Rhoda Burrows retires after 24 years at SDSU Extension

By Scout Nelson

After serving 24 years with South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension, Professor Rhoda Burrows is retiring, leaving behind a meaningful legacy in horticulture and community education. Known for her commitment to local food systems, Burrows supported the Master Gardener program and led plant safety education for producers. She also launched popular public outreach efforts like the Garden Hour webinar series.

Burrows helped SDSU Extension’s horticulture team secure over $8.2 million in grant funding, supported graduate research, and authored dozens of publications. Her dedication earned her numerous awards, including the Gamma Sigma Delta Extension Award and the John Robertson Memorial Award in Horticulture.

She played a vital role in expanding the specialty crop sector and helped form the South Dakota Specialty Producers’ Association more than two decades ago. One of her proudest achievements is witnessing the rise in farmer’s markets and the grape and wine industry in South Dakota.

Her international travels to countries like Bolivia, Poland, and Australia enriched her understanding of global horticultural practices, which she applied back home. “I am very grateful for the opportunities I had to experience horticulture in some very different cultural and physical settings,” said Burrow.

Burrows began her academic journey with a plant science degree from Montana State University and earned a doctorate in plant pathology from the University of Minnesota. She joined SDSU in 2001 as an assistant professor and Extension Specialist, driven by a love for helping people.

Burrows spent her first years in Brookings before relocating to Rapid City. Her work consistently helped South Dakota growers overcome challenges and expand access to local produce. “I’ve looked at my role more as aiding people to do what they really want to do, like a chemical enzyme that helps them over that hump,” said Burrows. “It’s more a case of helping to remove some barriers, step back and watch them go.”

In retirement, she plans to enjoy personal gardening, stay active in Master Gardener groups, and spend more time with her husband, confident that SDSU Extension’s horticulture team will continue her legacy.

Photo Credit: south-dakota-state-university