what I love about Farmers Union Camp will continue.”
Eitreim said she loves camp traditions and the lifelong friends she has made. She also appreciates the leadership skills she gained as a camper and while serving as a JAC and SAC.
23-24 JAC Sean Thompson agreed. This summer Thompson will complete Basic
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Training for the Army National Guard.
“While serving as a JAC I gained organizational and time management skills – and I also learned how to persevere when plans change. This will all help when I am at Basic Training. I hope to become a Platoon Leader,” Thompson said.
Communication was among the leadership skills emphasized during camp, and taught through a fun, outdoor game. Campers broke into teams and were tasked with guiding a blindfolded teammate to a hidden flag.
One teammate could see the blindfolded camper and the flag, but they were only able to use hand gestures to communicate to another camper who could speak but not see the blindfolded camper or the flag.
“The blindfolded person really has to trust the person shouting directions, and the person shouting directions has to trust the person giving hand signals,” explained Allison Schulz, a sophomore at Lennox High School. “It all relates to the fact that in life we need work to communicate better, and listen to others because we all have important things to share.”
Confidence in themselves and the ability Leadership Camp Continued on Page 22
Campers Allison Schulz, Lizzy Schoenfelder and Mya McCloud.
Campers Ethan and Riley Mutter
Union Farmer
Meet the 2024-2025 Junior Advisory Council
During South Dakota Farmers Union Leadership Camp, Brooke LaMont, LizBeth Crosby, Billy Kezena and Cadence Konechne were elected by campers to serve on the Junior Advisory Council (JAC) and campers Julian Rodriguez and Chase Blotsky were selected through an interview to also serve as JACs.
As JACs, these teens will help facilitate the upcoming Farmers Union State Youth Camp and they will also plan, organize and facilitate the 2025 Farmers Union State Leadership Camp.
Read on to get to know these young leaders.
Cadence Konechne is a junior at Kimball High School and lives on her family farm near Kimball.
How has Farmers Union Camp made you a better person? Farmers Union has definitely made me a stronger leader. And because of JACs who were kind to me, camp speakers I learned from and experiences I have had at camp, I am a much more confident and outgoing person. Also, while serving as a JAC last year, I was forced to take on leadership roles which pushed me outside my comfort zone and built my confidence.
Can you share some of leadership skills you gained through camp? I learned to work better with people and get over issues without causing drama. Involvement in camp also taught me how to work with different personality types and consider individual’s personality type when I work with them.
Why do you want to serve on the Junior Advisory Council? Because Farmers Union Camp has done so much for me, I want to continue to be involved and help younger campers have a similar experience as I did.
Chase Blotsky is a sophomore at Winner High School. He lives on his family’s ranch near Hidden Timber.
How has Farmers Union Camp made you a better person? By serving as a member of a cooperative during camp each year I have learned to work as a team to make our cooperative successful.
It has also helped me overcome my shyness and become confident in meeting new friends.
Can you share some of leadership skills you gained through camp? I am a better communicator because of Junior Advisory Council members from the past who made a point to go out of their way to get to know me and make me feel comfortable at camp. This helped me not to feel nervous about meeting people at camp.
And at camp, we are all expected to participate in activities, like public speaking, even if speaking in public is not what we feel comfortable doing.
Also, I learned through camp activities how to compromise if there are two different opinions.
Why do you want to serve on the Junior Advisory Council? As a JAC I want to help make camp fun for everyone and help the kids who are shy like me come out of their shell.
LizBeth Crosby is a senior at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre.
How has Farmers Union Camp made you a better person? Ultimately camp helped me find myself. Before attending camp, I was so shy and timid, in school and my own community. At camp I found myself, and I began to feel comfortable with who I was.
Me gaining confidence had a lot to do with how kind the other campers and JACs were to me, and the fact that when you are at camp, you are interacting with campers of all ages who come from different backgrounds and communities in South Dakota.
Today, I am a vibrant, outgoing and creative person who serves as president of NAHS (National Art Honors Society) and Art Club – I credit Farmers Union Camp.
Can you share some of leadership skills you gained through camp? Relationship building, communication and social skills.
While at camp, we are encouraged to make friends with campers we don’t know. And every year the JACs and other campers change, so I learned how to adapt to change and meet new people every year. This taught me to not be afraid to talk to people casually or professionally, like doing interviews.
