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

2024 Soil Health Conference Registration Open!

The 2024 Soil Health School will be held Jan. 23-24 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Rapid City, SD! Keynote speakers include Jay Fuhrer, Jerry Hatfield, Glenn Elzinga, and Zach Smith. There will be many other speakers, breakout sessions, and opportunties to network and socialize! Join us and be a part of our 2024 Soil Health Conference!

News & Events

Wintertime is decision time

Wintertime is decision time

By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – It’s often said that the best time to start improving your land was 20 years ago, but the second-best time is right now. That statement might be harder for ranchers to swallow with winter on their doorstep, nothing growing in their pastures,...

Research ties healthy soil biology to a host of benefits

Research ties healthy soil biology to a host of benefits

By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – Agricultural producers often base their land management decisions on the living things they can see above the ground – crops, livestock, forage, weeds, insects, wildlife, etc. However, new research is showing they should also consider life...

Student video and essay contests now open

Student video and essay contests now open

As part of the 2024 Soil Health Conference, the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition has announced two exciting contests for students in South Dakota. The student video and essay contests have been designed to give students the opportunity to learn more about soil...