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Categories:SD Farmers Union Celebrates the Gonsoir Ranch Family of Groton
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union Kristen Gonsoir’s first horse was a small, naughty pony a neighbor offloaded for the horse-crazed 5-year-old to love. When its cantankerous nature didn’t deter their daughter’s affection, Kristen’s parents bought her the real deal – a mare named Cinnamon. Kristen trained Cinnamon for 4-H reining competitions and […]
Read MoreFFA Youth Team Up for Safety & Win
Keep safety top of mind Each year, hundreds are hurt or killed on farms and ranches. As a grassroots farming and ranching organization, S.D. Farmers Union (SDFU) hosts the quiz bowl each year to help remind youth of farm safety risks and how to keep themselves and those they care about safe. “Farm safety is […]
Read MoreSDFU Now Taking Nominations for 2018 Rural Dakota Pride Awards
Nominate a Volunteer Who Makes Your Community A Better Place to Live 2018 nominations are due July 1. To nominate a volunteer in your community, simply click here or contact Hofhenke at 605-352-6761 ext. 114. The five Rural Dakota Pride Awards will be presented during SDFU Day at the 2018 South Dakota State Fair. Courtesy […]
Read MoreTimes Are Tough on the Farm & Politics Aren’t Helping
How hardship wavers create devastating ripple effect The EPA’s decision to grant hardship waivers to three Andeavor refineries, despite the corporation’s net profits of nearly $1.5 billion last year, took away the requirement that a percentage of all oil is blended with corn-based ethanol. Sombke explains that this decision does nothing to help already low […]
Read MoreLake Area Technical Institute Joins S.D. Farmers Union for College Conference on Cooperatives
Throughout the conference, students toured a number of cooperatives and heard from representatives and farmers from traditional and value-added agricultural cooperatives, housing and worker-owned co-ops, and consumer cooperatives. They also gained insight into cooperative development, as well as the challenges facing the industry from current cooperative leaders, farmers and members. “This conference allowed me to […]
Read MoreS.D. Farmers Union Supports Rural Energy for America Program with Letter of Support
The following is the REAP letter of support: March, 2018 Dear Chairman Conaway, Ranking Member Peterson, Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow, We, the undersigned organizations, urge you to support inclusion of the Rural Energy for America (REAP) program with increased or, at the least, maintained mandatory funding in the next Farm Bill. REAP drives […]
Read MoreS.D. Farmers Union Welcomes Rocky Forman to Serve as Member Services Coordinator
More about Rocky Forman Forman grew up on a registered cattle ranch near Ree Heights. His dad was a ranch hand and along with helping him out with cattle chores, Forman began showing cattle at the young age of 8. He enjoyed preparing cattle for show, and soon, his friends were asking him to help […]
Read MoreS.D. Farmers Union Provides Professional Leadership Training Through REAL Program
“By finding ways to advance my professional knowledge I’m able to give back more to the leadership roles I hold in my community and I’ll be ahead of the game when it comes to my job,” says Hawkinson. The REAL program connects rural professionals with experts, participants work on media and promotion, parliamentary procedure, communication […]
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