South Dakota State University. Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family, and Community

The Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Program was established at South Dakota State University in 1927 to recognize outstanding leadership and service in agriculture and rural life. The first honorees were two South Dakota farmers selected following a campaign led by the Farmer magazine and the South Dakota Agricultural Extension Service. Their portraits were placed in Agricultural Hall on what became known as the “Wall of Fame,” and the recognition was conferred by action of the South Dakota Board of Regents. In 1928, the program expanded to honor women under the title Master Farm Homemaker, an initiative supported by The Farmer’s Wife magazine to highlight the importance of farm women in their homes and communities. In 1935, the title changed to Eminent Farm Homemaker, and women were formally recognized alongside male recipients by the Board of Regents. The designation later evolved to Eminent Homemaker.
In its early years, the honor included the granting of an honorary degree; by the 1950s, the terminology was clarified to distinguish the award from an academic honorary degree while preserving its significance. The program has been jointly administered by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, the College of Education and Human Sciences, and the Cooperative Extension Service, with nominations reviewed annually and approved by the university president and the Board of Regents. In 2019, the program was renamed the Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family, and Community Award, reflecting a broader recognition of leadership across agricultural, family, and community spheres. Since 1927, more than 300 individuals have been honored for their contributions to South Dakota’s agricultural and civic life.