S.D. Farmers Union Celebrates the Hanson Farm Family of Sisseton

By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union

 When it comes to his farm, it doesn’t take much to make Gary Hanson smile.

 “I just enjoy going out and putting in fence. The posts are straight, the wires are tight – it gives me joy,” explains the fourth-generation Sisseton farmer. “I tell people that when I was a college student, farming was my distraction. I loved it and knew that I could return to the farm, so that’s what I did.”

 At 67, Hanson’s passion for farming has not dwindled, but his focus has expanded beyond his crops and cattle.

 Today, his son, Cody, 42, is making most of the decisions Gary and his brother, Paul, used to make.

 “Like my dad, I liked tractors and cattle – I played farmer when I was growing up – I enjoy what I do,” explains Cody, who lives on the farm, next door to his mom and dad, with his wife, Shawn, and their four school-age children, Reece, 16; Parker, 14; Kennedy, 10; and Scarlett, 6.

Gary says handing over the reins to Cody has given him more time to enjoy farm tasks, time spent outdoors and allowed him to become more engaged in his other passion – serving South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers.

 Over the last two decades, Gary has traded in some on-farm responsibilities for off-farm agriculture advocacy.

To read more and view a photo gallery click here

To listen to a recorded interview with the Hansons, click here