Program
PRE-REGISTRATION IS CLOSED; REGISTER ON-SIGHT
January 17-18, 2024 Sioux Falls Convention Center
JOHN STIEGELMEIER, Keynote Speaker
Lessons Learned in the Field, Farming and Football
John Stiegelmeier, the winningest football coach in South Dakota State history, built the Jackrabbit program into a yearly contender within the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the Football Championship Subdivision. The Selby, S.D., native first became acquainted with the Jackrabbit football program as a student assistant under John Gregory during SDSU’s only NCAA Division II playoff season in 1979. After graduating from SDSU with degrees in mathematics and physical education, Stiegelmeier enrolled in graduate school at the University of Northern Iowa, where he served on the coaching staff of a Panther squad in 1981.
Stiegelmeier says, jokingly, that he was raised in a John Deere 5020 tractor. "I grew up in the same area where my parents were born and raised", he said. "Both sets of my grandparents lived within walking distance from us in Selby. When it came to farming we worked. I don’t think I ever saw a row crop as youngster; dad grew wheat, rye, oats and other small grains. I was taught that hard work leads to success. My grandfather, my dad, my uncle and my aunt all farmed. I don’t think it was ever thought that one of my parents’ three sons would not be a farmer. It was not that we were small thinkers, farming was what you did. It was a calling."
"The grind of putting on dirty clothes from the day before, working sunup to sundown with a midday delivery of lunch to the field was simply a way of life". Stiegelmeier says that it was the best upbringing.
See Who is Up for the Applicator of the Year Award
Congratulations to the three finalists! The 2024 Applicator of the Year will be awarded during the Ag Expo Luncheon on January 17, 2024. The winner will receive a plaque and jacket along with a $250 cash prize.
Lucas Gustad
Valley Ag Supply
Andy Timmons
Deuel County Farmers Union Oil Co
Grant Vander Wal
CHS Farmers Alliance
Bid on Items at the Silent Auction for Tomorrow's Ag Leaders
The silent auction will be held during Ag Expo on Wednesday January 17, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. All proceeds go to supporting the Tomorrow's Ag Leaders program.
What might you find? Framed prints; tools; coolers; a Sioux Falls Fun Night; sporting event tickets; gift cards; clothing; and many more items supplied generously by our exhibitors!
Get Your Team Together for the Applicator and Agronomy Olympics!
Find Out What's Happening With SDABA at the Annual Meeting and Enjoy Brews and Bites!
All members please join us at this meeting and hear updates from the Board of Directors. Join the SDABA Board of Directors for an association update, along with a legislative update, election of Industry Directors and meet your new Executive Director! Wednesday 3:00 PM.
Get Recertified
Attend the 2024 Professional Ag Applicator Recertification Training on the second day of Ag Expo on January 19th from 8:00 AM to 12:45 PM.
The training is sponsored by SDSU and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR). For questions regarding registration or licensing, please email SDDAAgronomy@state.sd.us.
Pre-register by January 12, 2024
Attend the Wednesday Evening Social
We our taking our Happy Hours (4 to 6 PM) to the max this year with doors open between the ballroom and tradeshow floor, as well as gun raffles, a corn hole tournament and silent auction! And, as usual, the best heavy Hors D' Oeuvres, and cash bars!
Schedule:
Wednesday January 17, 2024
- 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Trade Show Open
- 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Applicator and Agronomy Olympics
- 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Silent Auction for Tomorrow's Ag Leaders
- 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM Luncheon with keynote speaker SDSU Coach John Stiegelmeier; Leon Wrage Award presentation; Applicator of the Year presentation; and recognition of the 2023 TAL Class.
- 3:00 PM SDABA Annual Meeting with Brews and Bites!
- 4:00 - 6:00 PM Social/Party - Ballroom A and Exhibit Hall (open doors between trade show and ballroom) with Gun Raffles and Cornhole Tournament.
Thursday January 18, 2024 (Also Student Career Day)
- 8:00 AM - 12:45 PM Annual Applicator Recertification
- 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM Trade Show Open
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM The Richest Man in Town, VJ Smith along with students (Ballroom A)
Student Career Day
The importance of keeping youth engaged in agriculture is behind the creation of the Student Career Day during Ag Expo. With the decline in interest for agriculture as a career, this is an opportunity for youth to see all of the different ways they can use their education and talents outside of traditional farming, and help them see the relevance of their career choice. This is a chance for exhibitors to show that agricultural careers can be intellectually stimulating and economically sustainable, and visit with prospective future employees.
Thursday
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM The Richest Man in Town, VJ Smith (Ballroom A)
- 10:00 - 11:45 AM Scavenger Hunt in Tradeshow
- 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM Students Only Lunch (Ballroom A)
Wednesday Evening Social
The Wednesday evening social is an opportunity to network, interact, and relax with other attendees and exhibitors in an informal setting. Join us for food, beverages, cornhole, gun raffles, silent auction and more!
Agronomy and Applicator Olympics
The Agronomy and Applicator Olympics are conducted at the annual Ag Expo and are your chance to win some cash (and maybe learn something?)!
Get a team together, then visit participating booths and answer the questions. There are two categories: Agronomy and Applicator.
The challenge is open to all employees of Dealer and Branch members of the South Dakota Agri-Business Association (SDABA). Two person teams must be from the same company, however, they can be from different branches.
Are you up for the challenge?? Get your two-person team together, then register at the Olympics booth at Ag Expo. Exhibitors will be working to try to stump you with their questions!
- Gold Medalists will win $1000 in cash, a plaque and official Olympics jackets.
- Silver Medalists will win $700 in cash and official Olympics jackets.
- Bronze Medalists will win $500 in cash and Olympics jackets.
Leon Wrage Award
Upon retirement in 2004, SDABA recognized Leon J Wrage as going "above and beyond" in his service to the crop production industry, and presented him with an award at the SD Ag Expo. Since then, the Leon J Wrage award is given each year to other individuals for exemplary service to the crop production industry.
For more information, go to our website here.
Silent Auction for Tomorrow's Ag Leaders
The silent auction will be held during Ag Expo on Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. All proceeds go to supporting the Tomorrow's Ag Leaders program.
What might you find? Framed prints; tools; coolers; a Sioux Falls Fun Night; sporting event tickets; gift cards; clothing; and many more items supplied generously by our exhibitors!