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Sarah Sellars smiles at the camera. Her shoulder-length blonde hair is down, and she is wearing a purple top with a black blazer

SDSU Extension hires new farm and food systems specialist

June 25, 2024

South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Sarah Sellars as a new Specialist in Sustainable Farm and Food Systems.

A woman stands in a clothing store behind a pink shirt with geometric patterns

Energize conference inspires new Wessington Springs business owner

April 24, 2024

Dacia Mitchell opened Modest Moxie, a clothing boutique, in Wessington Springs after attending the 2023 SDSU Extension Energize conference.

Caregiver assisting an older adult woman through a memory exercise.

SDSU Extension supports caregiving plans for family farms

April 15, 2024

National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 15, 2024, and South Dakota State University Extension is encouraging family farm owners to make long-term caregiving decisions.

Heather Gessner gestures to her classroom. She's wearing a blue shirt and standing in front of a white board with the bullet points homework, exam plus homework due, do both parts, after this week

SDSU Extension programs address economic questions

March 07, 2024

More than 1,000 people have attended Sustaining the Legacy since it started in 2006. The estate planning conference series helps farmers and ranchers successfully transfer their operations to the next generation. The conferences are held several times a year across South Dakota, typically for one day per week for three weeks.

headshot of Michael Perry, Energize keynote speaker

Register now for 2024 SDSU Extension Energize conference

February 13, 2024

Registration is open for the sixth annual South Dakota State University Extension Community Vitality Energize Conference on May 22 and 23, 2024, in Hot Springs.

About six people sit around a table in a community room with notebooks and pens

SDSU Extension Community Vitality built on foundation of empowering people

February 09, 2024

Now a full-fledged capstone within SDSU Extension, community development – since renamed Community Vitality – has evolved and grown in the last 20 years. Program leaders agree the community work they did through Horizons laid the foundation for what would become a successfully thriving SDSU Extension Community Vitality program.

Group of women sitting around a table at the Power of Women as AgVocates conference

SDSU Extension hosting conference for women in agriculture March 1-2 in Fort Pierre

February 05, 2024

The Power of Women as AgVocates Conference is March 1-2, 2024, at the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center Museum in Fort Pierre. Registration is $75.

A room of people sit around tables and listen to the young entrepreneurs panel at the 2023 Energize conference in Wessington Springs

Hot Springs to host SDSU Extension 2024 Energize Conference

December 29, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension Community Vitality and the community of Hot Springs will host the 2024 Energize Exploring Innovative Rural Communities Conference on May 22 and 23, 2024.

The Britton graduating class of Annie’s Project and event organizers stand for a group photo in front of a white screen. There are 13 women, plus one woman on the far right holding a baby

SDSU Extension graduates 10 women from Britton Annie’s Project

December 21, 2023

Ten women graduated from the most recent Annie’s Project program, hosted by South Dakota State University Extension, on Nov. 20 in Britton.

South Dakota State University Extension, Community Vitality Home Starts Here podcast cover

SDSU Extension Community Vitality launches new podcast, ‘Home Starts Here’

December 18, 2023

The South Dakota State University Extension Community Vitality team is proud to announce the launch of their new podcast, "Home Starts Here". For its fourth episode, there will be a live recording of “Home Starts Here” at 1 p.m. on March 25 at the Heritage Hall Museum complex during the 2023 Schmeckfest festival in Freeman, South Dakota.

Woman preparing fresh herbs for canning in glass jars.

SDSU Extension offers training on updated Cottage Food Laws

October 23, 2023

South Dakota State University is providing training for food processors who would like to sell food products from their homes following updates to the state’s cottage food laws earlier this year.

Annie’s Project logo.

Register now for fall series of SDSU Extension Annie’s Project in Britton

September 20, 2023

Women in agriculture have another chance to take part in the South Dakota State University Extension Annie’s Project for women in agriculture.

Three generations of a family farm standing in a field

SDSU Extension continues Sustaining the Legacy conferences for farmers and ranchers

September 12, 2023

From successfully transferring operations to the next generation to providing for children who didn’t stay on the farm or ranch, South Dakota State University Extension’s Sustaining the Legacy program can help.

Kellie Ecker Kolb smiles for a portrait

SDSU Extension welcomes new Community Vitality Field Specialist to Aberdeen office

August 22, 2023

SDSU Extension is pleased to welcome Kellie Ecker Kolb as a new Community Vitality Field Specialist based out of the Aberdeen Regional Center.

Sun rising over small town mainstreet.

SDSU Extension to host webinar on rural community narratives

August 15, 2023

“Rewriting the Rural Narrative,” hosted by South Dakota State University Extension, starts at 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CDT on Aug. 17.