This bravery has helped me be someone who can ask my teachers for help or feedback when I need to.
I will also say that camp has taught me to look at things in a positive way.
Why do you want to serve on the Junior Advisory Council? I want to give back. The JACs who served in the past made camp such an awesome experience for me and all the other campers, that I want to give back and help do the same for next year’s campers.
Billy Kezena is homeschooled and a junior in high school. He lives in Yankton.
How has Farmers Union Camp made you a better person? Farmers Union has helped connect me to the outdoors. I’ve been going to camp for a while, and at Leadership Camp we start most mornings with a hike, and after I got home, I found myself wanting to do more outdoors. So today, I find myself doing more outdoor stuff like fishing and biking on the trails and walks.
Can you share some of leadership skills you gained through camp? At camp we work in groups a lot – KP duty, our cooperatives, games – by working with so many different campers in so many different groups, I have gained teamwork skills. Camp also taught me how to bring up topics and debate things in a friendly way.
Why do you want to serve on the Junior Advisory Council? I think it will be fun to help plan the camp and I will work to make sure camp is a fun experience for campers. I know that when I was first going to camp, I had a couple friends who were campers and they were getting old enough to run for counselor. I really enjoyed having them as my camp counselor.
Julian Rodriguez is a junior at Langford High School.
How has Farmers Union Camp made you a better person? Camp has made me a better person because it has taught me how to communicate better with people I did not know. Also it gave me the opportunity to experience the other side of the state. I had never been to the western side of the state until I went to camp.
Can you share some of leadership skills you gained through camp? I have always been able to talk to just about anyone, but because of camp, now I am able to go up front and talk in front of a group of people I have never met before.
Also, through camp I have learned how to be a mentor to younger campers. This is my second year at Leadership Camp so the younger campers in my room looked up to me to help them figure out camp.
Why do you want to serve on the Junior Advisory Council? I wanted to be a JAC because when I look back at my first year at camp, when I did not know anyone outside my cabin, if it had not been for Chaz Blotsky, who was a JAC, I would not have wanted to meet anyone outside my cabin.
He encouraged me to meet other campers. Just like Chaz helped me, I want to help other campers.
Brooke LaMont is a junior at Sturgis Brown High School. She lives on her family’s ranch near Union Center.
How has Farmers Union Camp made you a better person? Farmers Union has made me a better person by helping me develop more confidence and become more outgoing. It has also allowed me to dedicate myself to helping others when they need it. Helping others is something I have always believed in.
Sometimes people just need someone to help get them through a tough time. I am happy to be this person.
Can you share some of leadership skills you gained through camp? Camp has taught me how to communicate more effectively with my peers. I have also learned to be more adaptable in situations, problem solve and to be accountable for my actions and actions of the team. Camp has also given me a strong growth mindset.
A growth mindset is when you take a bad situation and turn it around for the better – not just for yourself but for your peers and those who look up to you.
Why do you want to serve on the Junior Advisory Council? I wanted to serve as a JAC to help campers become the best version of themselves, just as JACs and fellow campers have done for me. I want to help plan camp and give kids the same fun and educational environment. n By Lura Roti
When One Door Closes Another Door Opens –Billie Sutton Shares Words of Wisdom
Billie Sutton’s pro-rodeo career was cut short due to a tragic back injury. He was just 23 and he would never walk again.
Although his rodeo career ended, his life did not. Sutton shared his story of determination and service with campers during the 2024 Farmers Union State Leadership Camp.
“I could have never imagined what was in my cards when I was going down the rodeo road riding bucking horses, thinking of myself. I could have never imaged that this is where my life would be, but it has been so rewarding.”
Sutton said when he was told he would never walk again, he was able to move forward because of support from family and friends, his faith and a never say quit attitude.
“I adopted the mantra, ‘if one door closes, another one opens,’” he said. “Many times, doors opened for me because I’ve tried to say yes to opportunities.”
Right away, he made the decision to finish college. Then he said “yes” when asked to run for South Dakota State Senate. After serving eight years in the Senate, in 2017 he said “yes” to running for governor.
And although he didn’t win, Sutton said the loss is what led him and his wife, Kelsea, to found the Billie Sutton Leadership
Institute. Dedicated to inspiring and preparing the next generation of leaders to build a stronger South Dakota and more vibrant communities and workplaces through service to others, more than 70 rural professionals have graduated from the program.
