UNION FARMER Remembering Jacob Kolousek
In the May/June 2015 issue of the Union Farmer, the Kolousek family was highlighted as the farm family of the month. July 24, the family and their community of friends experienced a tragedy when Jacob Jerome Kolousek, 11, passed away. He is the son of Farmers Union members, Scott and Amber Kolousek, and the grandson of Farmers Union members, Dick and Janet Kolousek. Born and raised on his family’s Wessington Springs farm, Jacob loved helping his dad and grandpa on the farm. Below is a poem written by Jacob.
Fall Friends
By: Jacob Kolousek (4th grade)
I’ll bring the tractor, You bring the bales. We’ll go on a hay ride together. You bring the combine, I’ll bring the truck. We’ll harvest together. You bring the guns, I’ll find the field. We’ll go hunt together. I’ll get the wood. You get the nails. We’ll build a fort together. You get the rake, I’ll find the leaves. We’ll rake leaves together.
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2015 Three-Year Trip Takes 21 Farmers Union Youth to Minneapolis
Front Row (left to right): Sam Schumacher, Stickney; Kaden Kummer, Parkston; Shannon Meyer, Wilmot; Tess Heidenreich, Faulkton; Courtney Edgar, Orient; Jeana Nuss, Tripp; Jessica Backes, Platte; Barb Vetter, District VII Education Director, Cresbard. Second Row (left to right): Sarah Beals, Huron; Jordyn Temple, Clark; Aaron Linke, Woonsocket; Chase VanGorp, Stickney; Jonah Murtha, Dimock; Haley Bialas, Dimock. Back Row (left to right): Braeden Walter, Mitchell; Cole VanGorp, Stickney; Jesse Carlson, Seneca; Shaun Snedeker, Woonsocket; Dylan Hyronimus, Worthing; Windsor Barry, Carter; Myles Bialas, SDFU Summer Intern, Dimock. Not Pictured: Abbey Tschetter, Huron; Maddie Kline, Huron; and Bonnie Geyer, State Education Director, Huron.
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ach summer, South Dakota Farmers Union honors South Dakota rural youth SDFU Youth Educational Programming, who have invested time and effort in the youth, education program with the Three Year Award Trip. From Aug. 11 – 13, 2015, a group of 21 South Dakota youth traveled to the Twin Cities to visit a number of cooperative businesses designed to provide them with the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the cooperative philosophy and see businesses in action. “I’m incredibly proud of each and every one of these young people for all of the work and effort it takes to earn this trip,” said Bonnie Geyer, SDFU Education Director. “They sacrifice their time and give their talents to a cause that’s close to their heart. Giving them an award trip like this really solidifies their knowledge about what cooperative business and Farmers Union is all about.” Geyer, along with Barb Vetter, District VII Education Director, served as chaperones on the trip. The group of young people earned this award trip through completing Farmers Union projects and community service projects in their communities. The youth include: Sam Schumacher, Stickney; Kaden Kummer, Parkston; Shannon Meyer, Wilmot; Tess Heidenreich, Faulkton; Courtney Edgar, Orient; Jeana Nuss, Tripp; Jessica Backes, Platte; Sarah Beals, Huron;
UNION FARMER
Jordyn Temple, Clark; Aaron Linke, Woonsocket; Chase VanGorp, Stickney; Jonah Murtha, Dimock; Haley Bialas, Dimock; Braeden Walter, Mitchell; Cole VanGorp, Stickney; Jesse Carlson, Seneca; Shaun Snedeker, Woonsocket; Dylan Hyronimus, Worthing; Abbey Tschetter, Huron; Maddie Kline, Huron; and Windsor Barry, Carter. While in the Minneapolis area, the youth toured different types of cooperative businesses including the Mississippi Food Co-op, REI (Recreation Equipment Cooperative), Chateau Student Housing Cooperative, Seward Food Cooperative and “The Hub” Bicycle Cooperative. “Educational programming is a strong focus of South Dakota Farmers Union because these youth are our future. We want to provide them with the leadership skills necessary to provide leadership to their rural communities and the industry of agriculture,” said Doug Sombke, SDFU President. “We hope that many of these exceptional youth members will remain involved with Farmers Union and someday lead our organization.” The trip wasn’t all business. The rural youth visited Valley Fair, Mall of America, and attended a Twins/Texas Rangers baseball game. To learn more about South Dakota Farmers Union Youth Education programming, visit www.sdfu.org or contact Geyer at bgeyer@sdfu.org.
SEPTEMBER 2015
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