SD Cattlemen’s Foundation donates $2.4 million over a decade to Feeding South Dakota

The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation has contributed $2.4 million to Feeding South Dakota over the last decade in hopes to help the nonprofit's mission of ending hunger in South Dakota.

The foundation's most recent donation of $332,110 came Saturday during a "Prime Time Gala" at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

Ryan Eichler, president of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Foundation, said the event left him speechless and humbled after seeing how the beef industry came together to give.

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“From the bottom of my heart, I’d like to say thank you to each and every supporter of this year’s Prime Time Gala,” Eichler said, adding that the donation on Saturday is a testament to how selfless and kind South Dakotans are.

Of the total 12.9 million pounds of food Feeding South Dakota distributed last year, only a little more than 12% of it was animal protein, according to a press release. Protein supplements one's diet by increasing satiety and building and maintaining muscle mass, the organizations said.

“High quality protein, like beef, plays an important role in overall health, including weight control,” the organizations said in a press release.

Prior to Saturday's donation, funds raised at the Prime Time Gala helped to purchase about 1.3 million pounds or 688 tons of beef for those in need across South Dakota.

Lori Dykstra, CEO of Feeding South Dakota, said that without those annual donations, the organization would not have been able to provide nearly 1.5 million pounds of food for those facing hunger in South Dakota.

“We are incredibly grateful for a decade of support from the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation,” Dykstra said. “These producers are truly neighbors supporting neighbors, which is critical to helping achieve our mission to end hunger in South Dakota.”

The foundation also awarded a total of $15,000 in scholarships to five students during the gala. Those students plan to attend South Dakota schools and colleges to study improving beef production and promotion.

This year’s scholarship awards included $1,000 to Brooklyn Mettler from Menno; $2,000 to Colt Wilkinson from De Smet; $3,000 to Teigen Hadrick from Faulkton; $4,000 to Isabelle Mairose from Kimball; and, $5,000 to Ella Stiefvater from Salem.

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The Fed Cattle Challenge winners were also announced the same night, a challenge for students ages 14-18 to learn about the science and economics of raising cattle that helps develop the next generation of feed yard owners.

Youth awarded from the challenge include Dylan Fouss from Draper (winning $500) from Draper; Harper Kirsch from Platte ($1,000); and, Tayden Mathis from Winner ($1,500).

“The impact of delivering beef to South Dakotans, as well as the investment in the education of the next generation, is profound and something every attendee and sponsor is directly responsible for,” Eichler said.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Cattlemen’s Foundation donates $332,110 to Feeding South Dakota