“I was not done serving,” Sutton said. “If I would not have lost the governor’s race, I never would have founded this Leadership Institute…when one door closes, another one opens.”
Of the disappointments and challenges he has faced, Sutton said losing their newborn daughter, Lenny, was the most challenging. Lenore was their second born. She has an older brother, Liam. After losing their baby, Kelsea was told she would not be able to have any more children.
“We said ‘yes’ to surrogacy…and we ended up with twin boys who are 2 now,” Sutton said. “A lot of overcoming adversity is perspective and a never say quit attitude.”
Reflecting on the doors that have opened after adversity, Sutton said, “People sometimes look at me funny when I say it, but I wouldn’t change a thing because of what I know now.”
To learn more about Billie Sutton Leadership Institute, visit suttonleadership.org . To learn more about Farmers Union camp programming, visit www.sdfu.org and click on the Education link. n
By Lura Roti
Around the State with Farmers Union SD State High School Rodeo Finals
South Dakota Farmers Union members and staff are making a difference in rural communities across South Dakota.
Around the State with Farmers Union
South Dakota Farmers Union members and staff are making
The Label Dilemma
Doug Durante, Clean Fuels Development Coalition
In this very contentious election cycle, the idea of a candidate for office forgoing any party affiliation by running as a “No Label” option began to surface. Not a democrat. Not a republican. Not a libertarian, a Green Party or even an independent. The thinking was to put oneself out there and say don’t try to explain or define me, just look at my value and what I can do.
Labels can be good or bad, depending on the situation. SDFU would certainly know this following the COOL (country-oforigin labeling) issue. In the case of COOL, it was clearly good – it guarded against unknown, potentially unsafe foreign products in the market while promoting and informing on homegrown products.
For ethanol, labels can be good or bad but historically have been used to confuse and alarm consumers, stifle competition and generally cast doubt on ethanol. As
we documented in our book Gasolinegate, in the early days of the ethanol industry, many petroleum marketers used labels that were overtly negative, going as far as issuing a “warning” and urging “caution” for ethanol blends. Some of the labels were in bright orange or black and yellow, or some other subliminally negative color scheme.
From that standpoint, ethanol should be a “no labels” candidate – let it be an anonymous additive in gasoline that brings great value. However, by now anyone who fills their own gas tank would be familiar with the label on every gas pump reading “Contains 10% Ethanol”. Without providing any context, consumers are left to interpret what the label means, and it is often an assumption that it is something negative.
So, if there must be a label for ethanol, let’s turn that situation around and
make it a positive. EPA and supporters of the “Contains 10% Ethanol” label need to explain what it is they think that label says. What is the point – is clean, renewable ethanol something that consumers need to be warned about? Of course not. If they try to spin it that it is a positive message, then it is an incomplete thought. The ethanol and ag community needs to seize on this and demand a “Contains 10% Ethanol” label include language such as “Contains 10% ethanol to reduce harmful emissions” or “Contains 10% ethanol to reduce toxic carcinogens in gasoline” or “Contains 10% ethanol which reduces greenhouse gas emissions” or “Contains High Octane, Clean Burning Ethanol” and as we get to truly higher blends just drop the 10 percent figure.
There is absolutely no justifiable reason to not have such a label on gasoline pumps and what a simple and effective exercise in public education it would be.
And, if anyone supporting the existing label claims it is some kind of warning, as unfounded as that is, what about the toxic, carcinogenic compounds in gasoline?
If ever a warning was justified, the known carcinogen benzene and the benzene derivatives refiners use for octane should caution consumers to not touch the product or breathe the vapors. To make that point, when CFDC participated in the Society of Environmental Journalists’ Conference as reported in this column last month, we designed a benzene warning label that arguably should be on every gas pump in America. n
Union Farmer
2024 FARM BILL: ACT ONE
“Without a doubt, we will mark up a Farm Bill before Memorial Day,” said Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, at an event in early April.
Despite plenty of doubt and uncertainty, Thompson followed through with his pledge to move along the Farm Bill process. On the Senate side, Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) have done their parts, with each releasing their own Farm Bill frameworks. All of this action made for an eventful Farm Bill spring and more activity is likely in the summer and fall.
HOUSE: FARM, FOOD, AND NATIONAL SECURITY ACT
On May 17, Thompson rolled out H.R.8467, the “Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024” – the chairman’s mark of the 2024 Farm Bill. The bill includes a number of Farmers Union priorities, mostly pertaining to strengthening the farm safety net. However, NFU believes significant improvements are needed to advance the legislation further.
