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Categories:The Good. The Bad. The Ugly. Industrial Hemp Grower Shares All
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union When asked about growing industrial hemp the first year it was legal in South Dakota, Wessington farmer, BJ McNeil doesn’t sugar-coat his experience. “You could not have asked for a worse experience than what we had this year. But we learned a lot.” McNeil will share what […]
Read MoreDe Smet Farmer & Veteran Reflects on Time in Service
By Lura Roti Just over a decade ago, Rob Lee told his dad, Roger, that he would understand if Roger farmed the land he typically leased to Rob. After all, Lee was leaving for a year-long deployment to Afghanistan and wouldn’t be home to farm it. “Dad said, “I will plant it for you and […]
Read MoreState’s Largest Farm Organization Helps Next Generation Build Up Their Herd
By Lura Roti When she was 7, Swayze Ness’ dad, LeRoy, offered to sell she and her siblings each a bred heifer for $20. “We were standing out in the pasture. I instantly wanted three. My brother wanted a red one and my sister didn’t want to hand over the $20,” Ness recalls. The Kimball […]
Read MoreFarmers Union Insurance Welcomes Program Specialist Corey Wiegel of Huron
Insurance is something Corey Wiegel is quite familiar with. Before the new Farmers Union Insurance Program Specialist joined the team this summer, he spent 25 years working in rural healthcare as a district manager for Sanford Health Home Medical. “I worked in rural communities across eastern South Dakota. This experience gave me a solid understanding […]
Read MoreCo-op Members Share Why They Believe in the Cooperative Business Model
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union Because of their unique business model, cooperatives have played an integral role in meeting the needs of rural South Dakotans. To celebrate Cooperative Month 2021 and honor the organization’s more than a century of support for cooperatives, South Dakota Farmers Union asked South Dakota cooperative members to […]
Read MoreThis Judge Gets It: SD Farmers Union President Appreciates Judge Ruling on Lawsuit Against Big Four Packers
After hearing the news that a federal judge in Minnesota ordered a class-action lawsuit against JBS, Tyson, National Beef, and Cargill to proceed, South Dakota Farmers Union President, Doug Sombke said after decades, finally a judge, “gets it.” “This judge gets it,” explained Sombke, a fourth-generation Conde farmer. “My entire farming career, we have been […]
Read MoreBehind the Scenes of State Fair & Western Junior Showrings: 4-Hers Share What it Takes
By Lura Roti Sawdust carpeted showrings filled with well-dressed youth, attentive to judges as they show their clean, expertly groomed and calm livestock – this is what State Fair and Western Junior Livestock Show visitors see. But what does it take to get there? Lyman County 4-H members, Haleigh, Keeleigh and Oakleigh Elwood and their […]
Read MoreKimball FFA Chapter Wins Farmers Union Farm Safety Quiz Bowl at South Dakota State Fair
Putting their farm safety knowledge to the test, four South Dakota FFA chapters competed in the Team Up for Safety Quiz Bowl Championship September 4, during South Dakota Farmers Union Day at the State Fair in Huron. Kimball FFA Chapter won the quiz bowl. Team members include Tyler Leheska, Colton Michalek, Jayden Kott and Synch […]
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