The South Dakota State University College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and College of Education and Human Sciences will recognize three individuals as the Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community during a banquet on January 28 at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center in Brookings, South Dakota.

The 2021 Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community are Laron Krause of Clear Lake, South Dakota, Ree Reich of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, and Lawrence Vander Wal of Bruce, South Dakota.

Social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the program starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased until January 21 from the Office of the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences located in Pugsley Center room 209 in Brookings on the SDSU campus or by calling 605-688-4148.

Established in 1927, the Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community Award Program (formerly known as the Eminent Farmer/Rancher and Homemaker Award Program) recognizes South Dakota citizens for contributions of leadership and service on the local, state, and national levels.

Each year, SDSU selects individuals to honor based on confidential nominations. The nominations are reviewed and honorees are recommended by a committee of faculty members, administrators, SDSU Extension personnel and past award recipients. The honorees are approved by the deans of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and College of Education and Human Sciences.

The honorees’ photos join the more than 300 portraits of Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community that are displayed in the virtual gallery at sdstate.edu/eminent-leaders.