BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension experts will attend the 2025 Dakotafest trade show in Mitchell, providing educational resources and hands-on activities for a variety of topics.
SDSU Extension experts will be at booth No. 216 during the popular annual trade show just east of Mitchell on Aug. 19-21, 2025. Free ice cream will be served starting at 1:30 p.m. CDT daily. For more information, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search “Dakotafest”.
Thursday, Aug. 21, will feature “Ask the Tree Guy” with John Ball, professor, SDSU Extension Forestry Specialist and South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Forest Health Specialist. Phil Urso, assistant professor in the SDSU Department of Animal Science, will be available to provide information on the unique bison studies program at SDSU.
Logan Vandermark, SDSU Extension Precision Livestock Field Specialist, and Ali Nafchi, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Precision Agriculture Specialist, will be available with information on SDSU Extension’s work with cybersecurity and precision agriculture, including demonstrations of precision agricultural equipment like SDSU’s Virtual yield mapping system and cutting-edge biosensor technology designed to improve nitrogen use efficiency. There will also be drones, an electrical conductivity mapping machine and a laser scarecrow.
The booth will also feature a Kids Corner, where children can play in corn, milo and other feeds while learning about their uses and differences.
Other SDSU Extension experts plan to bring this additional information to the booth:
- Sandi Traupel, SDSU Extension Better Choices, Better Health Engagement and Enrollment Coordinator, and Emily Vincelli, SDSU Extension Worksite Program Manager, on chronic disease management.
- Addie Stamps, SDSU Extension Livestock Production and Stewardship Field Specialist, with cattle equipment demonstrations.
- Stephen Robertson, SDSU Extension Pesticide Education Field Specialist, on safe pesticide usage.
- Madison Kovarna, SDSU Extension Beef Nutrition Field Specialist, on cattle feeding strategies.
- Matt Diersen, Griffith Endowed professor and SDSU Extension Risk and Business Management Specialist, and Sarah Sellars, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Sustainable Farm and Food Systems Specialist, on agribusiness, insurance and risk management.
- Kaylyn Rudy, SDSU Extension Swine Field Specialist, and Rafe Royall, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Swine Specialist, on swine breeding basics and with farm biosecurity demonstrations.
- Graig Reicks, SDSU Extension Weed Ecology Field Specialist, on weed control.
- Hans Klopp, SDSU Extension Soil Health Field Specialist, on soil health.
- Heather Gessner, interim Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader and SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist, on estate planning.
- Hoanh Le, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Economics Research Specialist, on South Dakota land values and cash rental rates.
- Kyle Beach, SDSU Extension 4-H Program Manager and Regional Youth Educator, with knot-tying lessons.
- Robin Salverson, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist, with cattle ultrasound demonstrations.
"Dakotafest is a great time for staff to talk with farmers and ranchers from across South Dakota and the region. We enjoy meeting with them in this informal setting,” said Heather Gessner, interim Agricultural and Natural Resources Program Leader and Livestock Business Management Field Specialist. “We encourage you to bring your questions, samples of problems you may have in your field, pasture or trees. We will try to get you a same-day answer.”
