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Business Development

All Business Development Content

Team discussing business strategy at a table.

Be Strategic About Using an Outside Facilitator

Working with an SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialist facilitator can help create an actionable strategic plan for your business with goals and tactics to align your team, board and stakeholders.

Young, female rancher hosting a small tour group.

AgritourismSD Program

AgritourismSD is an intensive educational program designed to provide farmers and ranchers with the opportunity to create an enterprise that utilizes resources in different ways to generate new income streams.

Sheep standing at feed bunk

Applications open for SDSU Extension Emerging Sheep Producers Program

August 02, 2023

Applications are now available for the second South Dakota State University Extension Emerging Sheep Producers Program. The program is for sheep producers who want to develop or improve a full- or part-time sheep operation.

Successful Energize! conference draws community leaders to Wessington Springs

July 25, 2023

From May 31 to June 1, Wessington Springs hosted nearly 120 community leaders from across the state for the 2023 Energize! Conference, organized by South Dakota State University Extension’s Community Vitality team.

Clipboard with draft of storytelling notes.

Telling Your Organization’s Story: Building Board Competency in Fundraising and Marketing

Marketing, fundraising, and storytelling are closely linked activities. By leveraging the power of narratives and implementing strategic marketing techniques, boards can supplement their strategic goals and the tangible work of their organizations.

Row of small businesses in Kimball, South Dakota.

Strengthening Businesses

Is your business established, new or somewhere in between? Our team has resources for every stage.

Young man and woman working on a construction plan.

Creating Vibrant Places

SDSU Extension’s community vitality team supports citizens in their efforts to enhance the qualities that make their community special.

Three women sit at a booth in a small cafe.

Community Vitality helping train South Dakota board members for service with customized curriculum

June 15, 2023

The SDSU Extension Community Vitality team has created the Building Highly Effective Boards curriculum to teach South Dakota board members how to thrive in their roles.

2022 Energize Conference attendees.

Young entrepreneurs share their stories at the 2023 Energize! conference in Wessington Springs

May 16, 2023

A panel of young entrepreneurs including Aidan Friesen, Hope Karels, Swade Ries and Oliver Moeckly will speak at this year’s Energize! conference in Wessington Springs. SDSU Extension and the community of Wessington Springs will host the 2023 Energize! Exploring Innovative Rural Communities Conference May 31-June 1.

Road sign reading "Welcome to South Dakota - Great Faces, Great Places"

Put Your Location on the Map along the US Highway 14 SD Rural Road Trip Trail

May 03, 2023

SDSU Extension is holding a series of community meetings to share and collect information to promote tourism along U.S. Highway 14, which runs east-west across north-central South Dakota.