Welcome to
RANCHERS WORKSHOP
Reflecting on the 47th Annual Ranchers Workshop
​By: Kaylee Wheeler
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​On January 21st, 2026, 65 community members from Mission and surrounding areas gathered for a day of learning and connecting at the Todd County Fairgrounds. Kaylee Wheeler, SDSU Extension Range Field Specialist and Ron Frederick, SDSU Extension 4-H Educator for Todd County are members of the planning team for this event. Other members include Jewell Bork with the South Central Resource Conservation and Development Council, Lealand and Jennifer Schoon with Fourever Grazingland LLC, Kim Cook with the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Ranch, Faith Lehman with the Farm Service Agency, and Vanessa Hight a local rancher.
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The Ranchers Workshop is designed to provide current information to farm and ranch owners and operators with an emphasis on family, finance, production, and natural resources. The first workshop was held in 1979 in Mission, South Dakota as a small gathering of key local businessmen and ranchers. Dave Steffen, NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) District Conservationist, and Dale Mallory, SDSU County Extension Agent, developed the first agenda.
The first workshop was so successful that word began to spread, and people began to notify the conservation districts that they wanted to be invited to the next workshop. As a result, the rancher’s workshop became an annual event centered around the needs and interests of local producers. 2026 marked the 47th anniversary of the Ranchers Workshop. This year’s theme was “Youth, Our Investment in the Future,” with a unique panel of presenters.
Photo Caption: Ranchers Workshop 2026, Todd County Fairgrounds.
Brian and Erica Ingerson, a father/daughter duo started the morning session by discussing their journey of working together in an alternative enterprise with their custom welding business. Erica attended the Mitchell Tech Entrepreneurship program and now works with her dad full time. Erica was a welcome addition to the business and has brought new perspectives and innovative ideas while upholding the company's core values of quality, attention to detail, and exceptional service. Together they work to treat every client like family, focusing on understanding their unique needs and delivering tailored solutions.
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Photo Caption: Vanessa Hight, Ranchers Workshop Committee Member, with Brian and Erica Ingerson.
Attendees also heard from the South Dakota Animal Industry Board’s State Veterinarian, Dr. Mendel Miller discuss an animal health update. The South Dakota Animal Industry Board is responsible for protecting and preserving the health of the State’s livestock to enhance productivity and ensure the safety of meat products for the public. Dr. Miller discussed a variety of topics including the new world screwworm, highly pathogenic avian influenza, and brucellosis. He also explained the routine testing that the board conducts to ensure intentional disease management.
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Photo Caption: Ron Frederick, Ranchers Workshop Planning Committee Member, with Dr. Mendel Miller, State Veterinarian.
After lunch, Erin Yost, from Farm Credit Services discussed “Financing the Future: What Young Farmers Need to Get Started.” Yost explained that Farm Credit Services is a financial cooperative focused on supporting rural communities and agriculture and that there are many funding opportunities for young producers to ‘get their foot in the door.’ Loans are available for livestock, land, equipment, and operating expenses.
Photo Caption: Jewell Bork, Ranchers Workshop Planning Committee Member, with Erin Yost, Farm Credit Services of America.
Logan Vandermark, SDSU Extension Precision Livestock Field Specialist, rounded out the day by discussing Virtual Fencing, how it can help livestock producers, and what market costs are to implement this technology. Virtual fencing is an emerging technology for managing livestock grazing on the landscape. Virtual fence systems operate via a global positioning system (GPS) enabled collar that can control cattle movement through sound and electrical stimuli offering greater flexibility in achieving grazing objectives.
Photo Caption: Kaylee Wheeler, Ranchers Workshop Planning Committee Member, with Logan Vandermark, SDSU Extension.
Thank you to all the attendees and sponsors for the 47th Annual Ranchers Workshop! For more information or to provide input on the 2027 Ranchers Workshop, contact a member of the Ranchers Workshop planning committee.
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