Board Members
Shawn Freeland
Caputa, SD
Shawn Freeland, is the current chairman of the SDSHC Board of Directors.
Candice Mizera
McLaughlin, SD
Candice Mizera is the current vice chairman of the SDSHC Board of Directors
Terry Ness
Pierre, SD
Terry Ness is the current secretary/treasurer of the SDSHC Board of Directors.
David Kruger
Twin Brooks, SD
Don Nickelson
Frederick, SD
Roy Thompson
Akaska, SD
Brian Johnson
Frankfort, SD
Van Mansheim
Colome, SD
Levi Neuharth
Fort Pierre, SD
Advisors to the Board
Dan Forgey - Advisor
Gettysburg, SD
Bryan Jorgensen - Advisor
Ideal, SD
Doug Sieck - Advisor
Selby, SD
Dennis Hoyle - Advisor
Roscoe, SD
Cutler Michalski, Youth Advisor
Willow Lake, SD
Soil Health Conference Registration Open!
The 2025 Soil Health Conference will be held Jan. 15-16 at the Ramkota Hotel and Event Center in Watertown, a spacious venue which will allow for a full day and a half of speaker sessions, awards, producer panels, and time to engage with sponsors. This event will feature many speakers including Keith Berns, Nebraska no-till farmer, ag educator, and co-owner of Green Cover Seed; Paul Jasa, noted Extension egineer at University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Dr. Jon Lundgren, Ecdysis Foundation executive director and CEO of Blue Dasher Farm; and Joe Breker, an award-winning North Dakota producer who has been using regenerative agriculture practices for over 40 years!
News & Events
Noted rancher, author to explain ‘sweet spot’ of grazing at conference
By Janelle Atyeo For South Dakota Soil Health Coalition PIERRE, SD – Tom Krawiec found the sweet spot for grazing quite by accident. The Canadian rancher sought out the point where grass in his pasture was both established enough to stay healthy and nutritious enough...
Study finds soybean yields resilient following late rye termination
By Janelle Atyeo For South Dakota Soil Health Coalition PIERRE, SD – A cover crop of quick growing cereal rye can keep the soil in place over winter’s brown and blowing days. Its long roots soak up excess spring rains, and its straw helps block weeds. The more...
Restaurateur promotes local food for community security
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – When Sioux Falls restaurateur Tim Meagher purchases local food, he doesn’t do it because it’s trendy. For him, it’s about securing a future for his business and the community. “If somebody else has control of our food system – if you were a...