Mavis Fodness | Freelance reporter

When Jasper native Tina Erickson accepted a job with the South Dakota Pork Producers Council (SDPPC) four years ago, the move allowed her to get in touch with her rural roots.

After 30 years in healthcare administration, Erickson was hired by the SDPPC in 2022 as director of membership, outreach and engagement. She was promoted to executive director on July 1.
Instead of marketing health care, Erickson now markets South Dakota’s pork producers and the more than two million hogs raised in the state each year.

A chance meeting with former SDPPC Executive Director Glenn Muller sparked the career change.
“We discussed the fact that I was not in ag nor had I ever been, but Glenn said he could teach me the ag piece of the job and that it was my skillset in other areas such as communication and development that he was looking for. I fell in love with the idea of working at SD Pork and engaging with the pork producers of South Dakota.”

A southwest Minnesota native, Erickson grew up on an acreage west of Jasper with her late parents, Bob and Diane Erickson, and her five siblings, Donna, Sandy, Mary, Bob Jr. and Jim. Her father was a local building contractor, limiting her experience with livestock production.

“I had plenty of friends who were farm kids, so I had weekends and playtime on various farms in the community,” she said.

After graduating from Jasper High School in 1987, Erickson attended Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls for healthcare administration.
Now instead of developing business for healthcare in the Sioux Falls area, Erickson has a whole state to represent.

South Dakota ranks ninth in the U.S. in pork production. Erickson said she works closely with councils in Iowa (No.1 producer with 24.5 million hogs) and Minnesota (No. 2, 8.5 million) on the vast changes in the industry.

“The pork world of today is a far cry from the industry 15 or even 10 years ago,” she said.
Under Erickson’s direction, SDPPC is a public source for more information about pork production with direct input from the families who raise pigs.
“Especially in the Sioux Falls area, where there have been many people moving into the region from the East and West coasts that are unaware of local production in the area,” she said. “Our producers care for and value their livestock in order to produce a safe, healthy product for the consumers.”

In addition to consumers, Erickson’s directorship focuses on those who work in the pork industry, which not only includes large growers but those who raise show stock or have feed contracts with growers or fill a niche in the pork industry.

“As an industry, I feel we all need to support each other in order to maintain that united front that keeps production alive and well in South Dakota and across the country,” she said.

Disease and economic pressures are the biggest concerns facing the pork industry.

She said PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) continues to threaten herd health as new, fast-mutating variants of the disease cause reproductive failure in sows and respiratory illness in growing pigs lowering inventory.

Lower prices (Erickson said profits are down about 10 percent from last year) and lower consumer demand for pork are also negatively pressuring the industry.

“I feel the nutrient value of pork goes unrecognized,” she said. “Me and my team are focusing on improving the demand of pork across the region.”

A 3-ounce portion of pork loin has more than 20 grams of protein. Pork loin is now on the American Heart Association specifically list as a certified extra-lean, nutrient-packed cut. Ground pork is also an economical alternative to ground beef.

“Pork is a fantastic economical choice for families and the versatility and flavors have really evolved over the past few years. New recipes and concepts have urged consumers not to work about using the whole loin all at once but to cut and freeze the loin — only using the amount you need for a specific recipe,” Erickson said.

Pork recipes are available at sdpork.org.
However, many consumers feel the need to overcook pork, which dries out the meat.

“Pork loin is cooked to 145-degrees then let to set for the couple of minutes,” she said.

SDPPC is headed by an executive board made up of representatives from the four districts in South Dakota, at-large industry experts and former board members.

In January, the SDPPC will host the 58th annual South Dakota Pork Congress, where more than 160 exhibitors display the latest technology, equipment, vet supplies and construction at the Ramkota Exhibit Hall in Sioux Falls. Producer seminars, master pork producers recognition banquet and SDPPC annual meeting also take place.

The Jan. 13-14, 2027, event is open to the public.
“Every pork producer is doing the best job they can to support their families, make a living, sustain the land and provide a great protein for not only the U.S., but to many countries around the world,” Erickson said.

In addition to Erickson, SDPPC staff at office based in Sioux Falls includes Stephanie Fox, Abby Riemenschneider and Ava Saxe who take pride in promoting the state’s pork producers and educating consumers.

“I and my team take such pride in working for and with these amazing individuals,” Erickson said. “It does our hearts good to see the community and consumers supporting the industry by purchasing pork product or just by simply saying ‘thank you’ to a farmer.”

A special presentation honoring the 2026 Pipestone County Farm Family of the Year took place Aug. 8 at the Pipestone County Fair.

DeGroot Farms of rural Hatfield is this year’s chosen recipients.

Three generations continue to operate the family farm, an enterprise started by Bert and Lucy DeGroot in 1956.

Seventy years ago, the late couple purchased property on 180th Avenue, east of Hatfield, and set down roots. Today, their grandson and his wife, Mik and Angie DeGroot, live on the original farm and continues an agriculture legacy that now has an expanded and more specialized production focus.
“(Bert and Lucy) purchased 320 acres, raising corn, oats and hay,” Angie said. “They also had a few dairy cows, beef cows, pigs and horses.”

Today, DeGroot Farms consist of 1,100 crop acres and focuses on raising cattle. The DeGroots operate a custom feeding operation, raising 700-800 head of cattle annually, along with a 65-head cow-calf herd and show cattle enterprise.

Mik’s parents, Jay and Vi, live a half-mile north of the original farm. Jay started farming in 1967, with Mik having fond memories traveling down the road to visit his grandparents’ house and being rewarded with “the smell of homemade buns.”

