Board Members

Shawn Freeland

Shawn Freeland

Caputa, SD

Shawn Freeland, his wife Kristy and their two daughters live on their farm in Caputa where they run a cow/calf operation, stockers, registered Black Angus, beef finishing, as well as produce irrigated livestock forage.

Candice Mizera

Candice Mizera

McLaughlin, SD

Terry Ness

Terry Ness

Pierre, SD

Terry Ness, Secretary/Treasurer, is a founding board member of the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.

Dennis Hoyle

Dennis Hoyle

Roscoe, SD

Dennis Hoyle, current Chairman of the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, has been a member of the board since its beginning in 2015.

Doug Sieck

Doug Sieck

Selby, SD

Doug Sieck, past Chairman and current board member, is the owner and operator of Deep Root Ranch in North Central South Dakota.

David Kruger

David Kruger

Twin Brooks, SD

Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson

Frankfort, SD

Van Mansheim

Van Mansheim

Colome, SD

Van Mansheim, current Board Member, was elected to the Board in January 2021.

Levi Neuharth

Levi Neuharth

Fort Pierre, SD

Levi Neuharth, Vice Chairman of the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, and wife Crystal Neuharth hosted an educational field day at their farm near Fort Pierre on October 4th 2017.

Dan Forgey - Advisor

Dan Forgey - Advisor

Gettysburg, SD

Bryan Jorgensen - Advisor

Bryan Jorgensen - Advisor

Ideal, SD

Ally Binger, Youth Advisor

Ally Binger, Youth Advisor

Cutler Michalski, Youth Advisor

Cutler Michalski, Youth Advisor

2023 Soil Health School Registration Open!

The 2023 Soil Health School will be held August 28-30 on the farms of Anthony Bly and Bruce Carlson near Garretson, SD! There will be classroom sessions, field excercises, discussion panels, and opportunities to network with researchers, industry professionals, and experienced producers who can help you on your soil health journey! Class size is limited, so learn more and register today!

News & Events

Long-term research reveals advantages of diverse crop rotations

Long-term research reveals advantages of diverse crop rotations

By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – It can take time for scientists to build new knowledge of biological processes, especially when those processes play out over the course of years. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service North Central...

‘Park the chisel’: First step toward soil health can be simple

‘Park the chisel’: First step toward soil health can be simple

By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – The benefits of improved soil health for agricultural producers and gardeners are numerous and valuable – reduced input costs, improved profitability, drought and flood resilience, reduced erosion, improved water quality, increased wildlife...

Saline Soil Management: More Money With Fewer Crop Acres

Saline Soil Management: More Money With Fewer Crop Acres

By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – Salinity areas. Trouble spots. White deserts. Regardless of what they’re called, saline soils are a problem for South Dakota. White, salty areas where nothing grows are a common sight in fields across the state. “The amount of salinity that's...