Governor Kristi Noem talks about Keep Farmers Farming in her State of the State Address.
The number 8 reason why South Dakota will continue to be an example to the nation: Agriculture.
Ag is more than just our largest industry – it’s our way of life. When Ag has a good year, our communities grow and thrive. When the opposite is true, our entire state faces challenges. I am proud that we’ve preserved our ag operations, opened up new markets for our commodities, and strengthened biofuels production. And we protected South Dakota ag from interference by evil foreign governments like Communist China. We’ve put South Dakota ag in position to be stronger than ever before.
We need a robust, diverse food supply, and our family farms are one of the most crucial parts of that. Family farms and ranches have a special connection to the land that has been in their family for generations. Today, I am announcing a partnership to keep farmers farming in South Dakota. We have reached an agreement between the State of South Dakota, the South Dakota Ag Foundation, and First Dakota National Bank to transfer the Keep Farmers Farming program from First Dakota to the South Dakota Ag Foundation. The partnership works with farm and ranch families on estate and transition planning. It helps our producers pass along their land and legacy to their kids and grandkids. It’s about transferring not just assets – but experience, work ethic, morals, and history to the next generation. My Governor’s Office of Economic Development will provide the South Dakota Ag Foundation with a one-year $200,000 grant to administer, market, and grow the program. And there will be no loss of service for existing program participants.
We have representatives here today from the South Dakota Ag Foundation – would you please give them a round of applause for the work they will do to Keep Farmers Farming in South Dakota?
View Governor Noem's full 2025 State of the State Address here.