Dacotah Bank Seminar on Environment, Biofuels & Innovation
Day 1
SDARL Class XII kicked off the Dacotah Bank Seminar on Environment, Biofuels, and Innovation in Aberdeen, SD, on the campus of Northern State University (NSU). We received a warm welcome from Dr. Michael Wanous, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at NSU, as well as Robert Fouberg, Dacotah Bank Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Thank you Dacotah Bank for sponsoring Seminar 4!
Dr. Eric Pulis, Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, started off the department overviews by informing us on his study of parasitology. He is currently studying the interaction between parasites and their hosts in game birds. Next, Dr. Lyncee Monson presented NSU’s newly formed nursing program. With the closing of Presentation College, the NSU program is rising to meet the needs of the community and state by teaching and providing quality nurses to the industry. Dr. Erin Fouberg, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, shared how NSU is partnering with 123 school districts to deliver exceptional education through the E-Learning and Hyflex programs. We heard from Dr. Hannah Walters, Associate Dean of Business, about NSU’s innovation and entrepreneurship development programs. Next, Dr. Alyssa Kiesow, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, led Class XII through a tour of the Jewett Science Center.
After the tour, we heard from Anthony Bly, SDSU Extension Soils Field Specialist, about the Every Acre Counts program. The goal of the program is to improve profitability, diversity, and ecosystem benefits of agriculture by using precision technologies to empower producers to help make informed decisions for every acre of their operations. The program partners with the SD Second Century Habitat Fund, USDA Natural Resources & Conservation Service, and South Dakota State University to help ag producers address the soils in their land, find solutions for challenged areas, and develop a field report card they can use to come up with a solution that best fits their needs.
We then moved to Groton, SD, to tour the POET Bioprocessing Plant. Kelly Kjelden and Blake Gomer walked us through the history of the plant and the production processes by which bioethanol, feed, and corn oil are produced. POET provides both environmentally friendly fuel and high-quality livestock feed for local and regional markets. POET consumes approximately 18 million bushels of corn from the region with a capacity to produce 68 million gallons of bioethanol annually. Class XII concluded the day at Allevity, enjoying a casual meal and entertainment together.
Day 2
Day two for Class XII catapulted right into a topic very close to many of our hearts; rural healthcare. A panel of healthcare organizations furnished an overview of their organization’s contributions to rural healthcare before approaching the challenges to overcome. One of the biggest challenges discussed was the shortage of healthcare professionals in the workforce. Telemedicine, E-pharmacists, as well as recruitment efforts and partnerships, are all avenues being utilized to help serve our rural communities’ healthcare needs. Thank you to our healthcare panelists: Daniel Bjerknes, President and CEO at Avera St Luke’s; Heather Bode, CEO of Faulkton Area Medical Center; Marty Link, Director of the SD Dept. of Health EMS and Trauma; Josie Petersen, Assistant Administrator, SD Office of Rural Health; and Kila LeGrand, Executive Director of Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center.
Class discussion after hearing from the panel reiterated the immediate need for well-qualified rural healthcare professionals, along with increased public outreach. Opening the eyes of the public to the aging out of many local volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics in rural communities is frightening. We all dread the situation of having an emergency, calling 911, and then not being able to receive help due to services not being provided in our area. Class XII was challenged to learn about their local healthcare services and advocate for continued coverage.
Our next speaker was Brodie Mueller, owner of the Market on the Plaza, a local coffee shop and event venue. Brodie’s love and passion for the Aberdeen community were unmistakable as he shared his entrepreneurship journey. “Finding the holes in the community and filling them” was the central heartbeat fueling Brodie’s endeavors.
Furthermore, Class XII heard from Heath Johnson of Dakota Plains Energy. Dakota Plains partners with landowners to help harvest wind and/or solar energy. Wind turbines require approximately 1.5 acres of land to be taken out of production, including roadways. Landowners are typically paid per turbine over 30 years. Turbines are placed in a checkerboard pattern and face the prevailing wind direction. Concerning solar development, the average land usage is approximately 6 acres per megawatt, and landowners are typically paid per acre.
Lastly, Class XII witnessed a respectful discussion regarding opposing viewpoints concerning the proposed carbon pipeline. Craig Schaunaman (SDARL Board of Directors) and Walt Bones (SDARL Class II) updated us on three bills before the governor: S201, H1185, and H1186. Class XII members were strongly encouraged to get to know our legislators and get involved with decisions that affect us and SD agriculture. Day two concluded with the SDARL alumni social and dinner. A delicious meal was prepared by Brodie Mueller, owner of the Market on the Plaza. Thank you Marlin Nilsson (SDARL Class VI) and Kirk Schaunaman (SDARL Class I) for sponsoring the meal! Thank you Clint and Kelly Brandlee (SDARL Class VII) of Back Forty Beef for growing the beef that was served!
Day 3
The final day of the seminar started with an informational discussion for the upcoming Edge, Agropur, and Valley Queen National Study Seminar in Washington, DC. Class XII received a gift of ear-tag luggage tags from Y-Tex, and then surprised SDARL Program Director Jennifer Henrie (SDARL Class IX) with birthday gifts including a custom wood cutting board created by class member Justin Boerboom.
Next, we heard from Raven team members Rhett Miller (SDARL Class XII), Sienna Mayer (SDARL Class XII), and Chad Biegler (SDARL Class XI). Raven, a brand of CNH, provides automated and autonomous farm technologies that help farmers serve the world. Raven offers automation for greater efficiency through a diverse product line including autonomy, connectivity, logistics, displays, guidance and steering systems, and application and boom controls on sprayers.
Immediately following Raven, we heard from Staci Bogue-Buchholz, Vice President and General Manager for Renewable Natural Gas at Gevo. Staci presented on Gevo’s anticipated sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility at Lake Preston, SD. Ethanol is a great feedstock for SAF and provides a new market for ethanol producers. The day concluded with a Q&A session with NSU President Dr. Neal Schnoor and behind-the-scenes tours of the State B Boys Basketball Championship and NSU athletic facilities.
All in all, the seminar theme was change and we witnessed a colossal collage of change occurring in agriculture and rural healthcare.
By Seminar Reporter Tami Biskeborn
Photos courtesy of Sienna Mayer and SDARL
Special thanks to Seminar Team Leaders Russell Samson and Willie Hinker
