MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA
Welcome to AUGUST 15-17
Getting Around
There are plenty of ways to get around the 50 acres of Dakotafest. Take advantage of the many convenient transportation options provided.
On-Site Shuttle
A complimentary on-site shuttle will be circling the show grounds throughout the three days. Look for the DAKOTAFEST SHUTTLE STOP signs and hop on for a ride around the perimeter of the show
Sponsored by: Farmers Mutual of Nebraska
Parking Lot Shuttle
Shuttles will run through the parking lots during the show days to help you get from your car to the entrances and back again. Shuttles will make multiple stops throughout the parking lot.
Sponsored by: Graham Tire
Shuttle Safety
As they say at the amusement park, “Keep your hands and feet inside the ride.” For your safety please keep your arms and legs inside the on-site and parking lot shuttles. Please secure your belongings and hold on to young children to avoid injury.
Golf Cart Rental
Golf carts, provided by NB Golf Car, are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The cart rental is located at the East Entrance Gate. Outside golf carts are not permitted.
Golf Cart Safety
Please operate your golf cart responsibly. The grounds of Dakotafest are busy with both foot traffic and other vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Keep your speed to a minimum. Golf carts may not carry more passengers than available seating. Please do not enter an exhibit with your golf cart. Remove your key when you exit. Anyone found not following these rules will be asked to return their golf cart for the day.
28th edition of Dakotafest lined up for Aug. 20-22 in Mitchell
BY MARCUS TRAXLER Mitchell Republic
MITCHELL — The 2024 edition of Dakotafest is set for mid-August, with farmers, ranchers, producers and business representatives converging on Mitchell for the state’s largest outdoor agricultural trade show.
The three-day farm show — the 28th time it's been held in Mitchell — will take place on Aug. 20-22 at 2300 E. Spruce St. The show will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, with more than 400 exhibitors scheduled to be in attendance. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the gate, while attendees age 17 and under are free.
The Dakotafest Networking Lounge, which will include live music and a cash bar serving beer and seltzers, returns for 2024. Live music is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. daily. The lounge is located at
Booth No. 19, moving to the southwest corner of the show grounds this year.
Another attraction is the free ice cream social from South Dakota State University Extension, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. each day at booth No. 216, located between the Livestock tent and the grounds’ Main Street. The SDSU Extension booth will also have information and presentations regarding cybersecurity and precision agriculture, soil health, weed management in crops, estate and transition planning, beef reproduction and quality assurance and energizing rural communities.
In the northwest corner of the grounds, the Dakotafest Education Building will also include some of the notable forums taking place during the show. On Tuesday, Aug. 20, a noon forum sponsored by South Dakota Farm Bureau will discuss programs geared toward young agricultural producers and finance programs available through FSA
and NRCS, along with the viewpoints from a local banker and ag producer.
Policy and politics will be in focus on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the Dakotafest Education Building. A 10:30 a.m. forum will involve the South Dakota Congressional delegation providing updates on agriculture policy at the federal level. Scheduled to speak are U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds and John Thune, R-S.D., and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D. A 12:15 p.m. forum will follow with administrators from the U.S. Department of Agriculture speaking about national issues, with free pork and beef sandwiches to be available following the event to the first 150 attendees. Later in the day, a 1:30 p.m. panel will have the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s government affairs experts on hand to discuss efforts on Capitol Hill to benefit farmers and ranchers.
At 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dakotafest will hold its Women in Agriculture event,
which will feature the presentation of the Dakotafest Woman Farmer/ Rancher of the Year award. The award finalists include Stacy Watembach of Alexandria, Sara Easton of Parkston, Kendra Olson of White Lake, Erin Yost of Wessington Springs, and Barbara Powell of Platte. Amanda Nigg, of Sisseton, who runs her own Farm Fit Momma business, will be the keynote speaker.
A number of Dakotafest staples are back on the schedule for 2024, with seed plot and technical product demonstrations taking place throughout the show, along with livestock-focused exhibits and live chute demonstrations taking place at the Livestock Tent on the grounds’ west edge. A machinery ride and drive will also take place near the seed plot displays on the south edge of the grounds. The kids pedal pull events will also take place at 1 p.m. daily on the northeast corner of the grounds.
Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
The Dakotafest grounds pictured in an aerial photo on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, in Mitchell.
SHOW MAP
Schedule 2024
Each year, visitors to Dakotafest can attend several education sessions and political forums in the Dakotafest Education Building in the Reaves Buildings’ Innovation Center and throughout the show grounds. Some of the highlights of this year’s event are outlined below.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20
ALL DAY
Butler Machinery Premium Ride and Drive Demonstrations Booth #SR14
Antique Tractor Museum Reaves’ Innovation Campus
10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. Livestock Chute Demonstrations and Company Presentations
Biozyme Livestock Tent
10:30 A.M. – 11:20 A.M. Protecting Your Farm from the Nursing Home & 2025 Tax Cliff Dakotafest Education Building
11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Fuel Your Reproductive Success with Vitaferm® Biozyme Livestock Tent
12:00 P.M. – 12:50 P.M.
Young Producer Programs & Finance Opportunities
Dakotafest Education Building
12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Live Music - Billy Lurken Music & Entertainment Lounge
1:00 P.M.
