May 2016 by South Dakota Farmers Union

South Dakota HURON, SD

MAY/JUNE 2016

UNION FARMER A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION

Camp Season Begins

New Education Director

Lucas Lentsch Q&A

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S.D. Farmers Union Celebrates Three Generations of Farm Moms This Mother’s Day

s we reflect on the women who raised us this Mother’s Day, S.D. Farmers Union would like to celebrate the many women who support the state’s number one industry – Farm and Ranch Moms! Read on to learn the story of three mothers. Each woman represents a different generation of women born and raised on South Dakota farms and ranches, who married a farmer or rancher. These women share their story and reflect on raising children on their South Dakota farm or ranch. Corrie “Vedvei” Holt, 35, mother of three: Hadlee, 8; Bentlee, 5; and Cambree, 1. Each year around Easter, cow/calf pairs are turned into the pastures which surround the home Corrie “Vedvei” Holt shares with her husband, DJ, and their daughters: Hadlee, 8; Bentlee, 5; and Cambree, 1. The family had been traveling when Papa Al moved the pairs. As they approached the house, Hadlee exclaimed, “Mom look! We have cows in our pasture. Now that’s something worth coming home to!” Corrie says the comment warms her heart. “I love looking out the window and seeing cattle,” explains Corrie of the reason she and DJ purchased a small piece of land

Mothers Continued on Page 14

Rural Dakota Pride Nominations Open!

Know someone who gives back to your community? Nominate them for the SDFU Foundation Rural Dakota Pride Award. Nominations due July 1, 2016. To learn more, contact Karla Hofhenke, 605-352-6761, ext. 114.

South Dakota Farmers Union Celebrates the Symens Farm Family 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 number one industry and help feed the world. This month, we’re highlighting the Symens family who raise crops, purebred Limousin cattle and a feedlot near Amherst.

Two generations of Symens men farm together near Amherst. R to L: Irwin and his son, Brad; John, Warren and his dad, Paul.

“I

t’s a garden spot … if we get rain,” says Paul Symens, 72, when describing the land his grandpa, Harm Symens, purchased in 1910 near Amherst. For more than a century, the Symens family has cared for and farmed the land, which today supports a diverse farming operation that includes cropground, purebred Limousin cattle and a feedlot managed by Paul, his two brothers, Irwin, 80, and John, 69, Irwin’s son, Brad, 46, and Paul’s son, Warren, 38. Since the beginning, rain – the lack of or over-abundance of – has played a significant role in the management decisions made by the Symens family. For Harm and his son, Wilbert, the Dust Bowl days made soil conservation and erosion control

Symens Family Cont. on Page 2

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The Symens family: (Left to Right) Stephanie and Warren and their three children; John & Shirley; Paul & Faye; Irwin & Cleo and Brad (not pictured is Brad's fiance, Jenn Meintsma (we apologize for the low photo quality).

Symens Family Continued from Page 1 a focus of their field management. Irwin recalls a 1936 story of his dad planting corn in May which didn’t sprout until September when it received its FIRST rain … only to be killed by frost at 6-inches. “That same year dad mowed 160 acres of ground and all that grew was thistles. He stacked the thistles, mixed them with molasses and that’s what he fed the cattle. That was the year I was born,” says Irwin, who is the second oldest of nine children raised on the farm by Wilbert and his wife, Inga. Implementing novel conservation techniques, like tree belts and strip tilling, earned the family some fame when in 1936 Harm was featured in Cappers Farmer magazine under the headline,

The farm raises most of what Warren feeds the cattle they finish in their feedlot. Warren feeds a mixed ration that includes corn silage, modified distillers grain from the local ethanol plant, high moisture corn and ground alfalfa hay.

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“Uncommon Effort Won Over Drought.” Today, the Symens continue the legacy of conservation, managing their fields with minimaltill techniques to increase water infiltration and leaving half of all corn stubble in the field to build organic matter. The stubble removed from fields is used as bedding for cattle. It is then reapplied once it’s been utilized as bedding. "At this point it’s partially decomposed and has added nutrients of the manure," Warren explains. “Dad always taught us that all new wealth has to come out of this ground. Whether you mine it, grow it or fish it out of the sea – it all comes out of this ground and we are in charge of taking care of it,” Irwin says. Irwin and his wife, Cleo, have four grown children: Susan Hardina, Jeannine Walker, Connie Christians and Brad. During the Depression years Wilbert slowly began expanding the farm, renting land from insurance companies. “They said, ‘If you get a crop, please pay us a little,’” Paul explains. “In those days the insurance companies ended up owning a lot of land because farmers who had rented it from them could no longer pay.” Timing, Paul adds, like in most things, is a big reason his family is still farming today. “There were a lot of good farmers in the late 20s who bought land planning on a great future, but the 30s changed that. There was nothing you could do about that. My dad got his start with grandpa and renting land. Dad often said that looking back, times were tough and it was bad, but he said, we would never see the opportunities he had because it takes so much more investment to get started.” Paul and his wife, Faye, have five grown children: Patricia Laedtke, Jill Beaner, Jeffrey, Stephanie

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Webster and Warren. Wilbert bought the farm from Harm in 1941. In 1973, South Dakota State University named Wilbert Symens an Eminent Farmer. He retired in 1966, which is when his sons formed a partnership, Symens Bros. Listening to his sons and grandsons visit about the farm today, it’s obvious that Wilbert’s philosophy on conservation and progressive farming methods is still very much alive in 2016. “I’ve been handed opportunity – we all have with this farm – so we all work not to get ahead of ourselves and to learn from our mistakes and make the most of this opportunity we’ve been given and take care of the land for future generations,” explained Warren. In order for the farm to support five families, the brothers and their sons have relied more on

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Symens Family Cont. on Page 4

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A Message to the Membership from the

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Board of Dire

ctors: There have been some questions raised about the election in December 2015. As we informed you in a letter dated April 1, 2016, the board considered the concerns and hired an attorney to look into the election process and our bylaw Along with the outside attorney, we hav s. e determined that the election was in com pliance with our bylaws and the results stand. Here are the truthful facts that wil l help dispel the rumors and myths: • Delegates are chosen at the county lev el and given a delegate card; • Delegate cards are reviewed by the credentials committee; • The 2015 Credentials Committee we re SDFU members in good standing. Th ey are Mary Ellen Cammack, Laura Ries, and Ann Tornberg; • All delegate names were posted on the wall at the convention for all attendees to see; • The 2015 Credentials Committee pas sed on all delegates; • All delegates come from counties con sidered active – each of those counties were eligible to receive dues allocations as prescribed in the bylaws; • At the Convention, some members cha llenged the delegates from two counties at election time; • By a majority vote, the Convention attendees voted to allow the challenged delegates to vote; • The Credentials Committee report wa s approved and the election proceeded; • The Credentials Committee oversaw the ballot count; • Dave Velde, National Farmers Union ’s General Counsel (lawyer) witnessed the count; • All ballots have been retained in a sea led envelope at the state office, along wit h a copy of the credentials report. We hope this clarifies the process and ans wers any lingering questions. We have a bright future and are excited about the days ahead.

South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation Receives a $500 Grant for Jr. Rural Economics and Leadership Grant provided by Farm Credit Services of America Working Here Fund for Agriculture Education

outh Dakota Farmers Union Foundation received a $500 Working Here Fund grant for Junior Rural Economics and Leadership (Jr. REAL). The grant is provided through Farm Credit Services of America’s (FCSAmerica) Working Here Fund. South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation will be hosting Junior Rural Economics and Leadership (Jr. REAL), which is a new innovative leadership development program for high school juniors and seniors. Students participate in hands-on exercises to learn about leadership development, credit issues and identity theft, life skills and motivation. “As a result of Jr. REAL, the students enhance their personal and civic responsibilities as positive citizens of rural South Dakota and learn about taking

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ownership of responsibility for self, family and community,” said Kecia Beranek, South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation. “We value the opportunity to support local organizations dedicated to improving the rural communities where we live and work,” said Michelle Pluta, regional vice president of retail operations at FCSAmerica’s Huron office. South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation is one of 107 organizations to receive a Working Here Fund grant in the first quarter of 2016. FCSAmerica awarded $179,000 during the latest grant cycle ending March 31, 2016. About South Dakota Farmers Union South Dakota Farmers Union supports programs and advance efforts that further

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economic prosperity and cultural vitality in rural South Dakota. About Farm Credit Services of America Farm Credit Services of America is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of rural America, including the special needs of young and beginning producers. With nearly $24.8 billion in assets and $4.3 billion in members’ equity, FCSAmerica is one of the region’s leading providers of credit and insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and rural residents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Learn more at www.fcsamerica.com. Courtesy of Farm Credit Services of America

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UNION FARMER Symens Family Continued from Page 2 diversification than expansion. “We are always looking at how we can maximize our profit per acre, whether that is in grain or livestock,” explains John, who together with his wife, Shirley, have a grown daughter, Carmen Huizinga. “Dad and grandfather never shipped anything off the farm unless it was ready for market – whether that was cows or hogs.”

Brad prepares to plant soybeans.

Excess moisture motivated the Symens to replace their open feedlots with hoop barns.

