Volume CVIII, No. 5 Huron, SD AUGUST 2023
A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION
SERVING SOUTH DAKOTA’S FARM & RANCH FAMILIES SINCE 1915.
2023 Jr. State Camp
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Family Farm & Ranch Photo Contest
County Camps 2023
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Policy Meeting Focused on Landowner Rights and More
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4-H & FFA Families Prepare for Fair
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SDFU Celebrates Lincoln County Farm Family
SDFU Board and State Policy Committee: Doug Sombke, President; Wayne Soren, Vice President; Paul Hotchkiss, Colton farmer; Dallis Basel, Union Center, rancher; Hank Wonnenberg, Dallas farmer; David Cap, Yankton farmer; Chad Johnson, District 7; Mary Ellen Cammack, Sturgis rancher; David Reis, District 4; Jenae Hansen-Gross, Tulare cattle producer; Scott Kolousek, District 2; Gail Temple, District 3; Larry Birgen, District 1 and Rob Lee, De Smet farmer.
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andowner rights were the main topic of discussion and the focus of two Special Orders during South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) 2023 Annual Policy Meeting held July 20. “The nice thing about Farmers Union is the policy is developed from the bottom up, not the top down,” said Cheryl Schaefers, a Polo farmer and owner of a catering service. “I also like that
Policy Meeting Continued on Page 4
Farmers Union Day at the State Fair
September 2, 2023 FREEDOM STAGE 11:30 a.m. Farmer’s Share Lunch Learn more on page 11
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The Bridget and Jason Twedt family raises cattle and crops near Beresford: Jade, Bridget, Jason, Taten and Cassandra.
hey started out with 10 cows, a goal and the opportunity of a lifetime. “Two brothers who farmed this ground did not have children interested in farming, and they wanted a young couple to come and farm it,” explained Lincoln County farmer Jason Twedt. In 2015, Jason, his wife, Bridget, and his dad, Milo, signed the papers to purchase all the farm’s equipment and they began leasing all the farm and pasture ground. “We always say we are blessed that the Young family gave us a hand up to start farming ourselves because the start-up costs of farming without having a generational family farm we could join would have been too much,” said Bridget, who works as the Beresford middle and high school FFA Adviser and Agriculture Education Instructor. Because of their backgrounds and passion for production agriculture, when the Young family talked to them about farming their land, they jumped at the opportunity. When they first began leasing the farm and pasture ground, they
Twedt Family Continued on Page 2