✔ Farm Safety Net
Thompson’s mark was billed as the first Farm Bill since 2002 that invests additional baseline dollars in the farm safety net. For the commodities title, the bill includes increases of 10 to 20 percent to the statutory reference prices for all covered commodities under Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC); increases to the ARC guarantee to 90 percent for the benchmark revenue for both ARC-Individual and ARC-County; and increases the maximum payment rate to 12.5 percent of benchmark revenue.
For the crop insurance title, the bill expands premium discounts for beginning and veteran farmers, develops new risk management products for specialty crops and disasters and channels more funds to private sector insurance providers. It boosts the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) to be similar to the Stacked Income Protection Plan for Upland Cotton (STAX) and provides premium support for SCO to 80 percent. Improvements are also made to the Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and SCO by raising their maximum coverage level to 90 percent.
Dairy provisions in the bill are focused on expanding coverage under Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) by increasing DMC Tier 1 from 5 million pounds of milk to 6 million pounds. The bill also directs USDA to change the Class I milk price formula back to the “higher-of” classes III or IV.
✔ Competition
Thompson’s mark does not contain provisions that prevent USDA from completing the ongoing Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act) rulemakings. In the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) appropriations cycle, the House agriculture appropriations bill contained a policy rider to block the rulemakings from proceeding. NFU strongly opposed this effort and helped defeat the inclusion of the rider in the final agriculture spending bill, thus leading to fears the same rider would be included in the House Farm Bill.
However, the chairman’s mark included provisions from the A-PLUS Act (“Amplifying the Processing of Livestock in the United States Act”) which allows certain market auction owners to hold ownership interests in small packing facilities, a practice currently prohibited under the P&S Act.
The bill also includes limited provisions from the Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2023 (H.R. 945), which NFU endorsed last year. These provisions would help small meat processing establishments with their Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans and increase USDA outreach on the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program.
✔ Conservation
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law in 2022, provided $20 billion for USDA’s voluntary conservation programs, many of which were oversubscribed and underfunded, to invest in climate-smart agriculture. Programs which received investments include the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).
Of the $20 billion from the IRA, roughly $14 billion remains unspent by USDA. The House bill takes the remaining funds and rolls them into the Farm Bill baseline, which will provide a long-term boost for conservation programs. However, Thompson’s mark removes the requirements these funds be used for practices that mitigate climate change and repurposes some of the funds to create new conservation programs.
✔ Nutrition
Thompson’s mark includes restrictions on future updates of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), an economic model used by USDA to calculate how much it costs a family of four to eat. TFP serves as the foundation for calculating maximum benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to reevaluate and publish an updated TFP. The Biden administration completed the required reevaluation in 2021, which increased the basic SNAP benefit from $4.50 per person to $6 per person per day. This was the first substantive TFP update since the program was established in the 1970s. House Republicans have argued USDA overreached with its update because of increased costs which Congress did not authorize.
The restrictions in the House Farm Bill still allow for USDA to review and update the market basket of goods that makes up the TFP but require any changes to be cost neutral, and benefit levels can only increase each year based on cost-of-living adjustments.
HOUSE MARKUP: RECAP AND MAJOR AMENDMENTS
On May 23, the House Agriculture Committee held a markup of H.R.8467. The markup lasted more than 13 hours, featuring lengthy opening statements in support of and opposition to Thompson’s mark.
During the markup, about 60 amendments were filed, 19 of which were relatively uncontroversial and adopted via an “en bloc” amendment, passing by a voice vote with near unanimous support. Several more amendments came before the committee for discussion and debate.
Of those offered, the most contentious and consequential debates centered around three issues, all of which failed on party-line votes:
• Reduced spending for the nutrition title via changes to the Thrifty Food Plan – Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT) offered an amendment to remove the cost-neutrality provisions.
• Repurposing funds allocated to climate initiatives through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – Rep.
Rob Larew National Farmers Union President
Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) offered an amendment to reinstate the climate sideboards in the IRA funding.
• Restricting USDA discretion over the use of Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) – Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) offered an amendment to strike the language that would repeal USDA’s authority to spend CCC funds.
The proposed restrictions and modifications have been advertised as a way to “pay for” other priorities, or generate savings, as calculated by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), to be used elsewhere in the bill.