The farm experience stuck with Mik after graduating from Pipestone High School and the earning of an animal science degree at South Dakota State University in Brookings.

Crop farming is Mik’s main passion after joining the DeGroot Farms  operation in 1993. He said a lot has changed since he began farming 33 years ago.

“Machinery is bigger. Crops are bigger and everything is so much faster than it used to be,” Mik said. “We went from plowing the ground to no-till and strip till.”

Livestock became a focus when Mik and Angie’s children — Shayna, Tucker and Tyler —  were in elementary school and joined the Pipestone County 4-H Program.

“The kids started with bottle calves in Cloverbuds,” Angie said. “Each of them developed a passion for showing cattle, and that is when we started growing our herd and taking it to another level.”

More than a decade later, the DeGroots attend several large open cattle shows each year as a way to promote their cow-calf herd of primarily purebred Shorthorn and Maine Anjou.

Tucker, who lives in Lake Wilson with girlfriend, Brooklyn Harding, and son, Ryker, joined DeGroot Farms in 2022.

“Tucker’s true passion in cattle,” Angie said. “He is hoping to expand our herd and grow the cattle sale operation.”

The DeGroots use artificial insemination on the majority of the cows in the cow-calf herd and sell the offspring as show cattle prospects. In the past, the show prospect sales took place by private treaty. That will change later this year when the DeGroots will have their first on-line sale later, selling 10-12 head of purebred heifers.

Selection as this year’s Farm Family of the Year has left the DeGroots honored and grateful for the recognition of what they do for a living.

“Agriculture is what this country was built on,” Mik said. “Most people who were not raised on the farm don’t understand where their food comes from. As farmers, we are held to a very high standard of practicing sustainability and excellent animal welfare.

“The work is endless on the farm, but very rewarding. We are proud to take a small part in helping to feed the world.”

Future plans have Tyler DeGroot, who works for a local farmer, joining the family operation.
Shayna and her husband, Cody, and daughter, Collins, live in Platte City, Mo.

About the Farm Family program
The University of Minnesota Farm Family Recognition Program honors farm families from throughout Minnesota for their significant contributions to the agriculture industry and their local communities.

The program, coordinated by the U of M Extension, the College of Feed, Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences, and College of Veterinary Medicine began in 1979.

Each county’s Extension executive committee selects a local family to receive the honor, presented annually at the Pipestone County Fair.
Farm Families of the Year are also recognized annually at Minnesota Farm Fest.

“This year’s Farm Families of the Year reflect the impressive strength and incredible variety of agriculture in our state,” said Extension dean Bev Durgan in a press release. “The University of Minnesota is proud to honor these families and their innovation and dedication to Minnesota agriculture.”

Other 2026 farm families (home county) include:
•Kurt and Lanette Elbers, Rock
•Blair and Tami Hellewell,
Murray
•Matt and Teresa Widboom, Nobles
•Dan and Kelly Porchardt, Lyon
•Micah and Koreas Eidem, Lincoln
•Mikayla and the late Ethan Quade, Cottonwood
•Brian and Melanie Post, Jackson

Mavis Fodness | Freelance reporter

Sandy Dierks of rural Slayton often asked her parents for a horse.

She grew up in the town of Worthing, S.D., in the 1970s with parents who weren’t “animal people” who were unlikely to buy a horse for their daughter. More than five decades later, in 2020, the now-adult Dierks became a horse owner.

“It’s been a lifetime dream,” she said.

Husband, Dale, rekindled Sandy’s dreams of owning a horse when the two married in 2019 and moved to his acreage north of Slayton near Lake Shetek. Her new home had the makings for a horse.
“He had this barn that was just full of old junk and stuff,” Sandy said. “I’m like, how about if we have some animals?”

With the barn recently cleaned, the couple had just said “I do” when they received a pair of miniature donkeys as a wedding present. Soon after, the herd grew to include miniature horses, much to Dale’s hesitation who grew up riding full-sized horses. He said his impression of miniature horses wasn’t positive.

“I’ve heard minis are mean. I didn’t want anything to do with them,” Dale said with a slight grin to Sandy.
“Now they’re our big babies,” she added. “He’s like ‘Oh I love them.’”

At just under three-feet tall, the miniatures have been a good fit for the retired Dierkses.
“To me they’re just more fun,” Sandy said. “They’re easier to handle and train.”

A business, Dierks Minis — DM, soon blossomed to include over a dozen mares, stallions, jennys and jacks.

Fed just grass hay and kept off pasture, the herd is kept in dry lots to avoid health issues. Breeding is done by hand to keep track of lineage and know which pairings lead to sound foals. Interaction with the foals happens at birth.

“You’d be surprised how many you buy and they are not friendly,” Sandy said. “You pay thousands of dollars for an animal and you can’t even touch it.”
Customers pay between $1,500 to $4,000 for a Dierks mini and are guaranteed the foal will be friendly and trained before the sale is complete. The pinto- and appaloosa-patterned foals, which have become a focus for the Dierkses, garner the higher prices due to customer-demand for a more colorful mini.

Many of their minis become service animals or they learn to pull carts or are entered into performance shows. The majority of their foals are purchased as pets.

About a dozen foals are born at Dierks Minis each year. Each are trained to lead and stand quietly. All learn to willingly lift their feet for hoof trimming. Because of their friendly natures, the waiting list has grown to 25 potential buyers for this year’s crop.

Videos of the small foals running and playing around their mothers are frequently featured on the Dierks Minis social media page. The videos are just snippets of what the Dierks enjoy most about being horse owners.

“It’s just fun to watch them,” Sandy said. “They’re just kind of my pets. I go out there and sit in the hay with them. To me, it’s heaven.”