Blog---October 11, 2022—10-11--SD Farmers Union Show

    South Dakota Farmers Union each month shares there story lines from the biggest industry in South Dakota---AGRICULTURE.

    This show was no exception----Larry Birgen from Beresford---and SDFU Communication manager Luke Reindl ---joined me in the studio for the show that serves 19,000 or so members.

    First up---October is National Cooperative Month---

• 1 in 3 Americans are co-op members
• 2 million rural Americans are served by 260 telephone cooperatives in 31 states
• 1 billion people are members of coops worldwide
• Approximately 233 million people are served by insurance companies owned by or affiliated with co-ops
• South Dakota Farmer Union was formed more than 100 years ago to create cooperatives

      Senator Mike Rounds joined us from DC---and we talked about the Farm Bill—such things as mandatory country of origin

      Safety nets in place---ethanol and much more.

      Senator Rounds—Mr. Birgen and Mr Reindl---talked about the needs—why it is important and if there is anything that perhaps we weren’t being asked. The office holders get lots of requests---and then have to bounce the ball—getting all you can.

       We passed the torch to the younger generation during the show---Rope Reis from Freeman---has a heifer---first one –and he’s proud of it----and plans to get another. He along with Madison Hofer---were two of 6 winners of the SDFU Herd Builder Award. For Madison—now at SDSU—it was a EWE---and she took ownership to share why this is a great start at agriculture.

        Luke Minion---Wholestone shared his thoughts on vote coming up in 3 weeks. A yes vote means you are against the new Wholestone Facility—a no vote means you are for it. Luke explains that today—the Butcher Shop is expected to get the approval from the City Officials---and he took issue with the clothes pins being used by those young people in the TV ads---utilizing the word stink. Luke took issue with that –as did the people that traveled to Fremont to see the new plant there created in 2018.

        We met the South Dakota Farmers Union—Farm Family of the month---Bryan and Leah Spiel from Parade South Dakota. We talked about what they do with their kids---their neighbors----and how a few prayers along the way were very special too. They share equipment and we are proud of what they do.

        Laura Edwards—South Dakota State Climatologist---gave us an update on the harvest---the expected weather this week and beyond-----and didn’t give us the all clear—but as she always does---we want more information---and realize she’s very good at what she does.

      The South Dakota Farmers Union Show is available not only as a podcast for our listeners—going to the KELO-AM Website—and look for the 10-11 show October 11, 2022—use these notes as a guideline for what is in the show—and where to find them.

      The show is also posted on the SDFU Website.