By Scout Nelson
SDSU Extension will host the Western South Dakota Specialty Crop Tour on July 21, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. MT at Magpie Farm, 24717 Coolidge Creek Drive, Hermosa, SD 57744, and Bent Oak Ridge Flower Farm. The free educational event gives producers and community members an opportunity to learn about specialty crop production and the unique challenges faced by small farms.
The tour receives support, in part, through a North Central SARE Professional Development Program grant. Registration is requested for those planning to attend.
Specialty crop farms in South Dakota often operate on only a few acres or less. Because of their smaller size, these farms face different production, marketing, and management challenges than larger agricultural operations. The tour is designed to provide useful information that helps growers improve their farming practices and business success.
Participants will explore the production of vegetables, herbs, tea flowers, and cut flowers while visiting two local farms. They will also learn about high tunnel production, field production systems, food safety requirements, regulatory considerations, and business planning strategies that support successful specialty crop operations.
Magpie Farm in Hermosa is a 1-acre specialty crop farm that grows fresh produce, herbs, and flowers using sustainable farming methods. The farm focuses on improving soil health, reducing outside inputs, and providing naturally grown, high-quality products to the local community.
The tour will also visit Bent Oak Ridge Flower Farm near Keystone. The farm is known for its large collection of perennial flowers and expanding specialty flower plantings grown for bouquets, local events, and on-farm sales. It also promotes pollinator-friendly production and encourages community involvement through flower-related activities.
This tour is free to attend and is supported, in part, by a North Central SARE Professional Development Program grant. Registration is requested.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-valentinrussanov
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Sustainable Agriculture