By Scout Nelson
On March 5, 2025, family farmers and ranchers from across South Dakota convened in Pierre for the annual South Dakota Farmers Union Legislative Day. This event serves as a crucial platform for agricultural professionals to voice their concerns and advocate for industry-specific policies directly with state legislators.
Doug Sombke, President of the South Dakota Farmers Union, emphasized the importance of this day, noting, "Even though agriculture is our state’s largest industry, many of our state’s policymakers do not have an ag background, so family farmers and ranchers travel to Pierre so that legislators can get to know the families their policy impacts.”
The South Dakota Farmers Union, as the state’s largest agricultural organization, represents nearly 20,000 members who annually vote on key policy issues to lobby during the Legislative Session. This year, the focus was on landowner rights, property taxes, and election reforms, areas deemed crucial for the sustenance and growth of the agricultural sector.
Highlighting the significance of personal stories in advocacy, Aberdeen farmer Craig Schaunaman shared, “Some South Dakota districts are urban, so as farmers, this Legislative Day is our opportunity to share our story with legislators who may not hear from farmers. If we as farmers don’t tell our story, who will tell our story?”
To facilitate open and candid discussions, the South Dakota Farmers Union sponsored a meal in the Capitol Rotunda. This setting allowed for intimate conversations between farmers, ranchers, and legislators. Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director of the South Dakota Farmers Union, stated, “There is just something about sharing a meal with someone that helps individuals get to know each other. Our family farmers and ranchers took time away from their operations to share about the challenges and opportunities on their farms and ranches, so we want to provide a comfortable environment for them to meet with as many legislators one-on-one as possible.”
The day also included recognition of political supporters of agriculture with the Distinguished Service Award, which this year was presented to Rep. Kadyn Wittman and Sen. Michael Rohl for their dedication to South Dakota’s leading industry.
For more information on how the South Dakota Farmers Union supports agricultural professionals across the state, interested parties are encouraged to visit www.sdfu.org.
Photo Credits:gettyimages-zoran-zeremski
Categories: South Dakota, Government & Policy