Like their dad and grandpa before them, the older generation is good about listening to the younger generations’ ideas, says Brad. “They are good about taking the time to listen to our ideas and explain things to us.” Brad will marry Jenn Meintsma June 18. Paul adds, “It allows us each to do other things, which if we farmed on our own, we couldn’t do.” Paul served eight two-year terms in the South Dakota Senate (1987-1994 and 1996-

materials,” Paul says. Following his dad’s footsteps, Irwin has been actively involved in the Marshall County Crop Improvement Association since the 1960s. He even raised seed for the organization. “Seed genetics and technologies have come a long way – and the new breeds of corn have really impacted yields,” said Irwin, who has also served on several boards including Zion Reformed Church of Amherst, Brown Day Marshall Rural Water Board, Marshall County Conservation District and South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts. Wilbert did however ignore the experts’ advice when it came to crossbreeding. “They told him cross breeding wouldn’t benefit his cattle herd,” John said. He explains that improving their commercial herd’s genetics is how the family got into raising Limousin cattle. “We were always feeding our own cattle and Limousin were advertised as a carcass breed which exhibited extra muscle,” says John. He explains that they got their start AIing their commercial herd. Progressive in all aspects of their farming operation, in addition to extensive EPD data, John has been collecting DNA data from the purebred herd for a while now. “We have been testing all females and bulls for the last few years. We know it’s coming and we want to be on the forefront when when it arrives,” says John who, like his brothers, has served on his church and other

John manages the family’s 275-head purebred Limousin herd. Early on, each son took over managing the aspect of the farm they were most passionate about. Irwin was responsible for crops; Paul took over the commercial feedlot operation. Today Irwin and Paul have taken on more advisory roles, with Brad and Warren managing the crops and feedlot. “We continue to make all major decisions together,” Irwin says.

2004) and has been actively involved in his church and community, serving on several cooperative boards and South Dakota Farmers Union, recently retiring from 36 years serving on the Farmers Union Industries board and in 2004 Paul was recognized by SDSU as an Eminent Farmer. Although the men have always been Paul, Irwin and John Symens are the third generation to conservative spenders, they have also farm the land their dad, Wilbert, and grandpa, Harm, farmed before them. They stand outside the farmhouse been quite progressive – Wilbert was the where they all grew up. It was built by Harm in 1917. The first of their neighbors to apply barn above was built shortly after. commercial fertilizer to his fields. “Dad read everything. He worked with SDSU and Extension a lot. He got all their pamphlets and Cont. on Page 13

Symens Family

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Farmers Union Members Report from Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board

ver see a cut of beef on sale at the meat counter, but have no idea how to prepare it? Well, there’s an app for

that! Beeflexible is one of many ways the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB) uses Checkoff dollars to engage with consumers, explains Tammy Basel, a Union Center sheep and cattle rancher and one of two South Dakota Farmers Union members appointed by Sec. of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to serve on the CBB. The other member appointed is Frederick cattleman, Eric Sumption. “Some Checkoff dollars are used to Eric Sumption encourage consumers to eat more beef. The Beeflexible app allows consumers to simply type in a cut of beef in their smart phone and it gives them several meal options,” Basel explains. Basel learned about this app and the multitude of other Tammy Basel programs and projects Checkoff dollars support during a recent CBB orientation meeting held in Colorado for the 33 new board members. All told, the board is made up of 100 cattle producers from across the nation. South Dakota has eight members serving on the board. “I left the meeting with a new respect for just how important our Checkoff is,” Sumption explains. “In addition to helping consumers understand that beef is a safe product to eat, the Checkoff works to expand global markets for beef.” For every $1 a beef producer pays into the Checkoff, Sumption’s research shows an $11 return.

NFU Farm Bill Survey WWW.SDFU.ORG

In addition to marketing campaigns targeting consumers and market expansion, Basel and Sumption add that Checkoff dollars also support many research projects designed to reveal health benefits of eating beef, aid producers by increasing profits on lower demand cuts and dispel myths. Before the orientation, Basel and Sumption were sent a binder full of materials to review which outlined their duties as board members and went into detail on the role of the CBB. “It took a lot of time to prepare for this meeting, but I’m glad we all put in the time because they noticed,” Basel explains. “First of all, it was the first time they had all new members turn out for orientation and they kept saying how impressed they were by how prepared we all were and the questions we were asking.” "Secretary Vilsack made a good choice. Tammy and Eric live and breathe the cattle industry. Combined, they have extensive experience in all areas of the cattle industry as well as experience in promoting the industry by serving on state and national boards," says

Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union. The next CBB meeting Basel and Sumption will attend is in July. They will serve a threeyear term on the board, representing cattle producers from across the state and nation. “The CBB falls under the USDA; once you’re on this board, you are supposed to represent livestock producers from across the nation-not just South Dakota,” Sumption explains. More about the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board The 100-member board is authorized by the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985. The Secretary selects the appointees nominated by beef, veal, dairy, and importerscertified organizations. The board contracts with established national, non-profit, industry-governed organizations to implement programs of promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications To learn more, visit mybeefcheckoff .com

The 2014 Farm Bill expires on September 30, 2018, so it is absolutely critical that NFU works with membership to identify key policy areas for improvement in the 2018 Farm Bill. In doing so, NFU has created a survey on the 2014 farm bill and is asking its members to fill it out online so that the organization can better advocate for farm programs that work for farmers. The survey is meant to compliment a series of member listening sessions held across the country. Please visit http://bit.ly/NFUSurvey to participate in the survey. Courtesy of NFU

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It’s Camp Season 2016

rowing up on a farm south of Gregory, Dowain Kerner didn’t give his dad, Dean’s, career much thought. That is, until he began attending Farmers Union Camp as a kid. “I was born on a farm; it’s what my dad does for a living. But when I was little, I wasn’t into farming at all. Attending camp really gave me an interest in farming,” says Kerner, 18, who has been attending Farmers Union Camp since he was 8. Positive peer pressure is how Kerner explains his change of heart. “I really connected with the kids and leaders at Farmers Union Camp. They were excited about farming, ranching and cooperatives – this sparked an interest in me.” Finished with his first year at the School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, Kerner is pursuing Chemical Engineering with the hopes of putting his degree to work for the agriculture industry. “I thought it would be cool to work for a company that produces products my dad and other farmers use to protect or enhance their crops,” explains the 2015 Torchbearer. Like Kerner, each summer more than 2,000 rural youth ages 6 through high school seniors attend one or more of Farmers Union’s 58 county day camps; three,

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three-day district camps and one state leadership camp. Through fun activities, Farmers Union teaches rural youth about cooperatives and farm safety where they can gain confidence, friendships and leadership skills, all while learning about the state’s number one industry, explains Rachel Haigh-Blume, S.D. Farmers Union Education Director. “Today, as we become more and more removed from farms, South Dakota’s kids need to know about agriculture and its economic impact on our state,” says HaighBlume, who is new to Farmers Union, but is a veteran camp director. In her previous career she worked with approximately 5,000 youth each year through in-classroom activities and camps. “Camp is an environment where kids can have fun and learn at the same time,” explains Haigh-Blume, who grew up on a farm west of Hitchcock and currently lives on a farm near Tulare with her husband, Brian. “Whether these youth live on farms or have never set foot on a farm – it’s our goal to teach them in an impactful way about South Dakota’s agriculture to encourage them to support the state’s family farmers and ranchers.” In her role, Haigh-Blume guides the team of teens who serve on the Junior Advisory and Senior Advisory Councils, as well as the Farmers Union college interns. These youth

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come up with the camp theme, develop the camp curriculum and lead the camp activities. “I enjoy working with camp staff and teaching them how to be compassionate and motivated leaders so they can lead not only youth but others in their own personal growth,” Haigh-Blume says. Kerner added that the leadership and interpersonal skills he developed through involvement in Farmers Union Youth Programming has helped him as a college student. “I came to the School of Mines alone. I had to make a whole new circle of friends on my own. Farmers Union Camp really helped me become more comfortable talking to people. When I first came to camp, I was a really shy kid who didn’t talk to anyone other than my parents,” explains Kerner, who during 2014 State Camp was voted by his peers to receive the Bob Janish Memorial Friendship Award. Each year this award is given to a camper who exemplifies the most friendship toward other campers throughout the week. Reconnecting with friends from across South Dakota is the reason Hannah Sumption looks forward to attending Farmers Union camp year after year. “The friends I have made through Farmers Union have taught me not to be afraid to be

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UNION FARMER myself,” Sumption says. The Frederick Area High School sophomore has been attending camp for as long as she can remember. “My Grandma Sumption helps with camp, so all us grandkids went with her.” More about Farmers Union Camps Teaching the next generation about the

Dowain Kerner, 2015 Torchbearer.

