December 4-5, 2025
Legacy on the Land: Building Strong Families and Profitable Ranches
The Box Events Center | Box Elder, SD
Legacy on the Land:
Building Strong Families
and Profitable Ranches
The South Dakota Grassland Coalition’s Annual Conference brings together ranching families, ag professionals, and land stewards from across the region for two days of learning, networking, and inspiration. This year’s theme, “Legacy on the Land: Building Strong Families and Profitable Ranches,” highlights the heart of ranching: healthy families, thriving businesses, and resilient grasslands.
Whether you’re a multi-generational rancher or just getting started, this event is designed to give you the tools, connections, and confidence to grow a profitable operation and build a lasting legacy.
Legacy on the Land:
Building Strong Families
and Profitable Ranches
The South Dakota Grassland Coalition’s Annual Conference brings together ranching families, ag professionals, and land stewards from across the region for two days of learning, networking, and inspiration. This year’s theme, “Legacy on the Land: Building Strong Families and Profitable Ranches,” highlights the heart of ranching: healthy families, thriving businesses, and resilient grasslands.
Whether you’re a multi-generational rancher or just getting started, this event is designed to give you the tools, connections, and confidence to grow a profitable operation and build a lasting legacy.
Get to know the Keynote Speakers
This annual meeting is a must-attend event for anyone serious about the future of our grasslands. Whether you’re a seasoned land manager or just starting out, you’ll leave with practical strategies and inspiration to ensure the profitability and longevity of your operation.
Burke Teichert
Regenerative Ranching Expert & Speaker
Burke Teichert was raised on a Wyoming ranch where he learned the value of low-cost, low-input agriculture. With degrees in Agricultural Economics from BYU and the University of Wyoming, he went on to manage and consult for ranches across the U.S., Canada, and beyond. As Vice President and General Manager of AgReserves Inc. (Deseret Ranches), he became known for improving profitability through efficient management and adaptive grazing. Now retired from full-time management, Burke continues to work as a consultant and speaker, sharing practical insights on ranch profitability and sustainability.
Jerry Doan
Rancher & Holistic Range Manager
Jerry and his wife Renae, along with their family, operate Black Leg Ranch, homesteaded in 1882 in Dakota Territory. Using holistic and regenerative practices, they’ve restored soil health, improved profitability, and created opportunities for the next generation. Their family business includes a cow-calf and yearling operation, bison, Audubon-certified grass-finished beef, agri-tourism ventures, and Black Leg Brewery. The ranch serves as a living classroom for soil health and grazing education, and their work has been recognized with numerous state and national awards. Jerry has served on many boards and leadership roles in agriculture and conservation, and was inducted into the N.D. Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2023.
Jolene Brown
Professional Speaker, Author, & Family Business Consultant
Farm-born and raised, Jolene Brown is a champion for the people and industry of agriculture. A farmer, speaker, author, and columnist, she dedicates her work to helping grassroots farmers, growers, and ranchers—along with the organizations that support them—build stronger businesses and lasting legacies. Known for her humor, real-world wisdom, and deep respect for agriculture, Jolene has shared her insights through national farm publications, podcasts, major ag conferences, and from the seat of her family’s Iowa farm tractor. Her mission is simple: to help families in agriculture laugh, learn, and take practical steps to secure their future.
Dr. Tom Noffsinger
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Tom Noffsinger, DVM, of Benkelman, Nebraska, is the 2023 Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Educator of the Year and a long-standing leader in the cattle industry. Raised on a ranch in eastern Colorado, Dr. Noffsinger earned his veterinary degree from Colorado State University in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1994, he collaborated with BQA pioneer Dr. Dee Griffen to establish the "Beef Production Management Series," a continuing education program for veterinarians. Known for using statistics, personal experiences, and live demonstrations, Dr. Noffsinger has traveled the world advocating for cattle acclimation and challenging industry norms to improve cattle welfare.
Breakout Sessions
We have carefully crafted a variety of breakout sessions that will provide you with information, discussion, and value that you can take home today and start implementing tomorrow. We hope each and every person in attendance can learn something relevant and meaningful at this year’s annual grassland management conference.
Gwen Kitzan, Kitzan Family Farms
This session will walk you through the essentials of knowing your customer, telling your farm story, and choosing the right sales channels for your products. You’ll also gain practical strategies for planning production, increasing sales and loyalty, and using tracking to refine and grow your business. Perfect for producers ready to take control of their marketing and build stronger relationships with their buyers.