During the markup, republicans and democrats sparred over whether the savings generated from restricting the secretary’s use of the CCC would amount to the levels Thompson has claimed. Estimates from the CBO are reportedly about $45 billion less than Thompson’s projections.
To wrap up the 13-hour markup, the bill was reported favorably out of committee by a vote of 33-21. Every republican member of the committee voted in favor, along with four democrats: Reps. Sanford Bishop (GA), Yadira Caraveo (CO), Don Davis (NC) and Eric Sorensen (IL).
SENATE FRAMEWORKS
Though no formal bill text has been introduced, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman have each published details of their proposals.
Stabenow’s proposal, the “Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act,” improves the farm safety through increased reference prices, stronger ARC/PLC formulas and an array of crop insurance improvements. Unlike the House bill however, it excludes the restrictions on Thrifty and the CCC and maintains the climate-smart guardrails in the IRA funding. Stabenow’s proposal also includes several Fairness for Farmers priorities, including the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act; making permanent USDA’s Cattle Contacts Library Pilot Program; and codifying USDA’s recently finalized “Product of USA” voluntary labeling rule.
Boozman’s framework, though offering less details, appears to mirror much of Thompson’s mark. The framework has many significant differences from Stabenow’s proposal, primarily on nutrition funding, climate change, and the CCC. On the latter, the framework suggests it will limit USDA’s discretion over spending CCC funds, though it does not completely restrict the secretary’s authority as the House bill does.
THE ROAD AHEAD
The 2018 Farm Bill was extended to Sept. 30, 2024. The House bill and Senate frameworks represent major progress in pursuit of a full five-year Farm Bill reauthorization this Congress.
Though the House bill includes a number of Farmers Union priorities, these improvements should not divide the broad coalition of support needed to pass a Farm Bill out of both chambers.
There is likely to be further activity in the Farm Bill process in the months ahead. Farmers Union members will have an important opportunity to influence the outcome during NFU’s Fall Legislative Fly-In on Sept. 9-11, 2024. n Current as of June 14, 2024
Union Farmer
From the President.... MCOOL Is Fairness for Farmers
Farmers Union has advocated for reinstatement of MCOOL (mandatory country-of-origin labeling) since it was repealed in 2015. And recently I received a letter from Sen. Mike Rounds stating that he is working to find a way to get MCOOL into the Farm Bill.
This is no simple task because MCOOL needs to be World Trade Organization (WTO) compliant. WTO compliance is the reason it was repealed in the first place. Now, you and I know that the real issue is foreign beef interests who don’t want U.S. consumers knowing their USDA-stamped hamburger is actually born, raised and harvested outside the U.S.
Recent USDA research proves what we’ve always known – consumers want to know where their food comes from. This research led USDA to restrict labeling Product of the USA or Made in the USA to meat harvested from animals born, raised and processed in the U.S. But this is a voluntary, not mandatory program.
It is about time U.S. farmers and ranchers receive a premium for the premiere product they produce, and consumers can trust labeling.
Thank you, Sen. Rounds for your continued work on this. I have had a few members ask me if there is anything they can do to help. First, I want to say, YOU have already done so much. Because of policy members put in place, South Dakota Farmers Union alongside National Farmers Union have held firm in our advocacy for MCOOL. Our grassroots efforts and testimony from members highlighted price-fixing activity among packers and spurred a DOJ investigation that is still underway.
At this time, we can do two things: 1. Share the video Sen. Rounds created on MCOOL to your social media (you can find the video and a copy of Sen. Rounds letter by scanning the QR code with your smart phone camera or by visiting https://sdfu.org/legislation/actiontaken/farm-bill/; 2. Take a minute to thank Sen. Rounds for his efforts. Contact information for his agriculture expert is below.
Grassroots policy is powerful.
It is the reason I encourage all members to attend the upcoming Policy Meeting: July 17 at 9 a.m. Grassroots policy starts with YOU.
We recognize this is a busy season for
Rep. Dusty Johnson
family farmers and ranchers, so Farmers Union set up a Zoom for this meeting. Members no longer have to spend half a day traveling. You can literally join in the conversation from the field. A board member from each district as well as the Policy Committee will attend in person.
The policy discussions you begin at the County and District level are continued at this Policy Meeting and then brought to our State Convention where members vote to make the final decision for the policy focus of our organization. Your input during this Policy Meeting matters.
