Denise and Mark Venner, owners of Venner Farm near Pierre and Fort Pierre, are one of three finalists for the South Dakota Specialty Producers Association’s 2025 Specialty Crop Producer of the Year Award. Ann Venner.Courtesy image. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruit s, and nursery crops, including floriculture. Along with Denise and Mark Venner, the other candidates are: Shannon Mutschelknaus with Wayward Springs LLC, at Aurora Shannon Mutschelknaus.Courtesy photo. Jeff and Jolene Stewart with Stewart’s Aronia Acres at Wagner Jeff and Jolene Stewart.Courtesy photo. The public has until Sunday (Jan. 11, 2026) to fill out an online form and submit their vote through the SDSPA website, https://sdspecialtyproducers.org/p/18068. The winner will be announced at the S.D. Specialty Producers Summit (https://www.conference.sdspecialtyproducers.org/) in February (Feb. 13 in Rapid City or Feb. 20 in Huron). The S.D. Specialty Crop Producer of the Year is someone who: Provides visionary leadership to South Dakota’s agricultural industry, and advocates for specialty crops – fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and nursery crops, including floriculture. Actively promotes growth, innovation, and prosperity for South Dakota local food systems and specialty crops. Mentors new and beginner farmers and invests in the next generation of producers. The award is sponsored in part by the S.D. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.   ...read more read less