South Dakota Farm Bureau kicked off a Washington DC Fly-In Monday (March 24, 2025), bringing 50 grassroots members from every corner of the state to the nation’s capital for a powerful two-day advocacy initiative. Representing every Farm Bureau district in South Dakota, participants include state board members, county leaders and representatives from SDFB’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, Promotion & Education Committee and the SDSU Collegiate Farm Bureau. These diverse voices are coming together with one common goal: to champion the priorities of South Dakota agriculture at the national level. “This is a historic time in our nation and critical issues impacting agriculture are taking place daily. The SDFB grassroots Fly-In is a unique opportunity for our members to have face-to-face conversations with key decision-makers in Washington,” said Krystil Smit, Executive Director of South Dakota Farm Bureau. “We’re here to ensure rural South Dakota has a strong voice in the policies that impact our farms, families and futures.” The agenda includes high-level meetings with the Mexican and Canadian Embassies, as well as key federal agencies including the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). SDFB members will also meet directly with South Dakota’s Congressional delegation—Senator John Thune, Senator Mike Rounds, and Representative Dusty Johnson—to discuss issues shaping the agricultural landscape. In partnership with the American Farm Bureau Federation, members will receive critical updates on top national priorities including trade, tariffs, labor, energy and the Farm Bill. “This is grassroots advocacy in action,” said Scott VanderWal, SDFB President and Vice President of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “When our members come to Washington and tell their personal stories, it makes an impact. That’s how policy is shaped – by people who live and breathe agriculture every day.” The Fly-In runs through Tuesday, March 25, and reflects SDFB’s unwavering commitment to advancing the interests of South Dakota farmers and ranchers – today and for generations to come. ...read more read less