Our fight for property rights began during a Policy Meeting. And although we did not win this fight in the State Legislature, property rights is winning at the polls.
Recent primary results show 14 incumbent legislators who supported the pipeline instead of property rights and voted for Senate Bill 201, did not get re-elected.
Leadership matters.
SDFU invests in developing leaders of all ages.
In June, more than 40 rural teens attended SDFU State Leadership Camp. These teens learned about teamwork, cooperatives and communication. Then, they got to put what they learned into action. And in July more than 100 youth are expected to attend the State Youth Camp.
Each year SDFU sponsors farm and ranch couples to participate in the Farmers Union Enterprise Leadership (FUEL) program and seven rural professionals to participate in the Billie Sutton Leadership Rural POWER class. Graduates of the FUEL program have been selected to serve as Next Generation Leaders on the National Farmers Union Board of Directors – Jeff Kippley, who is now our National Farmers Union Vice President, and currently, Rob Lee, a De Smet farmer.
In a few weeks, I look forward to discussing policy with Jeff, Rob and You! If you have any questions ahead of the policy meeting, please feel free to reach out to your District Board Member or me.
South Dakota Union Farmer, ISSN 0745-8797, publishes eight times per calendar year, with issues printed in January, February, March/April, May, June/July, August, September/ October and November/December. Periodical postage paid at Madison, S.D.
Karla Hofhenke, Publisher Lura Roti, Editor Wendy Sweeter, Copy Editor Diane Martinson, Layout & Design
All information for publication must be submitted by the 15th of the month. You may submit items to address below or email items to: sdfu@sdfu.org
POSTMASTER: Address changes to: SDFU, PO Box 1388, Huron, S.D. 57350-1388
Controller Wessington Springs Direct Line 605-554-3026
Rocky Forman. ext. 1170
Member Services Coordinator Cavour Direct Line 605-554-3025
Samantha Olerud.....ext 1160
Executive Administrative Asst. Direct line -605-554-3023
Karla Hofhenke ext. 1140
Executive Director Huron
Direct Line 605-554-3028
Samantha Olson ....... ext. 1250
Education Specialist
Mitchell Direct Line 605-554-3022
Shelby Landmark ext. 1220
Communication Specialist Iroquois Direct Line 605-554-3024
David Smith
Legislative/Farm Specialist Pierre Direct Line 605-350-8857
SDFU Board of Directors
Doug Sombke.........President Groton
Jeff Kippley Vice President
Aberdeen
Larry Birgen District I
Beresford
Scott Kolousek District II
Wessington Springs
Gail Temple District III
Clark
David Reis District IV Oacoma
Dallis Basel District V Union Center
Oren Lesmeister District VI Parade
Chad Johnson District VII Groton
Contact NFU National Farmers Union 20 F Street NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001
Rob Larew, President ~ Jeff Kippley, Vice President Darin Von Ruden, Secretary ~ Doug Sombke, Treasurer 202.554.1600 www.nfu.org
Doug Sombke, President South Dakota Farmers Union
Doug Sombke, SDFU President
Scan with smartphone to watch video of Sen. Rounds on MCOOL
Union Farmer
As a rodeo parent, Erica Steiner spends a lot of time during the season traveling with her husband, Brandon and their sons Blake, 16, and Cooper, 11.
“Every rodeo our sons compete in is at least an hour-plus drive,” she explained.
Get to Know Erica Steiner, Sisseton Agency
Hoping to bring a rodeo to their home community of Sisseton, Steiner and four other rodeo families formed a Bull Bash Committee. The women fundraised, promoted and organized while the men set up and ran the show. September 2023 the first annual Sisseton Bull Bash took place.
“We wanted something in Sisseton that our kids could compete in, and our community could enjoy together,” Steiner explained. “The Bull Bash brought in rodeo kids from all around the state and other states too. It was great!”
The Bull Bash Committee is hard at work again and the second annual event will be held Sept. 21. Steiner is the event’s secretary/treasurer.
“It is nice to donate time to my own community because this is a tight-knit community where everyone cares for each other, and we all want to see our kids succeed doing the things they love.”
Steiner’s commitment to her community stems from a deeprooted connection to Sisseton. She grew up just across the border in Browns Valley, Minnesota, and is a graduate of Sisseton High School. Today, her family raises crops, performance horses and cattle on her husband and father-in-law’s farm.
