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

South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) will celebrate community heroes, family farmers and ranchers and educate consumers on current challenges facing our state’s No. 1 industry of agriculture during the 2019 Farmers Union Day at the South Dakota State Fair, Aug. 31.

“State Fair is a celebration of the people who make up our state’s No. 1 industry of agriculture,” explains Doug Sombke, S.D. Farmers Union President and fourth-generation Conde farmer. “It’s an industry, whose people are really struggling right now because of uncooperative weather and markets. So, this year, I see the state fair as a good place for those of us who work the fields and care for livestock to support one another and feel the support from our many friends, neighbors and supporters throughout the state.”

Clark farmer Gail Temple would agree. “State Fair is like a family reunion. It’s a statewide gathering that supports farmers. It’s where farmers from across the state bring all their best crops and livestock and 4-H kids bring their best displays.”

Temple, and her husband, Brad, raise crops and cattle. Temple also serves as District 3 board member. She will be among a group of Farmers Union volunteers to help host the organization’s annual Farmer’s Share Lunch.

Farmer’s Share Lunch is designed to educate consumers on the current low prices facing South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers. During the lunch hour, Farmers Union will only charge fairgoers the price a South Dakota farmer or rancher would receive for the ingredients used to make a $12 lunch.

This year the organization will only be collecting 25 cents. “When consumers buy a pound of burger at the store and pays $4, they think I’m making $4 a pound for the cattle I raise. This simply isn’t the case,” explains Joel Keierleber, who farms near Winner. “Consumers really don’t understand that most of their food dollars go to the middle-man. For example, I only receive $1.73 for that pound of burger, and that is not counting how much it cost me to produce and market the cow.”

And, like every cow/calf producer in South Dakota, Keierleber is responsible for the health and welfare of the cattle day-in and day-out until they are sold to a feeder or processor.
“As farmers or ranchers, we’re the ones taking care of the critter for up to two years and receiving a very small fraction of the grocery store price,” Keierleber explains.
Each year the farmers share lunch feeds more than 1,000.

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

Throughout the year, SDFU hosts education events for youth, rural professionals and community leaders and farm and ranch couples. They also provide youth with farm safety education through the SDFU Farm Safety Trailer. The trailer will also be at the fair. A mobile, interactive classroom designed to provide rural youth with farm safety training.
Fairgoers will have an opportunity to go through the trailer during 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.

Sombke and Hofhenke invite everyone to watch rural youth in action by attending the 2019 S.D. Farmers Union 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 2019 State FFA Convention: Wolsey Wessington, Hoven, Howard and Platte-Geddes.

Community heroes honored with Rural Dakota Pride awards
At 10:30 a.m., Farmers Union will recognize five South Dakotans for their selfless contributions to rural communities across the state with the Rural Dakota Pride award.
The honorees include Rich Bakeberg, Frederick; Jeannie Hofer, Huron; Jim Lane, Groton; Angie Mueller, Ethan; and Franklin Olson, Pierpont.

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 S.D. Farmers Union. “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 2019 Insuring a Brighter Tomorrow Scholarship.

Since 2008, SDFU Foundation has awarded more than $300,000 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.

Recipients include the following students: Abbie Bratland, daughter of Curwin & Kim Bratland, Willow Lake High School; Bayden Schneider, son of Jason & Velda Schneider, Chester Area High School;Benjamin Sees, son of Mike & Kris Sees, Irene-Wakonda High School; Brandon Volmer, son of Todd & Rona Volmer, Winner High School; Brittany Delzer, daughter of Glen & Cheryl Delzer Sturgis Brown High School; Caleb Nugteren, son of Darin & Lisa Nugteren, Canistota High School; Conner Edelman, son of Kevin & Lisa Edelman, Menno Public High School; Elise Heesch, daugher of Loran & Yvette Heesch, Sisseton High School; Emily Buse, daughter of Gary & DeeAnna Buse, Lennox High School; Jaedyn Oplinger, daughter of Linda Oplinger, Menno Public High School;  Justin Edelman, son of Del & Brenda Edelman, Menno Public High School; Justin Goetz, son of Trent & Goetz & Patricia Pudwill, Selby Area High School; Kaitlyn Carlon, daughter of Ronald & Nancy Carlon, Canton High School; Kendra Johnson, daughter of Wayne & Nancy Johnson, Webster Area High School; Kristin Kotes, daughter of Greg Kotes & Angel Eddy, Bridgewater-Emery High School; Liza Schoenbeck, daughter of Loren & Lisa Schoenbeck, Webster Area High School; Morgan Feddersen, son of Chris & Beth Feddersen, Jones County High School; Paydon Casper, son of Eric & Laurie Casper, Lake Preston High School; Spencer Lund, son of Brian & Kari Lund, St. Thomas More High School; Sydney Hoffman, daughter of Jeff & Deanna Hoffman, Bridgewater-Emery High School; Sydney Smith, daughter of Jay & Sherry Smith, Redfield High School; Tess Oplinger, daughter of Linda Oplinger, Menno Public High School; Tessa Menzel, daughter of CJ & Mandie Menzel, Philip High School;  Trevor Frost, son of Travis & Kaylin Frost, Redfield High School andTrista Frost, daughter of Travis & Kaylin Frost, Redfield High School.

Visit www.sdfu.org to meet the scholarship winners who represent more than 20 South Dakota communities.