EAGAN, MN (MITCHELLNOW) – IDEAg Group LLC., producers of Dakotafest, seeks nominations for the sixth-annual Dakotafest Woman Farmer/Rancher of the Year Award. The nomination period ends June 6, 2025, and the award will be presented at Dakotafest.
The Dakotafest Woman Farmer/Rancher of the Year award, launched in 2020, honors hard-working female farmers across South Dakota who selflessly dedicate their time to growing crops and raising livestock.
The 25 previous finalists for the award showcased a diverse agricultural background. They represented agriculture from small hobby farms to large operations, growing crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat and pumpkins or raising livestock like beef and dairy cattle, or swine. The women chosen exemplified hard work, partnership, knowledge and leadership on their farms, in their families and in their communities.
As in previous years, five nominees will be chosen among all candidates and honored live at the Women in Ag event that will be held on the Dakotafest Education Center stage on the Reaves Buildings Innovation Campus during the 2025 show near Mitchell. The Women in Ag event features a female ag speaker and concludes with the presentation of a $1,000 cash prize to one finalist named as the Dakotafest Woman Farmer/Rancher of the Year.
Dakotafest takes place Aug. 19-21, 2025, and the award is presented at the Women in Ag event on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 21.
“There are so many deserving women farmers across South Dakota committed to production agriculture,” said Niki Jones, marketing director, IDEAg. “We ask South Dakotans to nominate a hard-working female farmer in their lives so we can show our appreciation for their efforts.”
The award is sponsored by Farm Bureau Financial Services, KMIT Radio and Farm Credit Services of America.
Those wishing to submit a nomination, either of themselves or for someone else, or attend the Women in Ag event, can visit Dakotafest.com for more information. Nominations close June 6, 2025.