Explore how Virtual Fencing is reshaping livestock management in this informative session. Learn how the technology works, what’s needed to get started, and hear real- world examples of ranchers successfully using it across diverse landscapes. Presenter will highlight the benefits for pasture rotation, labor savings, and land protection, along with insights on animal training and adapting herds to the system. The session will also cover cost considerations and options for both seasonal and year-round use.
This session explores the options for viewing a small acreage from a business perspective and beyond. Presentation will provide a general framework for interactive discussion and will allow audience participants the opportunity to share experiences and insights. Participants will engage in recognizing and aligning land use with family interests and talents, identify income streams that make sense for their scale, and make the most of existing assets like barns, sheds, and outbuildings and markets.
South Dakota Grasslands Initiative Director Laura Kahler shares how producers can be good stewards of the land while improving their bottom line. She highlights why South Dakota’s grasslands matter, how conservation partners support working lands, and practical ways ranchers can collaborate with conservation partners for technical and financial assistance.
When it comes to overall business success and feeling aligned in life, knowing your WHY & finding your authentic voice is key. We, as women, bring a lot to the table — and it’s time we find our voice and use it to make a positive impact in our businesses. We will have real & raw conversations in this workshop and pinpoint your strengths, guiding you to how you can become a huge asset to the business just by being you.
Join a seasoned rancher and former SDGC board member as he shares his firsthand experience with Winter Grazing— what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what to expect when extending your grazing season. This session offers practical insights into managing livestock, forage, and weather challenges through the winter months, helping producers reduce feed costs and make the most of their available resources.
Discover how to turn your passion for growing into a thriving small business in this session on Small to Medium Size Gardening and Entrepreneurial Opportunities. Learn how to grow what you love, identify your niche, and make the most of every harvest. Whether you’re looking to feed your family, sell locally, or expand into value-added products, this session will offer practical ideas for using and marketing all that you grow.
Dive into the principles and proven results of Highly Intensive, Non-Selective Grazing in this insightful session. Learn how mob grazing with daily moves during the growing season can boost warm-season native grasses and improve soil health. Presenters will share practical experiences with swath grazing in winter, long-term soil test results after a decade of intensive management, and the added benefits of across-the- fence weaning. This session offers a real-world look at how strategic grazing can transform both productivity and ecosystem resilience.
We will have two sessions, each covering its own case study that includes an in-depth look at practical grazing management. We’ll walk through the challenges and opportunities faced on working ranches – discussing management decisions, soil health improvements, and strategies for boosting production while building resilience. These sessions will be interactive, offering participants the chance to ask questions and explore realistic solutions to common grazing and soil management obstacles.
Legacy on the Land: Building Strong Families and Profitable Ranches
Leadership in Agriculture
Burke will share proven strategies to boost ranch profitability by focusing on what truly drives success. With decades of management and consulting experience, he’ll show how adaptive practices can cut costs, improve efficiency, and keep operations thriving.
Jerry brings real-world experience in expanding ranch businesses while keeping family ties strong. He’ll share insights on succession planning, diversification, and building opportunities that secure a legacy for the next generation.
Jolene mixes humor with hard-hitting truths as she outlines the top mistakes that break up family businesses—and how to avoid them. Her practical advice will help families strengthen communication, preserve relationships, and build lasting success.
In a special extended session, Dr. Tom will demonstrate how low-stress livestock handling improves animal health, safety, and profitability. Attendees will gain hands-on knowledge they can immediately apply on their ranches.
Special Thanks to our Event Sponsors!
This annual meeting is an integral part of the South Dakota Grassland Coalition. It is not only an opportunity for education, but it is THE place to gather, socialize, and meet new people from across the state. We truly appreciate all the sponsors who help us make this event free for all our members.
Become an Event Sponsor
If you would like to become an event sponsor, you can do so by filling out the form below to get an invoice and send a physical check. Or if you’d prefer to submit a sponsorship payment using a credit card, simply click the button below and enter your sponsorship amount.
