A Mission SD man has moved forward in voting for a statewide honor. The
South Dakota Specialty Producers Association invites the public to
participate in voting for the S.D. Specialty Crop Producer of the Year
Award. Cast votes by Jan. 12, 2025, for a farmer who has made a
significant contribution to specialty crop production in the state.
Specialty crops include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits,
and nursery crops, including floriculture. The award is sponsored in part
by the S.D. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
One of the two candidates who have moved forward for public voting is;
• Fred Fast Horse, of Rick’s Micro Farm of Mission. Rick’s Micro Farm
specializes in microgreens and mushrooms, producing fresh, nutrient-dense
food that nourishes the Rosebud community. Beyond his role as a producer,
Fred is also the Lakota Foods Coordinator at Rosebud’s first Lakota
Language Immersion Elementary School.
• The other finalist is Dan Paulson, Farm 484, Sherman SD.
The winner will be announced during the Upper Midwest Urban and Rural
Agriculture Innovation (UMURAI) Conference on the evening of Feb. 6th,
2025 in Oacoma.
