News Releases

Farmers Feed 1,000 Fairgoers & Rural Volunteers Recognized During Farmers Union Day at the State Fair

With grocery prices soaring, doesn’t it make sense that farmers and ranchers would also see an increase in profits? This just isn’t the case, explained Union Center rancher, Dallis Basel. “We go grocery shopping just like everyone else,” said Basel, who raises sheep and cattle together with his wife, Tammy. “Even though prices are up […]

What a Farmer Earns: Farmer Share Lunch Feeds Fairgoers for 35 Cents

During the South Dakota State Fair, Fairgoers can eat a $13 lunch for only 35 cents. It’s South Dakota Famers Union (SDFU) way of helping consumers understand just how much money family farmers and ranchers earn from the food products they raise. “It’s our way of letting consumers know that even though prices are up […]

Strengthening South Dakota’s Beef Industry is Focus of Farmers Union State Fair Forum

Working to hold meat packers and food processors accountable and transparent is a focus of Farmers Union grassroots policy. During Farmers Union Day at the State Fair, the state’s largest agriculture organization will host a panel discussion focused on strengthening South Dakota’s Beef Industry. Date: September 3, 2022 Time: 1 p.m. Location: Freedom Stage at the South Dakota State […]

Farmers Union Day at the State Fair

Kolousek Family Shares How Soil Health Extends Grazing Season and Keeps Soil from Blowing

By Lura Roti, for South Dakota Farmers Union If you take care of the soil, it will take care of you, explained fourth-generation Wessington Springs farmer, Dick Kolousek. “The more we can do to keep the soil productive, the more the soil will produce – even in dry years,” Dick said during a Soil Health […]

Members Support Family Farms Through Policy

Members guide South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) through grassroots policy development that supports family farms and ranches. It’s been this way since the beginning explains Doug Sombke, SDFU President and Conde farmer. “For more than a century, our family farm and ranch focus has united us as members – not a specific commodity or issue,” […]

Rural Youth Leaders Eager to Serve & Strengthen Farmers Union Camp Experience

Melanie Raap-Eitreim, Aeriel Eitreim’s mom attended Farmers Union camp as a kid. She’s the reason Aeriel signed up to attend Farmers Union camp with her cousins 10 years ago. Ashley Hanson has a similar story. Her dad, Lorrie, attended Farmers Union camp when he was a kid. “My dad liked Farmers Union camp and he […]

South Dakota Famers Union to President: If You Want to Increase Fuel Supplies Come See What We Are Doing Here

Huron, SD, July 19. 2022:  Forget Saudi Arabia: Biden Should Have Gone to South Dakota. That was the message from South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke in an editorial in the Argus Leader Newspaper this week. “We have a home-grown product that has been proven to significantly improve gasoline quality and save billions at […]