cooperative system while helping them develop leadership and citizenship has been at the heart of Farmers Union youth educational programming since it was introduced to the state organization in the early 1940s. Each summer the more than 50 County Day Camps are made possible thanks to the volunteer efforts of County Education Directors who volunteer their time to organize the hosting sites for the more than 50 county day camps throughout South Dakota. Together with the efforts of S.D. Farmers Union state staff, interns and youth elected to serve on the Junior Advisory and Senior Advisory Councils, approximately 2,000 youth attend one or more S.D. Farmers Union Camps. Read on to learn more about these camps. For dates, times, locations and registration information for a camp near you, visit www.sdfu.org, click on the Education tab and scroll down to Youth Camps. You can also contact S.D. Farmers Union Education Director, Rachel Haigh-Blume at 605-3526761, ext: 125 or rachel@sdfu.org. Farmers Union District & Day Camps South Dakota Farmers Union youth will look at how bees work together as they study the theme, “Cooperation of Bees.” Bees

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operate in a community to gather pollen and traditions. Each child will also receive a free Tproduce honey and wax. They are valuable shirt courtesy of Farmers Union Insurance. to agriculture through their pollination Farmers Union State Leadership Camp is practices and provide an excellent platform to held June 12-17, 2016. This week-long is held look at how people can work together to at Storm Mountain Center just outside Rapid accomplish tasks. Youth will also learn how City. During this camp, youth organize and beekeepers have pooled together to create a operate five cooperative businesses. They also honey cooperative, and how being a part of a community means focusing on positive Camp Continued on Page 22 attitudes and actions toward others. SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS All youth ages 6-13 are invited to attend. UNION CAMPS—2016 The honeybee’s cooperative nature and For times, locations and registration information, and ability to succeed because any rescheduling information, visit www.sdfu.org of community will also be and click on the Youth Calendar tab. highlighted through fun MAY 24 Faulk Co. Camp, Faulkton leadership development 25 Clark Co. Camp, Clark activities designed to teach youth about cooperatives 26 Hyde Co. Camp, Highmore and working together to 27 Hand Co. Camp, Miller build stronger 31 Jones Co. Camp, Murdo communities. JUNE 1 Haakon-Jackson Co. Camp, Philip “Like a successful hive, 1 Campbell/Walworth Co. Camp, Herreid by working together we all can accomplish more. What 2 Potter Co. Camp, Hoven a fun way to teach youth 3 Hughes/Sully/Stanley Co. Camp, Onida about the role cooperatives 3 Yankton Co.& Safety Camp, Yankton play in our state, as well as 6-8 District I & II Camp, Swan Lake the important role each of 12-17 State Leadership Camp, Custer them can play in their 21-25 All State’s Camp, Bailey, CO communities,” said Rachel 22 Brule/Buffalo Co. Camp, Kimball Haigh-Blume, South Dakota Farmers Union 22 Corson Co. Camp, McIntosh State Education Director. 23 Kingsbury Co. Camp, DeSmet “Because of the important 23 Butte/Lawrence Co. Camp, Spearfish role honeybees play in 27 Lyman Co. Camp, Reliance agriculture, they have been 27 Tripp Co. Camp, Colome in the news quite a bit 28 Gregory Co. Camp, Fairfax lately. Kids are aware of what is going on in their 29 Gregory Co. Camp, Gregory world – this opens up great 30 Codington/Hamlin Co., Watertown opportunities to dialogue JULY 5 Douglas Co. Camp, Armour about what today’s farmers 6 Jerauld Co. Camp, Wess. Springs do to take care of our 11 Marshall Co. Camp, Britton natural resources.” County day camps are 12 Roberts Co. Camp, Wilmot affordable for families and 13 Day Co. Camp, Webster include a day packed with 18 Edmunds/McPherson Co. Camp, Roscoe fun activities, crafts, 18 Spink Co. Camp, Frankfort cooperative education and 19 Brown Co. & Safety Camp, Aberdeen farm safety information.All 21 Minnehaha Co. Camp, Hartford campers will receive a free T-shirt, courtesy of Farmers 24 District III & VII Camp, Aberdeen Union Insurance. 28 McCook County Camp, Salem The three-day District 31-Aug. 2 Camp is filled with District IV,V & VI Camp, Bob Marshall interactive games, singing, Lincoln Co. Camp, Tea AUG. 3 crafts, canoeing, camp fires and many other camp

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UNION FARMER Golf Tournament Funds Leadership Education for Agriculture’s Next Generation

un and raising funds for the next generation of agricultural leaders is the focus of the 2016 Farmers Union Foundation Open Golf Tournament which will be held June 21, 2016, at the Lakeview Golf Course in Mitchell (3300 N Ohlman St., Mitchell). The tournament will be a four-person, 18-hole scramble. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. (CDT); shotgun start is at 9 a.m. All event proceeds benefit Farmers Union Education Camp Programs, Leadership Development Programs, Young Producers Group and Youth Farm Safety Awareness. “Investing in rural youth is investing in the future of South Dakota’s number one industry,” said Jim Wahle, SDFU Board member who helped launch the S.D. Farmers Union Foundation endowment by investing the first $10,000. Wahle farms near Salem and serves as District 2 Farmers Union President. For several years he has been the event’s organizer, but this year he’s entrusting the planning to Kecia Beranek, S.D. Farmers Union Communications Specialist. Each year more than 3,000 youth, farmers, ranchers and rural leaders participate in S.D. Farmers Union leadership and farm safety programming, such as district day camps, weeklong leadership camps, Young Producer Events, Rural Economic Leadership Development (REAL) and Jr. REAL programs. “Golf is a fun way to fundraise. It’s a social sport that brings people together in a relaxed setting,” explained Beranek, who has been golfing since elementary school and belongs to a local league in her hometown of Miller. “This tournament is not about prizes or money, although there is a small monetary prize presented – it’s all about giving back to the Foundation to support camps, farm safety, young producers, Jr. REAL, and REAL, which all help develop leaders.”

SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION FOUNDATION 1410 DAK AVE S • PO BOX 1388 HURON, SOUTH DAKOTA 57350

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UNION FARMER Celebrating a century of service to South Dakota farm and ranch families and rural communities, education and leadership development have been a focus of the organization since its beginning, explained Doug Sombke, S.D. Farmers Union President. “Although agriculture is our state’s number one industry, there are fewer and fewer folks involved. So those who are actively involved in production agriculture or serve in a supporting role need to also be equipped with the leadership skills necessary to advocate for the industry – whether they are 6 or 60,” Sombke said. Wahle added that along with leadership development, Farmers Union education programs also teach rural youth about the cooperatives which play an integral role in many rural communities. “Those of us who live in rural South Dakota depend heavily upon cooperatives and it’s important our youth understand how they work. I bank at a cooperative, I get my phone and internet service from a cooperative, I purchase most of my farm inputs from a cooperative, I buy my fuel from a cooperative, and I sell most of my grain to a cooperative,” Wahle said. To learn more about Farmers Union youth leadership programs, visit www.sdfu.org. Beranek is currently looking for team and hole sponsors. To learn more, contact the state Farmers Union office at 605-3526761, ext. 113 or kberanek@sdfu.org.

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Time To Consider CSP

ould you like to improve soil health, water and air quality, wildlife and pollinator habitat or energy efficiency on your land? The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers farmers and ranchers technical and financial support to achieve these goals on working lands. And producers who have thought about CSP in the past may need to give the program another look; NRCS recently made changes that will make CSP work better for smaller and beginning farmers. CSP is a competitive program; applications are scored and ranked based on the conservation benefits to be achieved by each proposed contract. The scoring process takes ongoing conservation activities into account, so applicants can become more competitive by making improvements. Unlike other conservation programs, CSP payments are calculated using the environmental benefits achieved on your farm or ranch as opposed to cost sharing for projects or per-acre rentals. This encourages an approach to conservation planning that considers the entire farm. Practices considered in making CSP payments include, but are not limited to, cover crops, no-till, Integrated Pest Management, precision nutrient applications, native grass and legume planting in pasture, and forested riparian zone management. The combination of good stewardship, financial incentives, and, in many cases, improved margins by reducing input or feed cost make CSP an especially attractive program for smaller and beginning producers. NRCS has taken steps to make the program more accessible to them. NRCS has raised the minimum annual payment from $1,000 to $1,500, guaranteeing any producer who secures a CSP contract an additional $500 a year. The increased minimum more accurately reflects the costs producers face implementing conservation practices. Interested producers should visit their local USDA Service Center to learn more and begin the application process. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but cut-off dates are set to review a year’s applications together. Courtesy of NFU

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UNION FARMER Farmers Union Quiz Bowl Encourages Youth to Think about Farm & Ranch Safety

Lyman FFA Chapter: 55 Points (Left to Right: Korder Cropsey, Conrad MohrEymer, Eli Fanning, and Grant Stewart).

McCook Central FFA Chapter: 90 Points (Left to Right: Melissa Lauck, Leslie Kolbeck, Kohl Miller, and Jordan Scheier).

Sunshine Bible FFA Chapter: 70 Points (Left to Right: Christopher Hass, Evan Lopez, Shelby Belmore, and Titus Deal).

