128th Annual Convention and Trade Show
South Dakota Stockgrowers Wrap Up 128th Annual Convention and Trade Show!
Rapid City, SD
The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association wrapped up another successful convention and trade show November 1, where Scott Edoff of Hermosa, SD was elected as the new president by the membership.
Immediate past president, Gary Deering, pulled together a great convention with many highlights. “Convention attendance was up, and everyone had a great time,” commented Deering. “After 128 years this convention continues to get bigger and better each year,” he added.
Some of this year’s highlights included the membership electing new leaders for the organization. Scott Edoff of Hermosa, SD was elected president at the annual membership meeting. “I’m humbled by the confidence of our members to put me into this position,” stated Edoff. “I look forward to serving this great organization and meeting and listening to as many members and supporters as I can.” Edoff previously served on the Board of Directors since 2004 and for the last 2 years as vice president. “Scott is going to be a great leader for the Stockgrowers,” commented Deering. “I am very excited about the direction of our organization.”
Vaughn Meyer of Reva, SD was also elected by the membership to serve as the new vice president. Vaughn has previously served on the board of directors and as a regional vice president. “Vaughn is an outspoken advocate of independent ranchers and property rights,” Said Edoff. We are happy he is willing to step up and help lead the Stockgrowers,” he added.
Les Shaw of White Owl, SD and Liz May of Kyle, SD were duly elected as regional vice presidents and now also join the executive committee. New to the board of directors are Cory Levin, JT Rickenbach, and Ross Cuny. “We are very excited about our new leaders, but I’d also like to sincerely thank those board members who decided to step down at this time,” said executive director James Halverson. “Mike Maher, Mark DeVries, Sandy Buffington, and Mark Tubbs have done much for this organization and will be greatly missed. I hope they will stay involved, the wisdom and experience they posses cannot be replaced.” He added.
Aside from electing new leadership, many other happenings highlighted the two-day event. Pat Trask was honored at the annual awards banquet with the “Lifetime Friend” award, while Senator Ryan Maher, and WNAX broadcaster, Tom Riter were each honored as well. “The banquet is always such a great time to get together and have a fun evening,” said Deering. “We really felt these folks deserved special recognition for all the work they’ve done for the Stockgrowers throughout my tenure as president and for many years previously,” he said.
The two-day event was also full of presentations and panels of speakers from all areas of livestock production. Friday’s luncheon presentation “Ramblings of a Conservative Cow Doctor and the 5 Undeniable Truths” by Dr. Krayton Kerns was a crowd favorite. “That’s the greatest speech I’ve ever heard!” was yelled from the audience as Dr. Kerns finished his presentation. Many folks specifically came to hear from world-renowned teacher and speaker, Dave Pratt formerly of the Ranching for Profit school. “The panels that (past) president Deering was able to assemble were the best you’ll ever find,” said Halverson. “He worked extremely hard to get the best minds in our business to come here to Rapid City. You just don’t get panels that include Karen Budd-Falen from the Department of the Interior, Dr. Dale Grotelueschen from University of Nebraska, and all the top staffers from the D.C offices as well as all the rest of the knowledgeable panelists we had here every day.”
The trade show was also a big hit. “We had many new vendors this year,” said newly elected region 1 vice president, Les Shaw. “This event was bigger and better than ever and wouldn’t be possible without all of their support. All of them (sponsors) that I was able to talk to said they had a great time and met lots of folks.”
The Saturday morning Board of Directors meeting wrapped up the entire event. “I’m excited about where we are heading and to dig in and get to work on the issues our members feel are most important,” Said President Edoff.
Agenda
Thursday, October 31, 2019
8:30 am – Registration and Trade Show Open
Morning Refreshments sponsored by Great Western Bank
9:45 am – Welcome – Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender Dakota Ballroom
9:50 am – Opening Remarks with President Gary Deering, Dakota Ballroom
10:00 am – Bill Bullard, CEO – R-CALF USA Black Hills Ballroom
Sponsored by Fort Pierre Livestock
11:00 am – Lesley Coyle, Director of Property Tax Division – SD Dept. of Revenue Black Hills Ballroom
12:00 pm – Lunch with Dave Pratt, Ranch Management Consultants Dakota Ballroom Sponsored by Farm Credit Services
1:30 pm – Federal Lands Panel Black Hills Ballroom
Karen Budd-Falen – U.S. Department of Interior
Chase Adams, Senior Policy Director – American Sheep Industry Association
Jack Isaacs, Forest Supervisor – Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands
Bob Mountain – U.S. Forest Service
Lance Russel – SD State Senator – Association of National Grasslands
Afternoon Refreshments sponsored by KBHB Radio
2:45 pm – Washington DC Update, Black Hills Ballroom
Ryan Donnely, Legislative Assistant for Senator John Thune
Logan Penfield, Legislative Assistant for Senator Mike Rounds
John Weber, Senior Policy Advisor for Representative Dusty Johnson
4:00 pm – Trade Show Closes
5:00 pm – Mike’s Pub Crawl
5:00 pm – Que Pasa, sponsored by Dakota Gold ProPellet
5:45 pm – Firehouse Brewery, Sponsored by Cattle Business Weekly
6:30 pm – Hotel Alex Johnson, Sponsored by Genex
7:00 pm – Hotel Alex Johnson Banquet Sponsored by CKP Insurance
Friday, November 1, 2019
7:00 am Committee Meetings as Scheduled by Chairman
8:00 am – Inspirational Breakfast with Father John Paul Trask, Dakota Ballroom Sponsored by First Interstate Bank
9:00 am – Animal Health Panel Black Hills Ballroom Sponsored by DeTye Vet Supply
Dr. Dale Groteleuchen
Dr. Dustin Oedekoven
Dr. Russ Daly
Dr. Julie Trask
Coffee Break Sponsored by SD Game Fish and Parks
10:30 am – Marketing Panel Black Hills Ballroom Sponsored by Tri-State Livestock News
Rich Blair
Clint Ridley
Dr. Matt Diersen
Birch Negaard
Scott Varilek
12:00 pm – Lunch with Krayton Kerns, DVM – Author and MT State Representative – Dakota Ballroom
Luncheon Sponsored by Dakotaland Feeds LLC
1:30 pm – Dean John Killefer, SDSU College of Ag, Food, and Environmentas Sciences
SDSU Ice Cream Social, Dakota Ballroom
Visit the Trade Show Vendors to top off your ice cream
2:00 pm – Committee Reports – Black Hills Ballroom
3:30 pm – Lobbyist Report Jeremiah M. Murphy, Committee Chair Reports Black Hills Ballroom
4:00pm – SD Stockgrowers Association Annual Meeting, Black Hills Ballroom
Policy Review and Discussion
Election of Officers and Leadership, Business meeting
4:00 pm – Trade Show Closes
5:30pm – Buffalo Hardware and Ranch Supply Social Hour Dakota Ballroom
6:30pm – Awards and Recognition Banquet, Dakota Ballroom
Honoring Pat Trask and Family
Sponsored by Ag West Feeds
Followed by Live Auction Fundraiser, Nightcap & Cocktails sponsored by Crew Agency
Saturday Nov. 2
8:00am – Board of Directors Breakfast – Retiring and incoming board members and spouses are invited, all members welcome
9:00am – Board of Directors meeting
