S.D. Farmers Union Celebrates Community Heroes, Farmers & Ranchers During SDFU Day at the State Fair

Team up for Farm Safety Quiz Bowl

Another way the organization emphasizes farm safety is through the Team Up for Farm Safety Quiz Bowl.

 Farmers Union invites everyone to watch rural youth in action by attending the 2018 SDFU Team Up To Safety Quiz Bowl championship, held at 2 p.m. on the Freedom Stage across from the Farmers Union Tent.

 “The quiz bowl is a fun way for high school students to learn about safety on the farm or ranch,” says Hofhenke, of the competition that asks FFA members questions on farm and ranch safety.

 The following FFA chapters qualified to compete during the 2018 State FFA Convention: Hoven FFA, Parker FFA, Tri-Valley FFA and Wessington Springs FFA.

 Community heroes honored with Rural Dakota Pride awards

At 10:30 a.m., Farmers Union will recognize seven South Dakotans for their selfless contributions to rural communities across the state with the Rural Dakota Pride Award.

 The honorees include: Tim Holzer, Arlington; Diana Runge, Wessington; Roger Deiter, Faulkton; John and Maria Condon, Colome; Amy Hofer, Doland; and Joe Schnell, Lake Preston.

 As an organization which supports South Dakota farmers and ranchers, Farmers Union understands the integral connection between those who work in South Dakota’s No. 1 industry and their rural communities.

 “One cannot survive without the other,” says Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director of SDFU. “Without thriving communities, it’s difficult to encourage young people to return to their family’s farm or ranch. Rural communities are key to the future of South Dakota’s agriculture industry, which is why we like to recognize those individuals who help them thrive.”

 Scholarships Awarded

The organization will also announce the South Dakota students who receive $1,000 scholarships for post-secondary education as part of the Farmers Union Foundation and Farmers Union Insurance Agency 2018 Insuring a Brighter Tomorrow Scholarship.

 Since 2008, SDFU Foundation has awarded more than $275,000 in scholarships to students attending South Dakota post-secondary schools.

 The recipients were chosen from among a large pool of applicants. They were scored based on a combination of academic record, activities and awards, financial need and an essay relating to how they will “Insure a Brighter Tomorrow” in South Dakota.

 Farmers Union Insurance agents throughout the state fund this scholarship program administered by the Farmers Union Foundation.

 “Education is one of the three pillars upon which Farmers Union is built. Year-round, Farmers Union invests in providing leadership, cooperative and farm safety educational programming to school-age rural youth across South Dakota,” Sombke explains.

To educate consumers on the current low prices, on Sept. 1, SD Farmers Union serves a Farmers Share lunch, Sept. 1 during Farmers Union Day at the State Fair, charging fairgoers the price a South Dakota farmer would receive for the ingredients used to make a $12 lunch.

This year the organization will only be collecting 25 cents.

 Each year the farmers share lunch feeds more than 1,000.

 “This is one of our largest educational events,” says Karla Hofhenke, SDFU Executive Director. “Education is a mission our grassroots organization takes seriously.”