Viborg/Hurley FFA Chapter: 110 Points (Left to Right: Logan Slack, Alison Knutson, Abby Hora, and Annie Wirth).

our FFA Chapters placed in the Farmers Union Team Up for Safety Quiz Bowl held in conjunction with the 2016 South Dakota State FFA Convention in Brookings and will be advancing to the state competition held during the 2016 South Dakota State Fair. The qualifying teams are, in order of highest score, the Viborg/Hurley FFA Chapter, team members include: Logan Slack, Alison Knutson, Abby Hora and Annie Wirth; the McCook Central FFA Chapter, team members include: Melissa Lauck, Leslie Kolbeck, Kohl Miller, and Jordan Scheier; Sunshine Bible FFA Chapter, team members include: Christopher Hass, Evan Lopez, Shelby Belmore and Titus Deal; and the Lyman FFA Chapter, team members include Korder Cropsey, Conrad MohrEymer, Eli Fanning and Grant Stewart. Designed as a fun way to inform teens about farm safety, South Dakota Farmers Union hosts the Team Up For Safety Quiz Bowl each year during the FFA Convention. “This quiz bowl is a fun way for high school students to learn about safety on the farm or ranch,” said Doug Sombke, South Dakota Farmers Union President, of the competition that asks FFA members questions on farm and ranch safety. “We hope with the information they’ll learn at the quiz bowl they’ll be prepared if they’re ever faced with an emergency situation or if they’re working

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with livestock or doing any other potentially dangerous job on the farm.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1 million youth, under the age of 20, live on farms in the U.S. Over half of them do farmrelated work. Sombke points out that agriculture is often listed among the most dangerous occupations in America. Because of the large machinery they work with, along with chemical hazards, unpredictable livestock and enclosed spaces like grain bins that hold thousands of pounds of grain, farm workers face many risks. FFA member Abby Hora says the more teens think about farm safety, the more likely they are to avoid accidents. “Like me, many of my friends grew up on farms; it’s important for teens to think about farm safety, especially when they visit farms they are not familiar with,” explains Hora, a senior at Viborg/Hurley and vice president of the Viborg/Hurley FFA Chapter. McCook Central FFA member, Jordan Scheier, agrees. “Farm safety is especially important for South Dakota teens because we live in rural communities where at least once a year someone we know gets hurt really badly in a farm accident that could have been avoided.” Scheier says he is impressed that S.D. Farmers Union took the time to host the event

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during the FFA Convention. “When we got started we thought the quiz bowl was pretty cool. Then we started scoring points and decided we might as well put our all into it and see if we couldn’t score high enough to compete at the State Fair.” Providing education to South Dakota farm and ranch families and rural communities is a cornerstone of South Dakota Farmers Union, explains Karla Hofhenke, SDFU Executive Director. “Youth are our future. Each year more than 3,000 youth participate in one of the many youth educational programs Farmers Union runs. Farm safety is often one of the many topics we cover because it’s vital – for youth and adults.” More than 70 youth competed during the FFA State Convention. The four teams will meet again to compete during Farmers Union Day at the State Fair, where the Team Up For Farm Safety champion team will be named. “I’m looking forward to the championship quiz bowl and think that Farmers Union supporting an organization like the FFA is a big deal,” says Conrad Mohr-Eymer, vice president of the Lyman FFA Chapter. MohrEymer farms with his family near Reliance where they raise cattle, sheep and goats. To learn more about S.D. Farmers Union Youth Educational Programming, visit www.sdfu.org.

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UNION FARMER Around the State With Farmers Union Read on to learn how South Dakota Farmers Union members and staff are making a difference in rural communities across South Dakota.

SDFU Hosts Agriculture Risk Coverage Informational Meetings South Dakota Farmers Union held three informational meetings on Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) program which was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The meetings focused on the ARC and how the program can benefit farmers and their operations. More than 70 farmers attended the meetings held in Miller, Wakonda and Tyndall. Follow up meetings will be held in those counties. An additional meeting will be held in Potter County once planting season is complete. Any SDFU members interested in hosting one of these informational meetings in their county can contact Kecia Beranek, SDFU Communications Specialist, at 605-352-6761, ext. 113 or KBeranek@sdfu.org.

By request of the membership during the State Convention held in Huron Dec. 9 and 10, 2015, a committee of members has been put together by South Dakota Farmers Union to review the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current bylaws. The committee is made up of the following members: Paul Symens, Jim Erk, David Reis, Gary Hanson, Elsie Meeks, Brett Healy and Taylor Sumption.

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Meet the 2016 South Dakota Farmers Union Intern Team

ach summer approximately 2,000 youth participate in one or more of South Dakota Farmers Union’s summer camps. Through fun, interactive activities, South Dakota youth learn about farm safety and how cooperatives work – they also gain confidence and develop leadership skills. College interns play an integral role in helping host these events. They are selected through an application and interview process. “I feel that any time you give students a chance to lead, it enhances their capabilities later in life. This internship provides them with a great platform to learn leadership in many scenarios, which is also important to develop life skills,” said Rachel Haigh-Blume, S.D. Farmers Union Education Director. “From conflict management, to team development, to working with different personalities, to engaging students in different ways … there are multiple ways to develop leadership skills that can be used for a lifetime.” Read on and get to know the 2016 Intern Team.

Jason Hanson A 2015 Torchbearer from Britton, Jason Hanson has been attending Farmers Union youth programming since he was 6. Serving as a Farmers Union Intern has been on his bucket list for quite a while. “I remember the interns when I was a camper growing up, and I always thought they were fun and had a fun job,” explains the North Dakota State University Animal Science major. Q: Why is farm safety an important part of camp curriculum? A: During camp programs kids learn basic farm safety tips and rules that they may not be exposed to anywhere else. I remember learning these when I was young and they absolutely helped me and my siblings be safe on the farm. For example, I help clean out grain bins a couple times a summer and I always look up to make sure there are no clumps. Also, I am very aware of PTO shafts and open augers and keep a safe distance. Q: What excites you most about this internship? A: I am most looking forward to working with the kids and teaching them about leadership, agriculture and farm safety. During this first year of college, there have been several times that the skills I gained through Farmers Union Youth Programming came in handy. For one thing, I am not afraid of public speaking because of the speaking

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Left to right: Jason Hanson, Katy Hines, Leslie Brondsema, Danielle Schmitz, Natalie Kuipers.

skills I developed as a camper and as a Junior Advisory Council member. Q: You have been actively involved in Farmers Union this year, serving as a delegate at the State and National Conventions. Why do you remain involved? A: I am impressed by the impact South Dakota Farmers Union and the national organization have on not only our state, but on the whole nation. I am proud of all the great things Farmers Union has lobbied for in Pierre and in D.C. COOL (Country of Origin Labeling) is something I still believe needs to happen and I know Farmers Union has been a big supporter of this – and they still are fighting the good fight for family farmers and ranchers.

Leslie Brondsema Leslie Brondsema, 21, applied for the Farmers Union Internship because the Huron native wants to educate youth about agriculture and see more of her state. “Other than traveling for high school sports, I really haven’t explored much of my own state. I’m eager to visit all the communities where we host day camps,” explained the Northwestern College student who is pursuing degrees in History and Literature. Q: Why do you think rural youth need to learn about agriculture? A: Just because they might live in a rural community doesn’t mean that they live on a farm or ranch. Agriculture is so important to our state’s economy. We need to make sure South Dakota kids understand the important

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role farmers and ranchers play in not only our state, but the world. The work they do feeds the world! Q: There are many internships available, why did you select this internship? A: Like I said, I’m passionate about agriculture education. My uncles and grandparents all farm, so growing up I spent my summers on their farms. Also, I really enjoy working with kids. I’ve spent a lot of time with younger kids. I love developing games for them to play and interacting with kids – they have such great imaginations!

Danielle Schmitz Born and raised on a farm near Le Mars, Iowa, one of Danielle Schmitz’s fondest childhood memories centers on her dad, Jim’s, birthday. “His birthday falls during Harvest each year, so his treat on his birthday was to bring us kids out to combine with him that night,” recalls Danielle, 21. “He would teach us songs that we’d sing together. He would explain how the combine worked and let us pull the lever.” Q: What do you look forward to most during this summer internship? A: I just wrapped up my third year studying Early Childhood & Elementary Education at South Dakota State University. I am eager to share my background in agriculture as well as farm safety knowledge with the youth. Because we’ll be traveling to many rural communities across the state, I am also excited

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South Dakota Farmers Union Welcomes New Education Director

outh Dakota Farmers Union recently hired Rachel Haigh-Blume to serve as Education Director. “We are excited about Rachel’s background and professional experience, as well as her enthusiasm for youth and agriculture,” said Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union. Haigh-Blume will be responsible for educational programming, which serves more than 3,000 South Dakotans each year. Since it was established to serve family farmers and ranchers more than a century ago, education has been a focus of South Dakota Farmers Union. “SDFU educational programming is developed to enrich the lives of rural South Dakotans; whether it’s through county, district or state camps held throughout the summer which teach rural youth about farm safety, cooperative education and leadership development or Rural Economic & Leadership Program (REAL) and Young Producer Events which provide leadership and professional development to agriculture producers and rural professionals,” explains Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director of SDFU. More about Rachel Haigh-Blume Raised on a farm near Hitchcock and a graduate of Dakota State University, HaighBlume has spent the last several years of her career serving as the Executive Director of Northeast S.D. Area Health Education Center,

Symens Family Continued from Page 4 boards including Livestock Breed Associations throughout the state and nation, the South Dakota Beef Breeds Council, South Dakota Beef Industry Council and United States Meat Export Federation. The family hosts their annual production sale the last Thursday in February. The event is held in a new sale barn the family built in 1980. The arena’s backdrop is a vintage barn built by Wilbert in his retirement. While their children were growing up, Cleo, Faye and Shirley kept busy at home and in their communities where they served as 4-H leaders, played piano and organ in church and helped host Farmers Union day camps. All three women remain actively involved in their church and communities even today. For several years, the women have actively helped raise funds for Relay for Life to raise funds for cancer research. Cleo serves as the local co-chairperson. “We live in small communities and attend small churches; everyone needs to be involved,” Shirley explained.

