Volume CIX, No. 5 Huron, SD AUGUST 2024
A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION
SERVING SOUTH DAKOTA’S FARM & RANCH FAMILIES SINCE 1915. Farmers Union Day at the South Dakota State Fair
Gettysburg FFA 4-H Pig Project
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2024 Policy Meeting
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ampers gather around camp counselor Billy Kezena as he asks them, “Does anyone know what a credit union is?” When no one offers an answer, Kezena explained, “A credit union is a cooperative that serves as a bank. Which means, as the credit union, we are the camp bank.” “What’s a cooperative?” a 10-year-old camper asks.
State Youth Camp Continued on Page 10
ATTEND FARMERS UNION DAY AT THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE FAIR SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
11:30 a.m. Farmers Share Lunch 1 p.m. 2 p.m.
PUC Forum
Farm Safety Quiz Bowl
Championship
Limited number of Free Gate
Tickets available to members. Learn more on page 9
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South Dakota Farmers Union Celebrates Davison County Ranch Family
Photo Courtesy of AgWeek
2024 State Youth Camp
DOJ Working for Cattle Producers
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Calli and Tate Williams raise registered cattle near Mitchell with their sons, Tommy, 3, and Jack, 6.
he 2014 South Dakota State Fair is where Tate and Calli Williams’ story begins. “We joke that he used such a South Dakota pick-up line when he asked me if I would show his heifer for him,” explained Calli who grew up showing cattle at the State Fair, but because of an out-of-state college internship, she didn’t have any cattle to show in 2014. Calli and Tate had a lot in common. In addition to the fact that they both enjoyed showing cattle, they each knew they wanted to build a herd and future in the cattle industry. And this goal was in spite of the fact that neither of their families were full-time cattle producers. “I am a third-generation mason. My grandpa, James, started our masonry company in 1974,” Tate said. Beginning in high school, Tate worked his way through the ranks of the family business, first as an apprentice, then as a journeyman and
Williams Family Continued on Page 2