Before starting a family, when Steiner and her husband, Brandon, were just out of high school, the couple decided to start their careers in Sioux Falls. However, their community called them home when Brandon decided to join the military.
When the couple returned home to Brandon’s family farm,
Leadership
Camp Continued from Page 15
to meet new people is the number one leadership skill campers talk about. 2024 is the second year Riley Mutter has attended State Leadership Camp and the Sturgis Brown
Steiner began looking for a 9-to-5 job and was hired by a local insurance agent. She soon became licensed and discovered that the insurance work she did was more than a job.
“I enjoyed building relationships with our customers – the people in my community. I wanted to help them protect the things they worked so hard to build” she explained.
In 2014 Steiner joined Farmers Union Insurance and she became the owner of Steiner Insurance Agency Inc.
“Farmers Union Insurance feels like you are working in a family business because you have people in your corner to help you if you need it,” she said.
And she enjoys serving her community.
“I value the fact that I can help my friends and community members feel secure in the products they buy from me,” Steiner said. “My customers worked hard for what they have and I want to help them ensure their assets are protected.” n
Contact: Erica Steiner
605-698-7316 • Erica.Steiner@fumic.com
High School freshman credits his experiences at Farmers Union Camp with bolstering his confidence.
“Last year I was hiding in the corner during the dance, this year I was out in the middle dancing,” Mutter explained.
Next year, Mutter plans to attend Farmers Union Leadership Camp and he plans to interview to serve as a JAC. The 2024-2025 JACs will soon attend leadership training as they prepare for the upcoming Farmers Union Youth Leadership Camp held in late July.
Watch news stories featuring camp by visiting this article on our webpage, www. sdfu.org. To learn more about Farmers Union educational programming, visit www.sdfu. org and click on the Education Tab. n By Lura Roti
Erica Steiner with husband, Brandon, and sons, Blake and Cooper.
Sean Thompson and Aeriel Eitreim
Ethan Mutter & Chord Blotsky
DEPARTED
Deloris “Dee” Battest of Clark, formerly of Doland, age 95, died May 28, 2024, at Avantara, Watertown, with family by her side.
Deloris Ann Hoffmann was born on the farm on May 14, 1929, to John and Mary (Feterl) Hoffmann at Wessington. She became the bookkeeper at the Farmers Union Oil Co. for three years. Deloris moved to Huron and became employed in the insurance department of the South Dakota Farmers Union State Office. It was here that she became known as “Dee” as there was already an employee there by the same name. The name stuck as other family members by the name of Deloris were added. She remained there for five years before she married and moved to Doland. She married Lloyd Battest and they live on their farm east of Doland till 2014 when they moved into an apartment in Clark. She was a lifetime member of the South Dakota Farmers Union, being the county secretary and Educational Director for many years. She is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Mary (Andy) Raile of Aberdeen, Donna (Andy) Perrion of Sioux Falls and Gail (Brad) Temple of Clark, six grandchildren,
COOK’S CORNER
Anita Raile, Matthew Perrion, Louise (Andrew) Welbig, Daniel (Samantha) Perrion, Jordyn Temple and Jessica Temple, and great-grandchildren, Margaret and Boniface Welbig. Dee was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, of 57 years, who died in 2016, and her entire family –her parents, sisters, Sara Ann and Helen, and a brother, Delbert.
Thank You
South Dakota Farmers Union,
Thank you for the generous Ag Graduate School Scholarship! I recently completed my master’s degree in snimal dcience at North Dakota State University. This summer I will begin my PhD program at the University of Illinois to focus on ruminant nutrition. My plan after my PhD is to return to South Dakota to be a resource for livestock producers.
Thank you, Grady Gullickson
ORDER YOUR OWN COPY OF THE FARMERS UNION CENTENNIAL COOKBOOK
Cookbooks are $10 plus tax and shipping. Call 605-352-6761 or email sdfu@sdfu.org to place your order today!
Zucchini Walnut Bread
1 c. oil
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
3 ½ c. flour
1 ½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon ¾ tsp. baking powder 2 c. zucchini, raw and grated
1 c. raisins
½ c. walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat eggs and add sugar and oil. Beat well. Add 1 tsp. vanilla. Sift dry ingredients and add to sugar mixture alternately with zucchini, raisins and walnuts. Put into 2 greased loaf pans and bake for about an hour or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
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