Legend Richard Ekstrum

Farmer/Rancher & Agricultural Leader | 2003 INDUCTEE

Richard Ekstrum was born on September 5, 1932, on the farm his parents owned near Kimball, South Dakota.  Richard had big dreams of someday leaving the farm and becoming an engineer; however, when he was just 13, his dad was hurt in a farm accident, and Richard had to help run the family farm with his brothers and sister. He soon found he loved using new farming tools and techniques to make the farm better.  

Richard didn't just stop at farming. He helped start a group called the South Dakota Pork Producers Council and even became its leader. Later, he led a big farming group, the South Dakota Farm Bureau, for 20 years! He also helped farmers all over the country by being part of a national farming group and talking with important people like U.S. presidents.   

But Richard cared about more than just farming. He helped make sure people had clean water, built a new church, and even set up scholarships for students. He believed helping others was really important. He loved adventures, like hunting and fishing in many places around the world.  

Even though Richard passed away in 2015, people still remember him for being a great leader and for always wanting to help others. 

Agriculture Leadership

Richard’s drive to help the agriculture community led him to become involved in the South Dakota Farm Bureau and he was president of that organization for 20 years.

Richard was also asked to serve as an advisor to the United States Department of Agriculture. As an advisor, Richard helped the people in charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture understand the needs of farmers and ranchers in South Dakota and other rural states and communities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports to the President of the United States and so Richard sometimes met with the current President including Gerald R. Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush.

Helping Rural Farmers & Ranchers

Today we take quality water for granted as it is always available when we turn on our facet. However, to make this happen, people in South Dakota took action many years ago because at one time, water had to be hauled from a water source such as a river or lake to homes. This was especially difficult for farmers and ranchers as they had to provide water for their families, crops and animals.

Richard worked with a group of people to help develop the Aurora Brule Rural Water System in the 1970's which now serves over 1300 farms and 7 towns in Aurora and Brule counties plus portions of surrounding counties.

The image shows the areas where families are served by the Aurora Brule Rural Water System. 

Working with the Community

Richard had a strong faith and wanted to serve those in his community. When the Kimball Immanuel Lutheran Parish (now the Kimball Protestant Parish) needed to be replaced, Richard and the church community worked together to raise $500,000 in a month! The new church was completed in 2003.

Serving the Agriculture Community

Honoring Richard

Governor Janklow honored Richard by declaring November 23, 1995 as Richard Ekstrum Day when he retired from the position of SD Farm Bureau president. This was one of many honors Richard has received.

Reflection:

Thinking back over Richard Ekstrum’s life, name two ways his life impacted other South Dakotans.  

Richard served as the South Dakota Farm Bureau President for 20 years.  This means people voted for him to be president 20 times!

• What leadership characteristics do you think Richard must have had that people trusted him to be president of the organization for 20 years?  

Richard ‘served’ people in South Dakota and throughout the United States when working for the South Dakota Farm Bureau, the South Dakota Pork Producers, the American Farm Bureaus, and in his church.

• What does it mean to ‘serve’?

• What leadership characteristics must Richard have had that pushed him to serve so many for so long?

•  How does Richard’s life inspire you?