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a healthcare educational non-profit which works to provide healthcare education, impact workforce concerns and support community health of rural citizens of all ages. Along with providing access to continuing education opportunities for rural healthcare providers, Haigh-Blume also engaged more than 5,000 rural youth, teaching them about healthcare careers each year through classroom activities and summer camps for elementary, junior high and high school students. “Even though the focus of my career has been healthcare, there are a lot of parallels

between my previous career and this new role with Farmers Union,” says Haigh-Blume, who has her Masters in Healthcare Administration. “I have extensive experience in leadership development training, educational programming and staff mentorship. This new role combines my work experience with my roots and family history of farming with a passion for helping and teaching.” Haigh-Blume remains actively involved in South Dakota agriculture. Her husband, Brian, is a fourth-generation Tulare farmer. “I’m impressed by Farmers Union’s focus to support family farmers, ranchers and rural communities. Agriculture education becomes even more important today as our population is more removed from the farm and moving to more populated areas,” she explains. “Those who are brave enough to return home or stay in rural communities need help connecting to professional development and developing skills. Students need to learn how to plan so that they can successfully survive on the farm today. We need to promote that success is not about moving to a large city, but successful people live and work on the farm and in rural communities every day. The farm plays a tremendous impact on the economy and this needs to be highlighted as much as possible in the world we live.” To learn more about South Dakota Farmers Union educational programming, visit www.sdfu.org.

In recent years, excess moisture led the family to build hoop barns to house their feedlot cattle. In the process, they are better able to manage nutrient application and the cattle have responded to the controlled environment with increased gain and no feed waste. “Their intakes are consistent because they aren't fighting the elements. We have never scooped bunks with the exception of some rain water that might blow in."” explains Warren, who lives on the farm with with his wife, Stephanie, and their three young children. Stephanie is a librarian and teaches junior high and high school physical education for Britton/Hecla. Paul adds that of all the elements, extremely hot days are when the hoop barn really keeps cattle comfortable. “It was a 90-degree day with no breeze. I moved the cattle out to clean the pens and just stopped. There was no breeze

outside of the hoop barn, but inside, thanks to the air exchange, it was at least 10 degrees cooler and there was air movement,” he says. “I have cattle buyers stop by and say they never see cattle this content.” An unexpected benefit to the hoop barns is the fact that there are no flies because the cattle’s hoof action on the manure pack won’t allow fly larvae to survive. To view a photo gallery of the Symens family farm, visit www.sdfu.org.

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UNION FARMER Mothers Continued from Page 1 from her parents to build their family home just half a mile from the Lake Preston farm where she grew up. “When I look back and think about all the life lessons I learned growing up on the farm, helping my mom and dad and working alongside my sisters – I want those same experiences for my daughters.” Growing up, Corrie and her sisters were actively involved with day-to-day operations of their parents’ farm and purebred Charolais operation. Actively involved in 4-H, FFA and the American Charolais Association, the girls especially enjoyed traveling to cattle shows. “I just love being outside and working with cattle. It definitely taught me responsibility, accountability, the definition of hard work and the value of working together.” In fact, it was during a Texas cattle show that Corrie met her husband, DJ, in June 2000. “He happened to be showing a bull out of our genetics; then we both served on the American International Junior Charolais Association board together.” Raised in Arkansas, DJ traveled to South Dakota to meet Corrie’s family and decided to stay on to work for Corrie's dad, Alan. The couple married in 2001. Today, DJ continues to work with Alan, while at the same time the couple is building up their own herd. Corrie works fulltime for Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) as a Soil Technician. “I enjoy being able to work with local farmers. I can relate to them, and because I grew up in the area, I have known many of the producers my entire life.” Her workdays begin early so she can be home by the time her oldest gets off the school bus. “It gives me an opportunity to help with chores. If the weather is nice, the girls and I walk up to the farm. The girls LOVE spending time on the farm.” During the work week, her two youngest split their time between daycare and Grandma Deb’s house. “I always tell my mom that if I can’t raise my kids fulltime, she is the next best thing.” Juggling a fulltime job and motherhood isn’t easy, but Corrie says it’s all about priorities. “I try to stay organized and very efficient with my time when I’m not at work. If my house only gets cleaned once a month, that’s OK because if it’s nice outside, the girls

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and I are out helping with chores.” The life she has today is one she envisioned before becoming a mom. “I always dreamed of being outside on the farm with my kids right alongside me helping out.” However, the journey to becoming parents was not an easy one for Corrie and DJ. “We fought infertility. When there was a chance this couldn’t happen, I told DJ, ‘We have to try.’” Working fulltime and making weekly, nearly 200-mile trips to doctors in Sioux Falls was a lot to handle. And, Corrie says it was stressful – but completely worth it when in 2008, with the help of IVF, the couple welcomed Hadlee into the world. In 2011, their second daughter, Bentlee, arrived thanks to intrauterine insemination, and with no medical assistance at all, Cambree arrived a little more than a year ago. “I am very blessed to be a mom. It was a long road to get to where I am, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” says Corrie, explaining that she and DJ have been very open about their struggle because they hope their story will encourage other couples. “When we went through this process, we wanted to be open because if it inspires one couple to go down this route, and they are able to have a family, then it’s totally worth it.” Audrey Keierleber, 64, mother of two: Brecky Cwach and Christine Wood. Grandmother of four. Instilling curiosity for nature and the world around them are reasons Audrey “Jaton” Keierleber is glad she was able to raise her now grown daughters, Brecky Cwach and

Audrey and Joel Keierleber

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Christine Wood, on the family’s Colome farm. “On the farm there are so many more opportunities for them to do and try--like working with plants and livestock and seeing firsthand how nature works,” explains Audrey, a retired High School Family & Consumer Sciences and Middle School Computer and Science teacher.

Audrey Keierleber with her grandchildren.

Today, both her daughters work in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) careers. Brecky works in electronic commerce as a bond underwriter for Philadelphia Insurance Company and Christine works as the SDSU Extension 4-H Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Field Specialist. Her husband’s sister introduced Audrey to Joel, a Colome farmer. “His sister and I took college courses together and my first teaching job happened to be in the Colome area.” During their first two years of marriage, Audrey commuted to White River, more than 68 miles, to work until she was able to get a teaching position in Burke, 28 miles from their place, and later in Winner, 8 miles from home. “It was nice to live close enough to town that our girls could be involved in 4-H, FCCLA, FFA and church activities,” Audrey says. As a teacher, Audrey didn’t exactly have her summers free – but her work schedule did allow her to help Joel out more on the farm. “I sold baler parts, delivered baler parts, helped Joel with feed sales and when the girls were older, we’d help with the haying.” With Audrey working off the farm, she says Joel stepped in to help with the girls. “We didn’t have maternity leave in those days, so after Christine was born, I only had 10 days of sick leave, then back to work. If she got up in the night, Joel would get up with her. It was

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UNION FARMER a team effort,” she says, adding, “Joel was excellent backup daycare. If there was a day that I couldn’t take the girls to daycare, they would stay home with him.” As a grandma to four, Audrey says she enjoys being backup daycare for her daughters – whenever it works out she makes the 3-hour drive to watch her grandkids. “The kids are so much fun! I think as a grandparent you can enjoy the kids even more because you’re not under the stress of having to make a living or having to have papers corrected by Monday morning.” In retirement, Audrey started her own quilting business, Audrey K’s Long Arm Quilting. She constructs traditional quilts, finishes quilts and makes t-shirt quilts. Opal Grubl, 85, mother of five: Vicky Leitaker, Donna Whitehead, Jacque Lamphere, Vonda Andersen and Connie Johns. Born in 1931, the youngest of eight children, to two South Dakota homesteaders, Joe E. and Ida May Price, Opal Grubl recalls her childhood with fondness. “I never knew I was poor. We always had plenty to eat, and I know nobody had anything,” says Opal of growing up on the ranch her parents carved out of their two homesteads. “We just existed with milk cows,

I Heard a Meadowlark Opal R Grubl 3-28-95

This morn I heard a meadowlark, His song - so clear & bright; It surely sounded good to me, Although the ground is white!

