The South Dakota Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family, and Community Records document the history and recognition of individuals honored as Eminent Farmers and Homemakers in South Dakota from 1927 through the early 2000s. The collection comprises photographs, citations, scrapbooks, banquet and planning materials, and other administrative documents, reflecting the significance of these awards and their institutional history, particularly at South Dakota State University.

The honoree photographs span 1927–1991 and were formerly displayed on the Wall of Fame in Agricultural Hall at SDSU. These portraits, largely measuring 14.5 x 18 inches, include names, years honored, locations, and occasionally occupation or area of interest for farmers. Homemaker identifications typically follow the convention “Mrs. [Husband's Name],” with given names rarely appearing until the late 1980s. Due to light exposure, many photographs were damaged and later removed for preservation. Accompanying negatives (mostly 4x5") created between 1960–1991 document the original captions.

Citations provide biographical information, household or farm management practices, and details on public service and community leadership. Early entries frequently include homesteading stories and narratives of frontier life. Some citations contain transcripts of banquet acceptance speeches. These are arranged alphabetically by honoree.

Three scrapbooks document different time ranges. Scrapbook I (1928–1969) contains business meeting reports, newsletters, correspondence, and obituary clippings. Scrapbook II, titled Sands of Time, spans 1952–1982 and features photographs, minutes (1965–1982), and necrology reports. Scrapbook III, titled History, 1972–1988, includes honoree biographies, event programs, a mailing list of Master Farm Homemakers, and death listings.

Additional materials include banquet and award planning files, correspondence, application forms, minutes, obituaries, draft programs, event themes, and donation and endowment records. Recognition programs, trees planted in honor of recipients, and a map of honorees' geographic distribution further contextualize the impact of the awards. Printers' blocks of honoree portraits and documentation on portrait frames are also present.

This collection offers a unique lens into South Dakota’s agricultural heritage, community values, and gender norms over much of the 20th century. It preserves the legacy of individuals recognized for their contributions to rural leadership, family life, and agricultural advancement, and reflects the ceremonial and institutional practices surrounding their recognition. As a record of statewide honorific traditions and their evolution, the collection is significant to researchers of agricultural history, gender roles in rural communities, South Dakota social history, and commemorative culture.