Schedule
| December 4, 2025 | ||
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8:30 AM |
REGISTRATION OPENS |
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9:00 – 11:00 |
LOW STRESS LIVESTOCK HANDLING | DR. TOM NOFFSINGER, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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11:00 – 11:30 |
Q & A with Dr. Tom |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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11:30 – 12:30 |
LUNCH | Registration | Exhibitor Booths Open |
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12:30 – 1:00 |
WELCOME & INTRO TO SDGC | Mike Mckernan & Jim Faulstich, SDGC Board of Directors Board Member Introductions |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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1:00 – 1:55 |
OPENING KEYNOTE | Jerry Doan, Speaker & Holistic Range Manager Expanding the Business to Accommodate the Family |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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1:55 – 2:15 |
Q & A with Jerry Doan |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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2:15 – 2:40 |
BREAK| Exhibitor Booths | Networking |
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2:40 – 3:10 |
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 1 | Pete Bauman, SDSU Extension Small Acreage Considerations & Opportunities |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 2 | Dan Rasmussen, 3rd Generation Rancher & SDGC Range Consultant & Dave Ollila, Soil Health Technician Grazing Management: A Case Study |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 3 | Andrea Flemming, 5th Generation Farmer & Content Creator for @thatfitagvocate Women in Ranching: Cultivating Confidence |
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3:15 – 3:45 |
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 1 | Laura Kahler, South Dakota Grasslands Initiative Director Funding Assistance Opportunities |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 2 | Dan Rasmussen, 3rd Generation Rancher & SDGC Range Consultant & Dave Ollila, Soil Health Technician & Dave Olila Grazing Management Principles & Practices: A Case Study |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 3 | Michelle Grosek, Bear Butte Gardens Small to Medium Size Gardening and Entrepreneurial Opportunities |
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3:45 – 4:10 |
BREAK | Exhibitor Booth | Networking |
Pre-Function Area |
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4:10 – 4:20 |
BOARD MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS | Riley Kammerer & Jori Smiley, SDGC Board of Directors |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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4:20 – 5:15 |
KEYNOTE 2 | Burke Teichert, Regenerative Ranching Expert & Speaker Ranch Profitability |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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5:15 – 5:35 |
Q & A with Burke Teichert |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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5:35 – 6:00 |
BREAK | Exhibitor Booths | Networking |
Pre-Function Area |
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6:00 – 7:00 |
DINNER | Annual Meeting |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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7:00 – 8:00 |
LEOPOLD AWARD PRESENTATION | Social Hour Join us for happy hour and socializing |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
| December 5, 2025 | ||
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8:00 – 8:30 |
BOARD MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS | Wacey Kirkpatrick & AJ Munger, SDGC Board of Directors |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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8:30 – 10:30 |
WORKSHOP | Jolene Brown, Professional Speaker, Author, & Family Business Consultant The Top Ten Mistakes That Break Up a Family Business |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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10:30 – 10:55 |
BREAK | Exhibitor Booths | Networking |
Pre-Function Area |
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11:00 – 11:30 |
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 1 | Laura Kahler, South Dakota Grasslands Initiative Director Funding Assistance Opportunities |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 2 | Jacey Ellsworth, Rancher & Customer Engagement Rep at eShepherd Virtual Fence Virtual Fencing |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 3 | Charlie Totton & Courtney Tyrrell, Totton Angus Ranch Highly Intensive, Non-Selective Grazing |
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11:35 – 12:05 |
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 1 | Brett Nix, Rancher & Former SDGC Board Member Winter Grazing |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 2 | Andrea Flemming, 5th Generation Farmer & Content Creator for @thatfitagvocate Women in Ranching: Cultivating Confidence |
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BREAKOUT SESSION 3 | Gwen Kitzan, Kitzan Family Farms Getting Started with Direct to Consumer Sales |
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12:05 – 1:00 |
LUNCH | Friend of the Prairie Award | Exhibitor Booths |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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1:00 – 1:10 |
BOARD MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS | Drew Anderson & Larry Wagner, SDGC Board of Directors |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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1:10 – 2:05 |
KEYNOTE | Burke Teichert, Regenerative Ranching Expert & Speaker Developing Your People |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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2:05 – 2:30 |
BREAK | Exhibitor Booths | Networking |
Pre-Function Area |
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2:30 – 2:40 |
A word from our Platinum Sponsor |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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2:40 – 3:40 |
FINAL KEYNOTE | Jolene Brown, Professional Speaker, Author, & Family Business Consultant Harvest The Humor: A Celebration of Life on the Ranch |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
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3:40 – 3:50 |
BOARD MEMBER INTRODUCTION & CLOSING REMARKS | Jeff Zimprich, SDGC Board of Directors |
Ellsworth Ballroom A |
Registration
ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Admission is FREE to all Current South Dakota Grassland Coalition Members. If you are not a member or need to update your membership, please select “Non-Member Registration” in the form below. Membership is just $35/year.
Hotel Accommodations
Reserve your room today:
We have a limited number of rooms blocked at the Courtyard by Marriott. Please note that this block of rooms is only available at this rate through November 21, 2025.
Please use the following link to book a room in that block: Book your group rate for South Dakota Grassland Coalition Attendee Room Block
**These rooms come with a wrist band for the Watiki Water Park.
Questions:
If you have questions or would like to reserve your spot at the conference over the phone, feel free to contact Judge at 605-280-0127 or by email at judge.jessop@sdconservation.net.