chickens and mom had a few sheep.” Her father helped support the family working as a school teacher. “He taught at country schools all around, even teaching high school in Stoneville.” Following her Opal Grubl father’s footsteps, after Opal graduated from Faith High School, she received her teaching certificate after passing a five-week course at Black Hills State. “Back then there were not a lot of options for girls. You were either a teacher, a nurse or you got married.” Opal taught in rural schools for several years before meeting her husband, Donald, during a country dance at Alkali Hall. “Those were wonderful, wonderful years. The kids were just great.” She continued to teach until she and Donald welcomed their first daughter two years after they were married. “I helped him on the ranch until I had the girls. I could no longer go out because I always had one little baby,” she explains. When they married, Donald ranched with his dad and brothers. Later, they split off and ranched on their own east of Sturgis. That’s where they raised their five daughters. “I loved being a mother. That’s the best years of my life – when those kids were little. We had puppies, kittens, ponies, calves and lambs. The

girls weren’t deprived of pets!” Like their mother, all but her youngest daughter attended a country school – even rode horseback. “It closed before our last daughter got to be school age.” Opal and her girls raised bum lambs and calves. She saved the money they earned to help pay for her girls’ college. “Education is absolutely necessary. I always knew they would go to college; that’s why we raised so many bum calves and lambs. One year we had over 100 bum lambs.” As her daughters became more independent, they all helped Donald with ranch work. “You would have thought that I had a lot of help around the house, but the truth is they were all outside helping their dad. Our girls were good drivers because they were driving grain truck when they were 9.” Today, the grandma of 13 and greatgrandma of four is proud of what her daughters have accomplished. “The girls are all very successful with wonderful jobs. It was gratifying to watch my daughters be mothers. It is enjoyable to see how they raised their children.” In 2012 Opal and Donald handed the ranch over to their grandson, Lane Lamphere, and moved into a home in Boulder Canyon. The couple will celebrate 60 years of marriage this June. After her children left home to start lives and families of their own, Opal began writing poetry which reflects her family and ranch experiences. She continues to write poetry and enjoys reading.

This morn I heard a meadowlark, Though wind is blowing snow; A sound so pure - assuring us, That winter soon will go. How nice to hear a meadowlark, As winter lingers on; So sure is he - that spring is here, And snow will soon be gone.

I thank you Lord, for meadowlarks, Whose song - our burdens lift; For the everlasting melody, That greets me - in this drift!!! Opal and Donald Grubl with their family.

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UNION FARMER A Look Back with Lucas Lentsch, Former S.D. Secretary of Agriculture, 2012-2015

s our former Sec. of Agriculture, Lucas Lentsch embraces a new role as CEO of Midwest Dairy Association, South Dakota Farmers Union sat down with him to visit about his years Lucas Lentsch serving South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers as Secretary of Agriculture. Q: Looking back on your time as S.D. Secretary of Agriculture, what did you enjoy most? A: It has to be the people I was able to work with. Not only the people who make up the community of agriculture within the state of South Dakota, but the public servants within the S.D. Department of Agriculture who worked with me to serve that community. I had the opportunity to work with a fantastic group of professionals within the department and across the ag sector. Our farm and ranch organizations and commodity groups truly represent the industry well. It has been an honor to work alongside them. Q: What, if anything, prepared you to serve in this role? A: My mind goes immediately to Blizzard Atlas. At that time, I had been on the job as secretary only six months and had worked previously in the Department of Agriculture for just short of two years as Director of Agricultural Development. Blizzard Atlas was the most pivotal event to happen during my time in office, which impacted me as a leader. I went from thinking of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture as something I was doing, or my office, to quickly discovering that it wasn’t MY job or office.

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My mindset changed and I began thinking of the office as belonging to South Dakota family farmers and ranchers. It is their voice. I was merely a steward of that office. It happened while I was sitting in the living room of a ranch couple who lost nearly 100% of their livestock. The wife asked me what they were going to do. That’s when I realized that it wasn’t about me. It was about the people I served. This experience fundamentally changed me and how I approached every day working alongside our Department of Agriculture staff. I began asking the question - are we doing the best we can today as stewards who serve on behalf of South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers? That living room experience touched my heart. It made me think of everything I had ever been involved in and experienced. I realized when the young wife asked me, “Mr. Secretary, what are we going to do?” that it wasn’t me, Lucas Lentsch, answering…it was their office of the Secretary of Agriculture answering. I made sure that their question did not go unnoticed. I picked up the phone and began talking with the state FSA (Farm Service Agency) office and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm & Foreign Ag Service to make sure their teams heard and understood what was happening here. And they listened. Q: Tell us more about that. A: Many may not remember or realize, but a silver lining came of this tragic event. We had a farm bill that finally had a face of ag attached to it. The livestock producers of our state became the face of agriculture for the rest of America. As a result of real challenges coming from South Dakota’s ag country, we had a

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farm bill pass in February of 2014. These are not my words, but words I heard from the podium of Sec. of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, himself. “We cannot forget the importance of tying real people back to the bills which serve them.” President Obama signed the farm bill and promised to quickly put out livestock indemnity payments within 60 days. That was the challenge Sec. Vilsack received and that is what happened. From what I recall, well over a quarter of a billion dollars was paid to South Dakota livestock producers in indemnity payments. That’s billion with a ‘B.’ Q: As you traveled across the state of South Dakota meeting with farm and ranch families, are there any positive trends you see in South Dakota agriculture that you want to share? A: Without a doubt the Millennials (folks ages 19 to 25) are engaging as our Greatest Generation of South Dakotans retire. Although the Baby Boomers have transitioned to the Gen Xers, there is no question that the Millennials are relevant, engaged and enthusiastic for the future. Because of this, we see technology continuing to advance very rapidly in agriculture. From precision agriculture to genetically modified seed to high performing animal genetics, millennials' rapid adoption of technology is ensuring we in the ag industry don't get left behind. Q: As you traveled the state, what is one of the biggest challenges you saw facing South Dakota farm and ranch families? A: We are obviously seeing a downward cycle not only within the crop commodity sector, but also the livestock sector. Many producers are having to look at cost of living and reassess family living expenses. To ensure cash flow, following a market

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UNION FARMER correction which happened as quickly as this one did, operators need to make sure that there is return on investment from precision ag technology. It’s not about having the latest and greatest and all upgrades, but knowing that through that investment your bottom line is positively impacted. Q: What tools do South Dakota family farmers and ranchers have to help them get through tough times? A: First of all, our farmers and ranchers are lifelong learners. I have seen an increase in off-farm involvement in boards and commissions. Families are taking it upon themselves to participate in leadership development programs, like South Dakota Ag & Rural Leadership and Leadership S.D. I have also seen the evolution of programs at Lake Area Technical Institute and Mitchell Technical Institute which provide fantastic tools to multi-generational farm and ranch families to validate data and work alongside experts to evaluate their enterprise input-byinput and understand which enterprises are making them money and which ones are losing money. These programs also allow farm and ranch families to compare their operations with others. And, with the help of professionals, make decisions for the future.

Q: What role do you see organizations like Farmers Union playing in the future of South Dakota agriculture? A: Full recognition that today, more than ever, we need to have relevant and engaged organizations representing the voice of agriculture. Today there are fewer and fewer voices of agriculture coming from farm and ranch families who are telling the story that needs to be told--not only to folks from our state, but the influence we have on a national basis. Don’t take for granted that we who are actively involved in production ag need to continue to advocate for the right and freedom to provide a rich and nutrient-full food source for a growing population. Organizations like Farmers Union are uniquely positioned to hear the needs of real people doing the real work of agriculture and advocating for their interests. Even in our State Legislature - we have so few farmers and ranchers running – the need for engaged voices advocating on behalf of agriculture is even more relevant today. Something I appreciated about working on ag issues in Pierre is they rose above partisan politics. I really enjoyed the fact that I represented, and worked on behalf of, all farmers and ranchers. I was able to approach issues from

a partisan perspective – representing the interests of the many different stakeholders throughout South Dakota’s agriculture industry. Q: Tell us about your new position. A: I see this position as CEO of Midwest Dairy Association as a unique opportunity to continue doing work I love doing – which is advocating for producers. In this role, it won’t be just South Dakota producers, but I will be representing more than 8,000 dairy farm families from 10 states including: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas. I’ll be able to pull from experiences I’ve gleaned in the last 20 years, not only working for the Dept. of Ag, but also my years on the family dairy farm and leading a unit overseas in the military. The most difficult thing about this career move is that it will take my family, my wife, Laura, four children, Austin, 18; Claire, 16; Shane, 12; and Kate, 10; out of South Dakota for now. We will be relocating to the St. Paularea. I’m still going to enjoy working with South Dakota dairy farmers! I keep telling folks that while this position takes the boy out of South Dakota, it won’t take South Dakota out of the boy!

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MAY/JUNE 2016

UNION FARMER National Farmers Union is running a photo contest! The Faces and Places of Farmers Union is a chance to showcase the diversity of Farmers Union through the different faces and operations of our membership. Members can upload photos into one of two categories (Faces and Places) for a chance at monthly prizes and one of two grand prizes of $500 prepaid gift cards!

PHOTO CONTEST! ENTER TO WIN $500 PRIZE!

