Farmers Feed 1,000 State Fair Fairgoers for Only 52 Cents

Today (August 30) at the South Dakota State Fair, family farmers and ranchers feed 1,000 fairgoers lunch for only 52 cents each during the South Dakota Farmers Union Farmers Share Lunch.

Why only 52 cents? It’s the farmers’ share for the meal’s ingredients.

“There is a big difference between what we all pay at the grocery store and the share the farmer receives for the food they raise,” explained Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director of South Dakota Farmers Union.

Understanding the economic challenges facing family farmers and ranchers as well as providing an opportunity for fairgoers to meet the families who do the work of our state’s number one industry of agriculture are among the goals of the Farmers Share Lunch, explained Wessington Springs rancher, Scott Kolousek.

“After a fairgoer learns how little we receive for the food we produce, they say it really opens their eyes,” Kolousek said. “When beef hits $8 a pound in the grocery store and buns are $3, we believe it is important that consumers understand those of us raising the cattle and the wheat are only receiving a fraction of the amount they spend at the grocery store.”

Megan and Derek Pedersen agreed. They are attending the State Fair from Lesterville. And when they learned that the 52 cents they paid for a pulled pork sandwich, chips and milk lunch was the farmers’ share for the ingredients, they were surprised.

“It sounds like a lot of hard work for nothing,” Derek said.

“Sounds like changes should be made,” Megan added. “Because the processors/packagers seem to be making most of the profit, not the people who put in the blood, sweat and tears. This should somehow be reversed.”

An opportunity to advocate for agriculture

South Dakota Farmers Union is the premier sponsor of the South Dakota State Fair. And in addition to the Farmers Share Lunch, the state’s largest agriculture organization said the event provides a great opportunity for family farmers and ranchers to share their story.

Kolousek is among a group of Farmers Union members who make time during State Fair to meet with fairgoers – handing out stickers and backpacks with farm-friendly messaging.

“We as individual farmers and ranchers don’t have a lot of time to tell our story, but we know that if we don’t make time to tell our story, someone else will,” Kolousek said. “This is the reason our family are Farmers Union members – this grassroots organization is run by farmers. It provides us with opportunities, like State Fair, where we can tell our story.”

Farm Safety Quiz Bowl and More

In addition to the Farmers Share Lunch, South Dakota Farmers Union is also hosting the 2025 Farm Safety Quiz Bowl championships. FFA teams from Brandon Valley, Canton, Howard and Wessington Springs will compete for cash and championship title.

“It’s important all youth understand how to stay safe on farms and ranches because agriculture is our state’s number one industry – and the work involved can be dangerous,” explained Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union and a fourth-generation Brown County farmer.

And the grassroots organization is also hosting a panel of legislative leaders, local officials and state tax experts for a forum focused on property tax. Fairgoers joined in  the discussion during Who Pays the Bill? South Dakota’s Property Tax Crossroads forum.

To learn more about how South Dakota Farmers Union works to support family farmers and ranchers, visit www.sdfu.org.