Volume CX, No. 4 Huron, SD June/July 2025
A PUBLICATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS UNION
SERVING SOUTH DAKOTA’S FARM & RANCH FAMILIES SINCE 1915.
Cancer Survivor Shares Her Story
PAGE 6
Members go to D.C. & Ask Congress to End Chaos
Rodeo Athlete Reflects
PAGE 8
Farmers Union Camp Provides Agriculture’s Next Generation Leadership & Professional Development
PAGE 20
Claims Open in JBS Settlement Case PAGE 22
South Dakota Farmers Union Celebrates Harding County Ranch Family
T
he Black Hills saw teens from rural communities across South Dakota gather for South Dakota Farmers Union State Leadership Camp June 8-13. 2025 marks the third summer Riley Mutter attended, and the Sturgis Brown High School sophomore said it was the best camp yet. “I made a lot of new friends and enjoyed seeing old friends who I met at camp last summer,” Mutter said. He explained that in addition to gaining friends from across the state, State Leadership Camp helped him develop confidence. “I used to have really bad social anxiety. It was so bad I could not look people
State Camp Continued on Page 16
Save the date!
2025 State Policy Meeting Thursday, July 17 9 a.m.
Location: Remote Details: Visit www.sdfu.org to join Zoom Meeting Learn more on page 4.
The Jenson family ranches in Harding County: Ron, Starla, Keen, 4, Jace, Kami, Kage, 8 months, and Louise.
R
alph, South Dakota, had a general store, a post office, a Lutheran church, a cemetery and a school when Louise Jenson and her husband, Gene, were newly married and moved onto the ranch within eyesight of the Harding County village. Sixty-three years later, Louise maintains the grounds around the now, mostly vacant buildings and cemetery. Thankfully, even though Ralph is no more, the Jenson Ranch family is thriving. In addition to grounds maintenance, Louise spends quite a bit of time watching her great-grandchildren. “It is just heaven,” explained Louise, of getting to help care for her
Jenson Family Continued on Page 2