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Details: Contest runs now through November 30, 2016. Who may enter: Members of National Farmers Union and its state division members. How to enter: Visit NFU on Facebook and click on “The Faces and Places of Farmers Union” tab. Upload a photo; write a caption; select your category; authorize NFU to use your photo; provide your contact info; click the “Submit” button; and get your friends and family to vote on your photo! Don’t have a Facebook account? Send your photo, caption, category and any applicable releases to ajerome@nfudc.org. Prizes: One monthly winner from each category will be selected based on the total number of votes received that month of his/her photo. Those 20 monthly winners will be compiled and two grand prize winners – one from each category – will be decided on by a panel of judges. Each grand prize winner will receive a $500 Visa prepaid gift card! Limits: Members may upload up to 10 photographs during the length of the contest.Anyone can vote on photographs, but each profile is limited to one vote every 24 hours.

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MAY/JUNE 2016

UNION FARMER Roger Johnson

National Farmers Union President

ational Farmers Union President Roger Johnson testified in front of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management on the lagging farm economy in April, speaking to the financial stress being felt by NFU members across the country. Canadian Pacific withdrew its bid to acquire fellow rail giant Norfolk Southern, a move that would have created one of North America’s largest railroads with annual revenues of about $16 billion. Have you considered the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)? The combination of good stewardship, financial incentives, and, in many cases, improved margins by reducing input or feed cost make CSP an especially attractive program.

NFU President Testifies on Farm Income The lagging farm economy was a top focus in April for the House Agriculture Committee, which held a series of hearing on growing financial stress in farm country. NFU President Roger Johnson joined a panel of industry leaders to testify in front of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management on behalf of NFU’s members who are currently facing a diverse set of challenges in the farm sector. “As commodity prices continue to decline and farmers and ranchers struggle to adjust to lower prices, there is a growing burden felt by producers out in the countryside,” Johnson informed members of the subcommittee. “Even more worrisome is the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts, which show a prolonged period of low commodity prices. This situation will result in trouble accessing credit, negative farm budgets, depressed markets and tests to the farm safety net.”

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The downturned farm economy has put a significant strain on farm financials, Johnson explained. “We are seeing this manifest itself in the Farm Service Agency’s loan portfolio, an early indication of challenges ahead,” he said. “Local lenders are concerned that with high yields being necessary to protect from low prices, weatherinduced yield losses will exacerbate an already difficult situation. One thing that my local lenders wanted to drive home to members of this committee is the importance of a strong safety net,” he stated, underscoring the importance of critical farm programs, like crop insurance and other safety net programs. While Johnson felt that, overall, commodity programs are functioning as designed and assisting producers through challenging times, he did acknowledge several programs that need thoughtful attention today and others that would benefit from additional changes in the next Farm Bill. Specifically, he mentioned the Agricultural Risk Coverage program, Price Loss Coverage program, Dairy Margin Protection Program, and the Stacked Income Protection Plan. Exploring bright spots in the farm economy, Johnson highlighted the organic and local food sector, which has grown by nearly 300 percent since 2002. He noted that these sectors seem to be less subject to the falling commodity prices. Concluding his remarks, Johnson encouraged members of the committee to consider the state of the farm economy and the challenges facing family farmers and ranchers as they work through the next Farm Bill process. “This committee has a challenging task ahead of it as it begins to grapple with these problems especially as it looks to crafting the next farm bill. Our

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collective challenge is to continue working to provide help when and where needed and to encourage the continued growth and success of our most vital industry – agriculture,” he said. Canadian Pacific / Norfolk Southern Merger Ended Freight rail giant Canadian Pacific abandoned its nearly $30 billion pursuit to merge with Norfolk Southern in April; a move that would have created one of North America’s largest railroads with annual revenues of about $16 billion. NFU has been very concerned over the prospects of additional concentration in the freight rail sector. Family farmers and ranchers depend on rail transportation to move their commodities to market in order to compete in the global agriculture industry. It is good news for rural America that Canadian Pacific withdrew its plans to merge with Norfolk Southern because further consolidation would likely have stifled competition. Since the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 deregulated the railroad industry, more than 40 Class I transport rail companies consolidated to form the seven companies that exist today. NFU was concerned the Canadian Pacific merger would trigger additional Class I railroads to merge as well. Farmers and ranchers have experienced increasing freight rates and service problems, most notably, the 2014 backlog in North Dakota and Minnesota that had widespread economic ramifications for whole sections of the value chain. Further consolidation is clearly not the right approach to rail transport. The Washington Corner can also be found at www.nfu.org/corner. Current as of April 15, 2016

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UNION FARMER South Dakota

From the President....

Let’s All Take the E30 Challenge

s president of SDFU and a family farmer, when it comes to the media – social or otherwise - there are several things that grab my attention and interest. Everything from the weather, grain and livestock prices to current national and world events which greatly affect our family farms more today than ever before. The current decline in the agricultural economy is having a huge effect on South Dakota’s revenue as a state. We are also seeing local businesses feel the crunch as well. Our neighboring local businesses who were giving extra hours of overtime pay a couple years ago, had to cut back to average or less than average hours due to slowing demand for their wares. South Dakota will continue to feel this pain since we rely so heavily on agriculture for our revenue source. This is not the first time we have faced times like this. It will not be the last. However, we should have learned over time how we can help ourselves during times like this. One of the things we can, and should do as South Dakotans, is buy from ourselves and our communities as much as we can. One of the major things we purchase in South Dakota is energy! Alas, one of the major things we produce is ethanol! Recently, SDFU, Glacial Lakes Energy LLC, Sioux Valley Cooperative Cenex, Amoco Prairie Stop and the Cowboy Country Stores, all in Watertown, S.D., held an E30 challenge day where these businesses challenged everyone - flex fuel vehicle and non-flex fuel vehicles - to try E30 blended gasoline. We advocated a fundamental change in the way we fuel our automobiles by challenging conventional wisdom in order for Biofuels like ethanol to finally realize their true potential. Conventional wisdom is our non-flex fuel autos can only operate on 10 percent ethanol blends and at most 15 percent. The truth is, automobiles of yesterday and today are capable of using much higher blends. In fact, the optimum blend to maximize octane and energy content is in 25 to 40 percent

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Doug Sombke SDFU President

volume range, according to the Department of Energy. Glacial Lakes Energy is leading the “E30 Challenge” by challenging everyone to try E30. The goal of the E30 challenge is to change your fuel of choice to E30. Andy Wicks of Dynotune Precision and Performance of Watertown ran a test using E30 in a Ford F150 Eco Boost 3.5 liter vehicle with the following results: Experienced a 10 percent gain in power by just changing fuels; Experienced a 30+ horsepower gain over regular 87 octane gasoline as measured on a rear wheel chassis dynamiter; Increase in overall power, allows the engine to do more work with less pedal effort, giving fuel economy advantages; All engine parameters were closely monitored and no engine warning lights were triggered during the test. E30 is a blend of regular gasoline and 30 percent ethanol that hits the sweet spot between engine performance and price. But the EPA fails to approve blends up to E30 in non-flex vehicles due to misconceptions, inaccuracies and misinformation. By increasing our own use of ethanol to 30 percent of the fuel we use in our gasoline automobiles, we can help ourselves and our friends and neighbors get past this economic challenge of today while we support our local business of agriculture. It may play a small part in our overall challenge, but every little bit helps. God bless all you do!

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A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION

South Dakota Union Farmer, ISSN 0745-8797, publishes ten times per calendar year, with issues printed in January, February, March, April, May/June, July/August, September, October, November and December. Periodical postage paid at Madison, S.D. POSTMASTER: Address changes to: SDFU, PO Box 1388, Huron, S.D. 57350-1388

Contact SDFU • 605.352.6761 1410 Dakota Avenue South, PO Box 1388, Huron, SD 57350 www.sdfu.org sdfu@sdfu.org

SDFU State Office Staff Karla Hofhenke.......ext. 114 Executive Director Huron Matt Sibley .............ext. 122 Legislative Specialist Huron

Luanne Thompson.......ext. 111 Administrative Assistant Virgil

Pam Evenson ..........ext. 116 Membership Specialist Doland

Rachel Haigh-Blume ....ext. 125 Education Director Tulare

Kecia Beranek.........ext. 113 Communications Specialist Miller

SDFU Board of Directors Doug Sombke.........President Groton Wayne Soren..........Vice Pres. Lake Preston Terry Sestak..............District I Tabor Jim Wahle ................District II Salem Franklin Olson ........District III Pierpont

Contact NFU

Joel Keierleber .......District IV Colome Dallis Basel ..............District V Union Center Lynn Frey................District VI Lemmon Chad Johnson .......District VII Groton

National Farmers Union 20 F Street NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001

Roger Johnson, President ~ Donn Teske, Vice President Doug Peterson, Secretary ~ John Hansen, Treasurer 202.554.1600 www.nfu.org

The South Dakota Union Farmer is published 10 times per calendar year.

Doug Sombke South Dakota Farmers Union President

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Karla Hofhenke, Publisher Lura Roti, Editor ~ Jodie Fenske, Copy Editor Tri-State Graphics, Layout and Design

All information for publication must be submitted by the 15th of the month. You may submit items by mail to the State Office, P.O. Box 1388, Huron, SD 57350 or email items to: sdfu@sdfu.org

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UNION FARMER Interns Continued from Page 12 to learn about farming and ranching in South Dakota. I plan on teaching in South Dakota, so this is also a great opportunity to not only expand my teaching skills, but explore which rural community or area of the state I’d like to teach in. Q: How will you utilize your degree in the work you will do as a summer intern? A: I have received a lot of training on positive ways to help guide kids so they can learn, but also have fun and become excited about what they are learning. I look forward to putting what I’ve learned in the classroom to work in this real life situation.

