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As part of a tradition that is uniquely South Dakota, the 2025 Dean’s Pheasant Hunt took place last week. The annual event highlights the relationship between agriculture and conservation, two topics important to the South Dakota State University College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, but also two of the main contributors to the South Dakota economy.

“The Dean’s Pheasant Hunt is a great opportunity each year to gather with friends of the college and celebrate conservation and the intersection between agriculture and our natural resources,” Joe Cassady, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, said. “It’s a celebration of a lot of the things we do as a college and gives us the opportunity to practice what we preach.”

The preaching is about the partnership between agriculture and taking care of South Dakota’s natural resources through habitat conservation and good land stewardship. For two and half days, alumni and friends of the college come together to learn about value-added agriculture and agritourism while supporting small businesses and, of course, participating in a number of pheasant hunts. What started as a group of friends wanting to turn its annual hunting trip into a way to raise money for the university’s athletic programs has grown into a gathering of college alumni, friends and supporters.

“An idea that began 15 years ago between two friends (Marvin Kroupa and Doug Goehring) in the support of SDSU athletics has evolved into the SDSU Dean’s Pheasant Hunt in 2025,” said Alan Hojer, a longtime attendee and manager of Keep Farmers Farming. “The location and the experience have changed over time, but camaraderie and friendships will last forever.”

This year’s event, sponsored by Coca-Cola and First Dakota National Bank, began with a welcome reception at McCrory Gardens with a keynote address from Maya Pendleton, a graduate student in the Department of Natural Resource Management and expert on bats native to South Dakota. The group learned about the different kinds of bats and how much they contribute to the economy through insect management and as pollinators. College alumnus Chris Whelen ’81 traveled the furthest distance this year, coming all the way from Kaneohe, Hawaii, to join the festivities.

After the welcome reception, the hunt’s activities are based out of the Black Fork Distillery, an example itself of value-added agriculture near Brandt. A portion of the pheasant hunt takes place on the farm owned by Neal and Polly Ruhd. Nearly 40 years ago, Neal and Polly planted tens of thousands of trees to create a system of tree belts that provide excellent habitat for countless species.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the SDSU College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences than participating in an activity like pheasant hunting that brings so many people to South Dakota each year and perfectly spotlights the ways agriculture and natural resources work hand in hand,” Cassady said.

To receive information about next year’s Dean’s Pheasant Hunt, reach out to Mark Sandager with the .