Kid’s Pedal Pull Northeast Corner of the Show Grounds
1:00 P.M. – 1:50 P.M. Taming Mother Nature Dakotafest Education Building
1:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. Livestock Chute Demonstrations and Company Presentations
BioZyme Livestock Tent
1:30 P.M.
SDSU Ice Cream Social SDSU Extension Booth #216
1:30 P.M. –3:30 P.M. Live MusicWeston Frank Music & Entertainment Lounge
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21
SCHEDULE
CONTINUED FROM J5
ALL DAY
SKIDSTEERLOADERS,COMPACT TRACKLOADERS,MINITRACK LOADERS, and MINIEXCAVATORS
Butler Machinery Premium Ride and Drive Demonstrations Booth #SR14
Antique Tractor Museum Reaves’ Innovation Campus
9:30 A.M. – 10:20 A.M. Keep the Farm in the Family and the Family on the Farm Dakotafest Education Building
10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. Livestock Chute Demonstrations and Company Presentations BioZyme Livestock Tent
10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Cultivating Confidence— Dakotafest Women’s Brunch (Off-Site EventHighland Conference Center)
10:30 A.M. – 11:45 A.M.
South Dakota’s U.S. Congressional Representative Update Dakotafest Education Building
11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. Performance that Pays Biozyme Livestock Tent
12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. Live Music - Billy Lurken Music &Entertainment Lounge
12:15 - 1:15 P.M. USDA Administrator Panel Dakotafest Education Building
1:00 P.M. Pedal Pull Northeast Corner of the Show Grounds
1:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. Livestock Chute Demonstrations and Company Presentations BioZyme Livestock Tent
1:30 P.M. – 2:20 P.M. From the Ranch to Capitol Hill Dakotafest Education Building
1:30 P.M.
SDSU Ice Cream Social SDSU Extension Booth #216
1:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. Live MusicWeston Frank Entertainment Lounge
2:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. Planting the Seeds of Legacy: Estate Planning Essentials for Agricultural Community Dakotafest Education Building
SCHEDULE
CONTINUED FROM J6
ALL DAY
Butler Machinery Premium Ride and Drive Demonstrations Booth #SR14
Antique Tractor Museum Reaves’ Innovation Campus
9:30 A.M. - 10:20 A.M. Exploring Soil Microbes: Unraveling Nutrient Cycling Dakotafest Education Building
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22
10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. Livestock Chute Demonstrations and Company Presentations
BioZyme Livestock Tent
10:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. Women in Ag Event & Dakotafest Woman Farmer/ Rancher of the Year Award
Dakotafest Education Building in the Reaves Buildings Innovation Center
11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. Improve your bottom line with Gain Smart® Biozyme Livestock Tent
12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. Live Music - Billy Lurken Entertainment Lounge
1:00 P.M. Pedal Pull Northeast Corner of the Show Grounds
1:00 A.M. – 2:30 P.M. Livestock Chute Demonstrations and Company Presentations BioZyme Livestock Tent
1:30 PM
SDSU Ice Cream Social SDSU Extension Booth #216
ROOTS RUNDEEP.
THIS YEAR FIND US AT BOOTH 218
SPECIAL EVENTS
Music & Entertainment Lounge
Noon-4:00 p.m. Daily Booth #19 Southwest Corner
Relax out of the sun and duck into the Music & Entertainment Lounge to enjoy some live music and a cash bar.
Daily
Noon-1 :00 p.m.
Billy Lurken, Musician
Tuesday & Wednesday 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Weston Frank, Musician
Kids Pedal Pull
Daily at 1 :00 p.m.
Northeast Corner of Show Grounds
Bring the kids and join us for the pedal pull competition.
Stop by the registration table near the track before 1 :00 p.m. to register.
Ice Cream Social with SDSU Extension
Daily at 1 :30 p.m.
Booth #216
Stop by for a free ice cream treat!
Butler Machinery Ride & Drive Event
All Day, Booth #SR14
Sponsored by:
Experience the thrill of test-driving agriculture equipment at Butler Machinery's Ride and Drive booth. Their knowledgeable staff will be available to answer all your questions and offer expert advice tailored to your needs. Exploring new equipment? There is something for everyone. Stop by and visit with them today at booth SR14!
Antique Tractor Museum
Reaves' Innovation Campus
See the history of farming through the tools farmers used over the years. Stroll through the old model tractors.
You're at
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Blue Loon Concessions
Corn dogs, cheese curds, buffalo cheese curds, cream cheese wontons, raspberry cream cheese wontons, mini donuts, beverages #C516
Curbside Delights
Lamb and beef chislic, pizza, sandwiches, mac n’ cheese, cheese curds, deep fried pickles, potato salad #C844
Davison County Pork Producers Pork sandwiches, chips #C633
Knights of Columbus–Mitchell Steak sandwiches, brats, burgers, chips, coffee, beverages #C233
Mitchell Exchange Club Beers, seltzers #C17
Ol’ MacDonald’s Kettle corn #C249E
SD Cattlemen’s Association
Roast Beef or Philly sandwich, chips, beverages #C704
SD Dairy Association Milk shakes, ice cream treats #C702 & #C411W
SD Hereford Association Ribeye steak sandwiches #C9
