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Youth Get Hands On With Renewable Energy During Farmers Union Jr. State Camp
By Lura Roti
What do paper plates, straws, water bottles and balloons have to do with renewable energy? Quite a bit if you are 12-year-old Carter Semrau.
Working with fellow campers, the seventh-grader from Hartford used these items to build a model wind turbine and understand how corn ethanol is made.
“I learned a lot about renewable energy,” Semrau explained. “It was fun to see how ethanol is made from corn that farmers grow so that we can have lower carbon emissions.”
Semrau was among nearly 80 youth from across South Dakota to attend Farmers Union Jr. State Camp held at Camp Byron near Huron July 20th-23rd, 2025.
Gaining hands-on knowledge about farmers and ranchers’ role in South Dakota’s renewable energy production was among the educational goals of the 2025 South Dakota Farmers Union Jr. State Youth Camp, explained Samantha Bowman, S.D. Farmers Union Education Program Specialist.
“It’s important that youth understand the basics of what renewable energy is because a lot of renewable energy is produced in South Dakota by our state’s farmers and ranchers,” Bowman said. “In fact, most of the corn we see in fields throughout South Dakota will be harvested for ethanol.”
Although her parents raise corn raised on the family’s Brown County farm is sold to ethanol plants, 11-year-old Moriah Kippley said she still learned quite a bit about non-renewable and renewable resources from the hands-on activities.
“I like the fact that you can make more corn because you can keep growing corn, but there are some resources that you can not make more of,” Kippley said.
Comments like this make counselor Ethan Mutter smile. “It’s fun to see the kids learning about renewable energy through these activities,” said the Sturgis Brown High School sophomore.
Mutter was one of 12 high school students who serve as camp counselors. He attended S.D. Farmers Union State Leadership Camp in June and was selected to serve as a Jr. Junior Advisory Council (Jr. JAC).
Serving as a camp counselor is something Huron High School Freshman Liberty Doerr has looked forward to doing since she was a camper at State Youth Camp. “I have been attending Farmers Union Camp for as long as I can remember and I always saw the counselors having a lot of fun, so I wanted to be one,” explained Liberty Doerr, a freshman at Huron High School. “I enjoy being a camp counselor because I get to see younger campers enjoying the traditions I love, like singing songs, the bon fire, flag raising and lowering.”
In addition to learning about renewable energy, during State Youth Camp, campers had an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge into what cooperatives are and how they operate. Day-one, campers are assigned to one of 5 cooperatives: newspaper, housing, store, insurance and credit union. And together they run for board positions and operate the cooperative.
Other counselors were: Danielle Kruger, JAC, De Smet; Riley Mutter, Sturgis; Raymond Wynia, Wilmot; Avril Fletcher, JAC, Highmore; Chaz Blotsky, Hidden Timber; Chord Blotsky, Hidden Timber; Liberty Doerr, Huron; Madi Raymond, Senior Advisory Council, Ethan; Lily Blume, Redfield; Allison Schulz, JAC, Lennox; Cally Faulhaber, Plankinton; Coltyn Raymond, JAC, Ethan; Chloe Culver, Huron; Aaron Kippley, Aberdeen and Lorelei Ruhnke, Pierre.
“It has been really great to see the campers from State Leadership Camp step into this role as a leader for younger campers attending State Youth Camp,” Bowman said. “I think the responsibility gives them a sense of pride.”
Ziplines, Archery & Camper-led Cooperatives
“Because we live in South Dakota where there are so many cooperatives, learning about cooperatives during camp will help these kids in their future,” said counselor Lorelei Ruhnke, a high school sophomore from Pierre. “They may become members of a cooperative or want to work for one.”
Ruhnke is helping guide campers who are members of the newspaper cooperative. This cooperative sells ads to promote other cooperatives and shares camp news. During the first meeting, Maizy Ogren, an 11-year-old from Harding County was elected board President.
“As board President I am going to make thoughtful decisions and consider everyone’s opinion because in a cooperative all members have a voice,” Ogren explained.
In addition to electing board officers, during their first meeting, campers created posters to promote their cooperative and encourage other campers to buy ads. While she was coloring her poster, Bexley Perrion, a 9-year-old from Ipswich said she was having fun at camp, “because I get to be away from my parents and have some time to be by myself with friends.”
Perrion lives on her family’s farm and is the oldest of three. Brylen Eastlick, a 12-year-old from Humboldt agreed with Perrion. 2025 is Eastlick’s third year to attend Farmers Union Jr. State Youth Camp.
“I like making friends during camp,” Eastlick said. “And I like to come to camp with my friend. And because I think camp is really fun, I got another friend to come this year and my younger brother.”
In addition to learning, ensuring campers have fun is a top priority for counselors and Farmers Union staff. During the four-days, campers enjoy camp traditions like songs and campfires. They also enjoy camp activities like archery, zipline, scavenger hunts and games.
“I have so much fun at camp, I have so many friends and cousins who are here,” said Declyn Schmidt, a 10-year-old from Tripp. “And I’m excited for archery.”
To learn more about South Dakota Farmers Union youth programing, day camps, teen camps and Farm Safety Trailer, visit www.sdfu.org.