Natalie Kuipers Growing up, camp was a highlight of Natalie Kuipers’ summers. “It is a good way to meet kids my age from other towns and see different points of view and learn how to work with other people,” explains the 20-year-old Northwestern College student. Q: Why does teaching youth about cooperatives and agriculture excite you? A: Growing up in Omaha, I spent a lot of time on my grandparent’s farm. So, even though I didn’t grow up on a farm, I have always known where my food comes from. Just because kids live in South Dakota – which is a rural state where agriculture is the number one industry – does not mean they

know where their food comes from. Farmers Union Camps are definitely a good way for South Dakota youth to learn where their food comes from. It’s important that they understand it doesn’t just magically appear in the grocery store. Q: Why did you apply for this internship? A: I’m impressed with Farmers Union as an organization and what they do to serve family farmers, ranchers and rural youth. Through this internship, I’m excited to work with kids and create a fun environment where they can learn, grow and understand more about agriculture and Farmers Union. Q: Any special memories from time spent on your grandparent’s farm? A: When I was little, my Grandpa Gerald would take me out into the field on his fourwheeler to check cows. He also taught me how to drive the tractor.

Katy Hines Katy Hines, 21, says growing up on the farm her dad worked on near Carpenter taught her early on about the circle of life. “At a young age, I understood that life ends sometimes and that’s OK because it’s part of the circle of life,” explained the Grace University Interpersonal Communications major. “Growing up on a farm made me tough, resourceful and a hard worker.” Q: You have experience as a camp counselor because you worked 7 years as a

counselor for Royal Family Kids Camp (a camp for abused and neglected children). What is it about working with kids that you enjoy? A: I love working with kids in a camp setting because I have an opportunity to help provide them a fun environment to learn and an opportunity to make good memories. I love the fact that through this internship, I have the opportunity to incorporate farming into the fun activities that we do with the kids. I loved my childhood on the farm so much and I want to share my love for farming and help keep it growing strong in our state. Q: What is it about Farmers Union as an organization that made you apply for this internship? A: I like the fact that this organization supports family farmers. This organization is pro-active about teaching youth farm safety, about agriculture and about cooperatives. I can tell they are passionate about serving family farmers and ranchers. I am too. I want to help teach the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Also, after spending a weekend in training with this team of interns, I am really excited about the people I get to work with this summer! Q: What are you looking to get out of this internship? A: I know that this internship will further develop my communication skills and push me a bit out of my comfort zone.

Camp Continued from Page 7 learn about Farmers Union and other cooperative businesses, participate in leadership workshops, listen to guest speakers and participate in talent night. A tour of the Black Hills, hiking, volleyball, basketball and fun cooperative games complete the camp experience and leave campers with lasting memories and many new friends. This camp is open to youth seventh grade through high school seniors. Registration details To register for State Leadership Camp, Farmers Union County and District Camps and for more details on when and where your local camp is being held, visit www.sdfu.org and click on the Calendar Tab then scroll to Youth Camp Calendar Tab. You can also pick registration forms up at your local Farmers Union Insurance Agency office or your local cooperative. by Lura Roti for

SDFU

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Hannah Sumption (left) goofing around with friends.

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WWW.SDFU.ORG

Thank You

Dear SD Farmers Union, On behalf of the Tri-Valley FFA, I would like to express appreciation for the opportunity for being able to compete in the quiz bowl. It is a fun experience that I’m happy to be able to participate in again and is such a good experience. I’m glad you are able to continue to make a positive difference in our community and within our students here at Tri-Valley with the quiz bowl. Thank you again for putting on the quiz bowl. Your kindness will never be forgotten. Sincerely, Parker Ramstad Karla, SDFU Thank you for the beautiful mirror that I won at the BHSS. I finally got to Aberdeen to get it! Thanks for taking it there. Florence Brandner was happy to show it to anyone who stopped by! Bob helped me get it put up. My friends love it! WOW! WHAT A WIN!! WHO KNEW!! Thanks, Hellen Thullner

COOK’S CORNER

UNION FARMER Erin, I hope all is well! I just wanted to thank you and Farmers Union for putting on such a great REAL program. I thoroughly enjoyed the three sessions. The program not only allowed for personal and professional growth, but also allowed me the opportunity to network with so many great people. Looking forward to promoting future sessions to colleagues. Thanks again, Amber Erickson SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor Davison and Hanson Counties

Departings Norma Gantvoort, 87, of Clear Lake, died March 13th, 2016. Norma was an active member of the community and a long-time member of Farmers Union along with her husband, Russell. Sharon Elaine (Person) Chaplin, from Britton, 74, passed away Monday, May 2, 2016. Sharon was an active member of the Farmers Union Youth Program. She was known for her thoughtfulness and encouraging words.

Grandma’s Cake Roll ½ c. cake flour, sifted ½ tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. salt 4 eggs ¾ c. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla

Submitted by: Hazel Schaunaman Aberdeen, SD Lifetime Member

2 squares unsweetened chocolate 2 T. sugar ¼ tsp. baking soda 3 T. cold water 1 qt. ice cream of choice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt three times. Place eggs in deep bowl and gradually add ¾ cup sugar while beating eggs. Continue to beat until eggs are thick and lemon colored. Add flour mixture all at once, stir until well mixed. Add vanilla. Melt chocolate. Remove from heat and add immediately the 2 tablespoons sugar, soda and water. Stir until thick and light. Fold quickly into batter. Blend well. Turn into a greased, 10 x 15 pan, lined with waxed paper and greased again. Bake 15 minutes. Remove immediately and turn out onto a clean towel. When cool, spread with softened ice cream. Roll as for a jelly roll. Package and freeze. Serve directly from the freezer. Stores for 2 months. WWW.SDFU.ORG

UNION FARMER

MEMBERSHIP NEWS:

Are you celebrating a life event or honoring the life of a Farmers Union member? We’d like to share the news. Please send photos and membership updates, anniversaries, awards, birthdays, birth announcements, obituaries and other updates to SDFU Executive Director, Karla Hofhenke, at PO Box 1388, Huron, SD 57350 or karla@sdfu.org. The date we receive the information will determine in which Union Farmer the information will run.

Order Your Own Copy of the Farmers Union Centennial Cookbook Cookbooks are $15 plus tax and shipping. Contact Pam Evenson, 605-352-6761, ext: 116, to place your order today!

SDFU CLIP AND SAVE CALENDAR JUNE 1 1-2 15 21

Women’s Ag Day, Faulkton Governor’s Ag Summit, Pierre SD High School Finals Rodeo, Belle Fourche Foundation Golf Tournament, Mitchell Corson Co. Camp, McIntosh

22 JULY 4 State Office Closed 10 District III Annual Picnic, Webster 12-13 Board Meeting, Huron AUGUST 3 Board Meeting, Huron 4 County Councilors Meeting, Huron 5 Ag Appreciation Day, Sioux Falls 5-14 Sioux Empire Fair, Sioux Falls 15-21 Brown County Fair, Aberdeen 16-18 Dakota Fest, Mitchell 19-28 Central States Fair, Rapid City SEPTEMBER 1-5 SD State Fair, Huron 3 SDFU Day at SD State Fair, Huron 5 State Office Closed 12-14 Washington D.C. Fly-in, D.C. 27-30 NFU Education Conference, Minn., MN

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Aberdeen Aberdeen Bison Bison Britton Brookings Brookings Brookings Brookings Buffalo Clark Doland Doland Faulkton Huron Irene Irene Kadoka Lemmon Lemmon Marion

Darrel Kessler J.R. Johnson Alan Voller Karen Voller Tom Farber Larry Sutton Beth Reams Nathan Kirby Heidi Fields Jim Erk Lon Reidburn Bonnie Wagner Mark Rozell Jason Lee Blaine Anderson Brendon Hansen Brian Hansen Donna Enders Brad Derschan Carrie Derschan Kevin Albrecht

229-3945 725-3003 244-7431 244-7431 448-5150 692-6735 690-3018 692-6735 881-2830 375-3311 532-3299 635-6511 635-6511 598-6570 352-2130 263-2121 263-3342 837-2144 374-3462 374-3462 941-0650

Menno Menno Mitchell Mitchell Mitchell Mitchell Piedmont Pierre Rapid City Rapid City Rapid City Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Sisseton Spearfish Sturgis Watertown Webster Webster Winner Yankton

Brendon Hansen Jon Schempp Richard Hofer Nathan Hofer Andrew Mefferd Jessica Mefferd Ce Faulkner Gary Ray Black Hills Agency Kasey Keller Lewis Agency Brian Hermsen Jeff Nord Erica Steiner Megan Schoon Scott Sabers Todd Nichols Debbie Baumgarn Larry Baumgarn Jeremy Clay James Murphy

387-5555 660-6193 996-9651 996-9651 222-7979 290-3852 737-0463 224-4123 342-5555 343-4213 342-3585 338-5302 338-5302 698-7316 642-8870 347-4507 886-9683 345-2640 345-2640 842-1556 664-2121