Teens put their farm safety knowledge to the test and compete in the South Dakota Farmers Union Farm (SDFU) Safety Quiz Bowl Championship at the State Fair August 30 during SDFU Day at the State Fair. The 2025 championships are held at 2 p.m. under the Freedom Stage. Cash prizes awarded to winning team. The 2024 Champions are pictured here: Wessington Springs FFA Chapter team members are (left to right) Addyson Orth, Mariah Messmer, Holden Jackson and Haiden Boschee.
By Lura Roti
Family farmers and ranchers will be celebrated August 30, during South Dakota Farmers Union Day at the South Dakota State Fair.
“Agriculture is the state’s No. 1 industry, so our organization works to ensure fairgoers have a chance to meet the families doing the work as well as gain a better understanding of the challenges these families face as they work to feed America,” explained Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director of South Dakota Farmers Union.
To accomplish these goals, South Dakota Farmers Union provides opportunities for fairgoers to meet family farmers and ranchers throughout the day. And the premiere sponsor of the South Dakota State Fair hosts a Farmers Share Lunch, providing a pulled pork sandwich, chips and milk lunch to 1,000 fairgoers for 52 cents – the amount farmers receive for the lunch ingredients sold in grocery stores.
“After a fairgoer learns how little we receive for the food we produce, they say it really opens their eyes,” said Scott Kolousek, a fifth-generation Wessington Springs cattle producer. “When beef hits $8 a pound in the grocery store and buns are $3, we believe it is important that consumers understand those of us raising the cattle and the wheat are only receiving a fraction of the amount they spend at the grocery store.”
Kolousek is among a group of Farmers Union members who make time each year during State Fair to meet with fairgoers – handing out stickers and backpacks with farm-friendly messaging.
“We as individual farmers and ranchers don’t have a lot of time to tell our story, but we know that if we don’t make time to tell our story, someone else will,” Kolousek said. “This is the reason our family are Farmers Union members – this grassroots organization is run by farmers. It provides us with opportunities, like the State Fair, where we can tell our story.”
Farm Safety Quiz Bowl
During Farmers Union Day at the South Dakota State Fair, FFA teams from Brandon Valley, Canton, Howard and Wessington Springs will compete for cash and championship title during the 2025 Farm Safety Quiz Bowl championships.
“It’s important all youth understand how to stay safe on farms and ranches because agriculture is our state’s No. 1 industry – and the work involved can be dangerous,” explained Doug Sombke, President of South Dakota Farmers Union and a fourth-generation Brown County farmer.
Property Tax Discussion
South Dakota Farmers Union will also host a panel of legislative leaders, local officials, and state tax experts for a forum focused on property tax. Fairgoers are encouraged to join in the discussion during Who Pays the Bill? South Dakota’s Property Tax Crossroads forum.
During the moderated discussion, panelists will discuss a wide range of property tax issues, from school funding to county roads, and how growing frustrations about rising valuations and tax burdens are encouraging lawmakers and taxpayers alike to ask tough questions like – Is the system fair, sustainable, or due for a major overhaul?
Want to Attend Farmers Union State Fair Events? What you need to know.
All Farmers Union activities will take place under the Farmers Union tent and on the Freedom Stage.
11:30 a.m. Farmers Share Lunch – Farmers Union Tent
1 p.m. Who Pays the Bill? South Dakota’s Property Tax Crossroads – property tax discussion panel – Freedom Stage
2 p.m. Farm Safety Quiz Bowl Championships – Freedom Stage
Free admission tickets for August 30 are available to South Dakota Farmers Union members. For tickets, call Samantha Olerud at 605-554-3023 or email solerud@sdfu.org. To learn more, visit www.sdfu.org.
