The Black Hills saw teens from rural communities across South Dakota gather for South Dakota Farmers Union State Leadership Camp June 8-13.
2025 marks the third summer Riley Mutter attended, and the Sturgis Brown High School sophomore said it was the best camp yet. I made a lot of new friends and enjoyed seeing old friends who I met at camp last summer, Mutter said.
He explained that in addition to gaining friends from across the state, State Leadership Camp helped him develop confidence. I used to have really bad social anxiety. It was so bad I could not look people in the eye. Farmers Union Camp helped me grow out of this. And this year at camp, I liked watching other campers come out of their shells.
South Dakota Farmers Union Education Program Specialist, Samantha Bowman was happy to hear Rutters comments because State Leadership Camp is designed to provide rural youth with experiences, resources and training necessary to enhance their personal and professional development.
Farmers Union understands that youth are our future and our future leaders, Bowman said. Leadership is not just about commanding a room, it is about being on the same playing field, working together and helping other individuals realize success.
Farmers Union State Leadership Camp agenda was packed with fun team activities, teen-run cooperatives, camp traditions and opportunities for teens to put the leadership skills they develop into action, explained 17-year-old Billy Kezena, a member of the Junior Advisory Council.
Under Bowmans guidance, the Junior Advisory Council organizes, facilitates and runs camp. Elected by their peers or selected through an interview process during the 2024 Leadership Camp, these teens spend a year planning and participating in team building and personal development trainings.
It takes a lot of teamwork and communication to plan State Camp and serve as a counselor, so I gained a lot of skills in teamwork and communication serving on this team, Kezena said. As I have researched future careers, it seems these are the skills that employers are looking for.
To campaign to serve on the Junior Advisory Council, Kezena and his teammates had to give a speech in front of all the other campers.
Chase Blotsky, who served with Kezena, said after attending State Camp for three years, he had the confidence necessary to speak in front of a crowd. And in his role on the Junior Advisory Council and as a camp counselor, he said it was his goal to help other campers gain confidence as well.
State Leadership Camp helped me be able to talk in front of people and not be nervous, Blotsky explained. I wanted to help new campers have fun and gain the confidence necessary to make friends and even do public speaking.
The other teens who served with Blotsky and Kezena on the 2024-2025 Junior Advisory Council were Brooke LaMont, Union Center; LizBeth Crosby, Pierre; and Cadence Konechne, Kimball.
During camp, the 2025-2026 Junior Advisory Council was elected and selected, they are Allison Schulz, Lennox; Avril Fletcher, Highmore; Chase Blotsky, Hidden Timber; Coltyn Raymond, Ethan; Dani Kruger, De Smet; and Ethan Mutter, Sturgis. These youth will serve as counselors during the upcoming Farmers Union Jr. State Camp held at Camp Byron near Huron July 20-23.
Inside look at ag careers
With a look to the future, campers heard from several agriculture professionals who provided them with an inside look at their careers.
I enjoyed learning about all the professions you can have in agriculture, said 13-year-old Aaron Kippley.
Kippley lives on his familys Aberdeen farm, and said he had fun learning from ag influencer Greg Peterson. Peterson was among the first farmers and ag advocates to gain a following on social media. He shared about his advocacy and professional journey and encouraged campers to advocate for agriculture.
In addition to Peterson, campers learned about creative marketing from Nisland rancher Gwendolyn Kitzan.
They also learned about the history of cooperatives in South Dakota from Wayne Soren, a Lake Preston farmer and cooperative board member. Soren also served as Vice President of South Dakota Farmers Union for many years before retiring in 2023.
Bowman said connecting campers to agriculture professionals is among the goals of State Leadership Camp. What a great opportunity for teens to learn about possible careers in agriculture from the professionals actively involved in the careers. These professionals were able to share about the challenges and perks of their jobs and answer questions. Camp also provided the ag professionals with an opportunity to connect with the next generation, and see how great the generation stepping up is.
To learn more about Farmers Union educational programming or to sign up for the upcoming Jr. State Camp, visit www.sdfu.org and click on the Education link.
Rural youth elected to serve during Farmers Union Leadership Camp
During South Dakota Farmers Union Leadership Camp, Allison Schulz, Lennox; Avril Fletcher, Highmore; Chase Blotsky, Hidden Timber; Coltyn Raymond, Ethan; were elected by campers to serve on the Junior Advisory Council (JAC) and campers Dani Kruger, De Smet; and Ethan Mutter, Sturgis, were selected through an interview to also serve as JACs.
As JACs, these teens will help facilitate the upcoming Farmers Union State Youth Camp and they will also plan, organize and facilitate the 2026 Farmers Union State Leadership Camp.
Read the Q & A below and learn a bit about these young leaders and their thoughts on Farmers Union State Leadership Camp.
Allison Schulz, Lennox
Q: What have you gained personally by attending Farmers Union State Leadership Camp?
A: The camp experience has helped me become more confident in my everyday life. It has helped me grow and get to know myself much better.
I love coming here. Farmers Union Camp is like my family.
Avril Fletcher, Highmore
Q: What is something you learned from Farmers Union State Leadership Camp?
A: Through this camp I have learned about cooperatives and how together, with your community and people around you, you can actually be able to build something bigger and better. Ive learned actually what a cooperative really is and a lot more about how they worked this year.
Chase Blotsky, Hidden Timber
Q: What have you gained by attending Farmers Union State Leadership Camp?
A: Farmers Union Camp has helped me expand my communication skills and break out of my shell. My favorite thing about Farmers Union camps is to get to know new people and make new friends.
Ethan Mutter, Sturgis
Q: Why did you want to serve on the Junior Advisory Council?
A: I wanted to serve on the Junior Advisory Council because I wanted to help provide new kids coming into camp their first year the same experience I have had. I want to help them feel welcome and make new friends.
Danielle Kruger, De Smet
Q: What have you learned by attending Farmers Union State Leadership Camp?
A: Camp has taught me a lot. And I have made many friends and lifelong memories here. The friends I have made from camp, connect me to other communities in our state. Before coming to camp, I did not know many people outside my town, and I think it is important to expand your connections throughout the state.
Coltyn Raymond, Ethan
Q: Why is leadership an important quality for teens to have?
A: I think it is important to learn to be a good leader because in high school there are many opportunities for teens to grow and cultivate the leadership skills we gain. One of the biggest things that I learned about leadership during Farmers Union Camp is about communication and how to be an effective communicator so that I can be the most effective leader I can be.
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