Sixteen Sleepy Eye Members had a blast on the South Dakota Summer Ag. Tour Adventure! The members that attended Summer Ag Tour include (from left to right): Makayla Strong, Kenedi Wersal, Noah Rossbach, Camryn Maher, Dawson Friton, Paola Gonzalez, Ari Krzmarzick, Carter Lazatin, Cameron Moore, Lily Kallevig, Jacob Moore, Alex Confer, Noah Christensen, Ruby Tauer, Emerson Johnson, and Zack Dominguez.
FFA members from Southern Minnesota participated in the Summer Ag Tour, June 24th through the 26th. 16 Sleepy Eye members attended this trip with FFA advisors, Katie Emmett and Paul Hendrickx, as well as members and advisors from the Tracy and Mountain Lake FFA Chapters. Also, the intern for the summer, Morgan Hoffmann, attended the Ag. Tour.
The students started out their trip by exploring the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. The Corn Palace is redecorated each year with naturally colored corn and other grains and native grasses to make it “the agricultural show-place of the world”. They currently use 12 different colors or shades of corn to decorate the Corn Palace. A different theme is chosen each year, and murals are designed to reflect that theme.
Next, the group went to tour the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village. The Preservation Society was formed in 1975 to preserve the site. Their mission statement is to promote an understanding of the first people to inhabit this region by developing, preserving and exhibiting a significant collection and archaeological site. They are able to work all year around in the comfort of the Archeodome. The students were able to go into the Archeodome where the laboratory and exhibits are found.
The highlight of the evening was going to Mt. Rushmore. Just seeing the majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln on that mountain is a feeling you almost can’t describe. Learning about how it was “made” and it becoming a National monument was really interesting.
The second day was filled with more learning and excitement. The first stop of the day was at the Badlands. Seeing and climbing through the geologic formations was a really great experience. The Badlands draw visitors from around the world and these striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds.
Next, we took a drive through Custer State Park. The park encompasses 71,000 acres in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The students saw the granite peaks and rolling plains as well as the buffalo herd, and took a small hike.
Following Custer, the group headed to Cosmos Mystery Area. The Cosmos of the Black Hills was discovered by two college boys looking for a place to build a summer cabin. When they entered this area, they discovered something was off. The area is topsey turvey and the laws of nature don’t seem to apply. You have to visit the mystery house yourself to understand the whole experience.
The final day of the tour began with a drive through and a visit to Bear Country USA. There was a three-mile drive through several enclosures where we encountered black bear, elk, reindeer, deer, cougars, bobcats, rocky mountain goats, bighorn sheep, dall sheep, pronghorn and buffalo. At the end of the drive, students were able to visit an area with baby bears, wolves, otters, and more.
Next, was a quick stop at Wall Drug as the group was starting their trip back home. Wall Drug consists of a collection of cowboy-themed stores, including gift shops, and several options for eating as well as an art gallery and an 80-foot dinosaur sculpture.
The supper stop was an experience in itself. The group ate at the Carnaval Brazilian Grill and were able to learn about Brazilian roasting & serving techniques. Originating in Southern Brazil, the style of service they offer is the tableside carving of rotisserie cooked meats by their Gauchos.
The final stop of the South Dakota Adventure Tour was the Sioux Falls Candy Cloud Factory. The Candy Cloud Factory has fresh cotton candy, SDSU ice cream, popcorn, and a Candy Shop full of over 130 types of new and nostalgic candies.
The Summer Ag Tour is an amazing trip and fun opportunity for FFA members to take advantage of. Students were able to learn more about the numerous parks and tourist adventures of South Dakota. “We want to thank our Ag. and FFA Program Boosters for their support of the trip as we realize it would be too expensive for our members to pay this on our own,” says FFA advisor Katie Emmett.