Campers Learn Leadership Survival Skills During 2023 State Camp

By Lura Roti for SDFU

Survivor season 21 contestant and Eureka, S.D. farmer Holly Hoffman had these words of advice for campers after surviving 38 days in the jungle of Nicaragua. “When you feel like quitting, and you don’t, it will be the greatest reward you will ever discover.”

Hoffman shared how on day five she felt like quitting, but because of positive encouragement from another contestant, she kept going and eventually became the last woman and fourth contestant standing.

“Keep your circle strong, not negative,” Hoffman said. “Never let the odds keep you from something you want to do.”

As she listened to Hoffman, Lizzy Schoenfelder, was impressed not only by the message to grab opportunities and seek out solid friends, but also by Hoffman’s delivery.

“Holly did a good job of being dramatic when she needed to be, but also adding pauses so that the listener could imagine the scenario in their minds and become more engaged.”

Active in FCCLA and FFA at Parkston High School, Schoenfelder plans on implementing some of the speaking tips she gleaned in upcoming competitions.

Hoffman’s words also resonated with 14-year-old Skyler Cochran. “She was my favorite speaker. I liked what she said about living like the camera is always rolling because people will remember the negative you do, even if you also do a lot of good things.”

This was the Rutland teen’s first year attending Farmers Union Leadership Camp. And he says he plans to attend next year. “I really enjoyed getting to meet all these new friends and the opportunity we had to have fun outdoors in the Black Hills.”

Along with learning from inspirational speakers, like Hoffman, Cochran and the other campers had plenty of time to explore South Dakota’s Black Hills, hiking the many trails surrounding Storm Mountain Campground where Farmers Union Leadership camp was held. One day of the week-long camp was also dedicated to touring other attractions and youth got to ride the 1880’s Train.

They also learned about the cooperative business model and policy development, explained Education Specialist, Samantha Olson. “I was not sure how the campers would respond to learning about legislation and policy, but once they got going, you could tell they got excited and became passionate about how to use the process to get bills they cared about passed.”

During one exercise led by State Senator Ryan Maher, campers had the opportunity to put what they learned about bill creation to the test. Campers drafted a bill and utilized their recently developed parliamentary procedure skills to convince Olson to give them more time to dance at their Wednesday evening dance party.

“What I learned about politics, policy and parliamentary procedure was so interesting,” said Madi Raymond, a camper from Ethan. “I never knew what a lobbyist was or what they did until I listened to Farmers Union lobbyist Mitch Richter. As I listened to him, I thought this may be a career I want to do. I have no clue what I want to do when I am older so I am trying to learn as much as I can about them now.”

Raymond also serves as her FFA Chapter Parliamentarian so she said she will have plenty of opportunities to apply the parliamentary skills she learned during a camp workshop led by Gerri Eide, owner GANE Leadership Consulting.

This is Raymond’s third year attending Farmers Union Leadership Camp. She said it is the friends she makes and the opportunity to reconnect each year during camp that keeps her returning.

Aeriel Eitreim, would agree. “For me, the people are my favorite part about Farmers Union camp. Meeting new people and getting to watch campers I have known from previous camps show their true personalities and come out of their shells.”

Last year Eitreim was elected by her fellow

campers to serve as a member of the Junior Advisory Council (JAC). Together with the other JACs she planned and organized camp. “I learned a lot through this experience about leadership and how I like to lead with other people,” Eitreim said. “Samantha was an amazing guide. She was always looking for ways to help us and was always looking for ways to make things better.”

Her teammate Chaz Blotsky agreed. “I was nervous about taking on this big role, but it is something I have wanted to do and Samantha was so easy to talk to and ask advice from.”

Blotsky and the other JACs chose Survivor as the theme for camp. Blotsky, said the team enjoyed connecting activities and speakers to the theme. “The different camper cooperative groups were their own “tribes” for the different competitions,” Blotzky explained.

Campers formed co-ops, elected leaders and worked to raise funds. The cooperatives campers belonged to were: Insurance, Housing, Newspaper, Credit Union and Store.

Camp enrollment was up this year and JAC Jayda Walton said she really enjoyed the challenge of working to connect with as many campers as possible. One of the many opportunities this leadership position provided to her.

In addition to helping guide her tribe through developing their own cooperative, Walton also worked right alongside her tribe as they donated one-hour of camp time to deep cleaning the camp kitchen.

“For our camp service, we asked the campground staff to give us projects that would take their small staff two to three days but would take our large group of campers just an hour,” Walton explained.

In addition to deep cleaning the kitchen and dining hall, campers cleaned camping gear and weeded campground flower beds.

The JACs led the awards banquet Thursday evening, where the 2023-2024 JACs and Jr. JACs were announced: Sean Thompson, Pierre; Madi Raymond, Ethan and Chase Melius, Faulkton. New this year, Jr. JACs were also selected through an interview process to assist the JAC team. Jr. JACs selected are Cadence Konechne and Beckett Hutcheson.

Reflecting on the 2023 JACs, Olson said she is proud of the work they did organizing the successful camp and engaging with campers.

“JACs really stepped into their roll and were leaders younger campers can look up to,” Olson said. “I enjoyed watching them lead the camp they planned. And supporting them through guidance when they needed it.”

Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden was the banquet keynote speaker. He shared about his hometown connection to Farmers Union (Union Center is named after the Farmers Union Oil Cooperative established there in the 1920s); and like Hoffman, encouraged youth to take advantage of opportunities.

“My pastor once said, “people are always waiting for doors to open. He encouraged us to look for doors not locked.’”

To learn more about South Dakota Farmers Union educational programming, visit www.sdfu.org.