BELLE FOURCHE—Once a year the agricultural community gathers together to celebrate each other and all that they do for the Belle Fourche area at the Annual Agri-Business Appreciation Banquet put on by the Black Hills Roundup Ag Committee. This year marked the 40th iteration of the awards and was held on the evening of September 25 at the Belle Fourche Community Hall.
Master of Ceremonies for the evening was a new comer to the area, Ken Ripley. He kept the evening moving along and the crowd entertained with jokes, stories and a costume change. Mayor Randy Schmidt welcomed everyone to the Banquet.
The new Black Hills Roundup Chairman, Bill Eastman, was also on hand and thanked the Roundup Ag Committee for putting on the event to recognize their own industries. He made sure to highlight the importance of sponsors. “I want to thank all the sponsors throughout the area, whether you sponsor the Black Hills Roundup Ag Committee Banquet, or sponsor Black Hills Roundup Chutes for Charity or you sponsor the Black Hills Roundup Fourth of July week—we appreciate that great things cost money—there’s nothing free in this world! Your sponsorship is what makes great things happen. Thank you very much!”
Dane Kissack gave a thoughtful invocation prior to the serving of the meal. Branding Iron Steakhouse served tossed salad table side and then buffet lines were formed for the main dish. Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans and a dinner roll were all on the menu. Cupcakes, provided by Lynn’s Dakotamart, were on the table for dessert.
Musical entertainment was provided throughout the night by Shawn “Bronc” Hight, sponsored by CATL’ Resources, Tim and Dr. Chandy Olson.
Following the meal, the keynote speaker was Clay Birkeland, Pioneer Bank and Trust and also Ranch Rodeo Chairman. He discussed the revolution of the dollar and the local economy. “Ag in South Dakota is corn and wheat and beans and honey and you name everything else, but in our area, it comes down to beef cattle. This is cow country,” he explained. He went on to share the estimated number of cows in this area, and the amount of revenue they pump into the local economy. He explained, “If they weigh 500 pounds, which they will, and if they get $3.75 a pound, which they will, that’s $126 million of steer calves that we can sell out of this four county trade area.” Basically, if you spend local and keep that money local, then the Belle Fourche area will thrive. “Every dollar spent in a small town like ours turns over seven times,” he said.
The highlight of the night are the awards, the award presenter was Harlan Stephens. The awards given out are for Ag Leadership Award, Ag Person Award, Ag Business Award and Young Rancher Award.
The first award of the night was the Ag Leadership Award. This is only the sixth year of handing out this award. “The Ag Leadership Award is our way to recognize those people in the community who are supporting youth in agriculture and keeping that pipeline of future ag producers and ag business people full,” said Stephens. This year’s recipient is Austin Bishop. In only his eighth year as Belle Fourche Ag Educator and FFA Advisor, his students have amassed a large collection of awards. He jumps in wherever needed. He was named the 2025 Distinguished Teacher for Belle Fourche High School. He is found volunteering wherever he is needed, from Belle Jackpot Association to basketball and soccer coaching, he helps when he can. Austin was unable to attend the event, so two of his FFA students accepted the award on his behalf.
The next award of the evening was the Dick Reder Memorial Award established in 1998. “Dick Reder was a great supporter of Ag and Ag business in Belle Fourche, and the family decided that they would like to honor his memory by starting this award, so we thank him,” said Stephens. This year’s Young Rancher Award winners are Brandon and Vanessa Kudlock. They both graduated from Belle Fourche High School and were married in 2009. They have three daughters. He is a fifth generation rancher and she is Nurse Practitioner who owns and operates Tri-State Medical Clinic. He has a pilot’s license and flies airplanes.
The Ag Business Award was the next one to be given out. Stephens explained, “This is an award that recognizes a local business that serves the ag community and helps keep ag folks coming back and spending their dollars here in Belle Fourche.”
This year, New Generation Supplements was honored with the Ag Business of the Year Award. The business has strong roots in the area. Back in 1926 it was a sugar beet factory on land that Seth Bullock owned. The plant closed and was torn down but the foundation remained. In 1997 a plan to create a smarter way to supplement livestock was hatched. By March of 1998 supplements were being produced on that same land. Today over 5 million head of livestock are fed worldwide every single year through their smart lick and horse lick brands.
“The Ag Person Award is what started this whole banquet,” said Stephens. “Years ago, the Ag Committee decided that it would be appropriate for us as a committee to honor pillars of ag communities—people that have gone above and beyond for agriculture—this is our opportunity as the business community to recognize that and to shed light and shine a light on the good things that they do for our ag community and our business community.”
This year, Craig and Deb Kukuchka are honored with the Ag Persons Award. Both are fifth generation cattle producers. Both have been in agriculture their entire lives. After college, Deb became one of the first female Ag teachers in Montana. In 1988 they moved to a ranch north of Belle Fourche. This year will mark their 37th Bull Sale. They like to educate others and give back, one of the ways they have done this is by hosting 40 foreign exchange students from all over the world since 1981.
Each table at the award banquet has a special centerpiece created for the event. Every year the best one is honored. This year, CBH COOP won that honor. Michaela Horn from the Chamber of Commerce was honored with a flower bouquet for all of the help she provides, as was Sue Hight, for the support she provides.
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