By Scout Nelson
A student-run farm at South Dakota State University (SDSU) has been helping support local families and students by growing and donating fresh fruits and vegetables.
As of early October 2026, the Local Foods Education Center has donated more than 2,700 pounds of fresh produce to local food programs. The center is part of SDSU and provides students with opportunities to learn about farming through hands-on work. The produce grown at the farm is donated to organizations that help people and families facing food insecurity.
The Local Foods Education Center is a student-run teaching farm where students take part in planting, growing, and harvesting food. The farm also grows flowers as part of its activities. This combination of food production and education allows students to learn about farming while supporting the local community.
Students grow a wide variety of crops at the farm. These include Brussels sprouts, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, herbs, leafy greens, okra, peppers, tomatoes, and watermelon. The variety of crops gives students experience with growing different types of plants and managing their needs throughout the growing season.
The center also has a small cut flower garden. The flower garden provides another learning opportunity for students and helps bring more people to the center during events. By growing both food and flowers, the farm creates a useful space for education, community activities, and agricultural learning.
All food grown at the Local Foods Education Center is donated to three local programs. These include the Brookings Food Pantry, Brookings Backpack Project, and Jack’s Cupboard on the SDSU campus. These organizations help make sure the fresh produce reaches people who can benefit from it.
"It is really awesome to know that we are providing our community with a fresh source of fruits and vegetables we know are nutritious and that we have personally put a lot of thought and care into growing and harvesting, knowing that it is going back to our community and even to students who are on campus," Katelyn Zeug, a student farmer at the center said.
The program also gives SDSU students a chance to gain useful farming skills. Students learn how to prepare growing areas, plant crops, care for plants, harvest food, and understand the daily work needed to manage a farm.
"It is a space available for professors to use to come out with their classes to practice growing and harvesting and to learn about the management of a farm. It's a great opportunity for students to learn and get hands-on experience with planting, growing, and harvesting," Zeug said.
The Local Foods Education Center employs four student farmers and one student manager. These students take part in the farm's daily activities and gain experience that can help them understand agriculture, food production, and farm management.
The center also serves as an educational resource for SDSU professors and students. Classes can use the farm to learn about planting, crop care, harvesting, and farm management in a real working environment. This hands-on approach allows students to connect classroom lessons with practical farming activities.
The farm's work shows how university agriculture programs can benefit both students and local communities. Students gain practical experience while the community receives fresh food from crops grown close to home.
By donating more than 2,700 pounds of produce in 2026, the Local Foods Education Center continues to show the value of student-led farming. Its work combines agricultural education, community support, and fresh food production in one campus program.
Photo Credit: South Dakota State University
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables