In April 1977, South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota participated in a joint men’s basketball delegation to Cuba. The initiative developed after U.S. Senator George McGovern’s 1975 visit to Cuba, which prompted discussions about the potential for academic and athletic exchanges. South Dakota State Sports Information Director Dave Martin contacted Senator McGovern to explore the feasibility of a basketball exchange. With the support of Senators George McGovern and James Abourezk, arrangements were finalized for a combined delegation of players, coaches, and university representatives from both institutions.
The delegation traveled to Cuba from April 4 to April 8, 1977. During the visit, the South Dakota team played two exhibition games against the Cuban National Team. In addition to competition, participants toured Havana and met Cuban athletes, including members of the national boxing program, providing opportunities for cultural and athletic exchange. Later that year, the Cuban National Team traveled to South Dakota and competed at Frost Arena on November 13, 1977, before a public audience. The exchange represented one of the early athletic visits by American citizens to Cuba following the suspension of diplomatic relations in the early 1960s and reflected the use of collegiate athletics as a channel for international engagement.
Charles Louis Sewrey, a native of St. Paul, Minnesota, joined South Dakota State College in 1947 after graduating with high distinction from the University of Minnesota. He held Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Minnesota, where he also gained teaching experience. In 1955, he earned his Ph.D. from the same institution.
At South Dakota State University, Dr. Sewrey served as professor of history, teaching courses in American political, economic, cultural, and diplomatic history. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he published extensively in national intellectual magazines and authored A History of South Dakota State College in 1959. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Dr. Sewrey retired in 1974 due to declining health and passed away in 1979. In 1981, a memorial endowment fund was established in his name. The History Department at South Dakota State University is the principal recipient of the fund, which supports student scholarships and faculty development initiatives, including the Sewrey Faculty Colloquium.
Cecile Irene Welch Sexauer was born on January 18, 1888, in Huron, South Dakota, to Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Welch. The family moved to Arlington, South Dakota, and later to Brookings in 1903. Cecile graduated from Brookings High School and South Dakota State College and attended the Boston Conservatory of Music for one year. She taught piano at South Dakota State College and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Brookings, where she played piano and organ for about 25 years. Cecile was actively involved in music organizations at the local, state, and national levels, including serving as president of the National Music Organization. She was also a member of the BA chapter of PEO and the Sorosis Club. Cecile passed away on October 7, 1973, at Brookings Hospital, after being hospitalized for four weeks.
Elmer Harrison Sexauer was born on July 13, 1888, in Winona, Minnesota, to George P. and Elisa (Ulrich) Sexauer. The family moved to Volga, South Dakota in 1891 and later to Brookings, where Elmer attended public schools and South Dakota State College. In 1911, he joined his father in managing The Sexauer Company. Elmer served in the U.S. Army during World War I and held leadership roles in several organizations, including president of the SD Seed Dealers Association, the Western Seedsmen Association, the American Seed Trade Association, and the National Grain and Feed Association. He was also involved with the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, First Bank Systems, and Northwestern Bell Telephone. Elmer received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of South Dakota for his business achievements. He was a member of Gamma Sigma Phi at SDSU, the Brookings Masonic Lodge No. 24, and the El Riad Shrine. Elmer retired in 1977 as chairman of The Sexauer Company, which had offices in Brookings, Des Moines, West Fargo, and Norfolk. He passed away on November 15, 1986.
Harold W. Shunk (1907-1998) was an educator, public servant, and historian, born on July 25, 1907, in Philip, South Dakota. He married his former Colome High School classmate, DeLilah E. Wood, in 1929. After earning a degree from Southern State College, he taught in Tripp County before working on the Rosebud and Cheyenne River Indian reservations. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific as a tank driver.
In the 1950s, Shunk began his career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, serving as superintendent at the Sisseton, Turtle Mountain, Standing Rock, and Rosebud agencies. He retired in 1968 and subsequently focused on public service, actively participating in civic and fraternal organizations. His roles included serving on the governing boards of Rapid City schools, South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, and Black Hills State University, as well as holding positions with the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Lower Brule Irrigation Board, and the Pennington County Housing Board.
Deeply interested in history, Shunk contributed to the South Dakota State Historical Society and hosted radio and television programs in Rapid City, sharing his knowledge of local history. He passed away on April 18, 1998, in Rapid City.
Oscar and Alice Simonson were married on June 11, 1938, and made their home in Day County, South Dakota, where they farmed for forty years. They planted their first crops in the spring of 1939. Over the decades, they witnessed significant changes in rural life and agriculture, including the transition from horses to tractors, the adoption of crop hybridization, and the introduction of electricity and indoor plumbing. They practiced diversified farming, rotated crops, planted shelterbelts, and saved seed annually for the next year’s planting. Alice maintained the financial records for the farm.
In 1957, they purchased the 1890 homestead of Lars A. Sand in Union Township, Day County, from Alice’s father, Elmer Bakken. The Simonsons lived on this farm until 1978, when they sold the property and moved to Webster, South Dakota. They also acquired Oscar’s family farm in Union County, which had originally been homesteaded by Alma Smoots and later passed down through his grandfather, Ole Simonson, to his parents.
Oscar and Alice enjoyed traveling by plane and bus, including a trip to Norway to visit the birthplace of Oscar’s mother.
Oscar E. Simonson was born on August 14, 1913, in Bristol, South Dakota, to Simon and Annie (Skudal) Simonson. He attended country school in Union Township and graduated from Bristol High School. In the 1930s, he worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Black Hills before returning to farm with his family. After retiring from farming, he worked for ten years at the Farmers Elevator in Holmquist and served on the board of Sun Dial Manor in Bristol during the 1980s. Oscar Simonson passed away on March 5, 2014, at Bethesda Home in Webster.
The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) Summer Track Program began in 1969. It was part of the ""1969 Junior Champ Track Program,"" held in ten cities across South Dakota and sponsored by the South Dakota Jaycees and the Spader Camper Center of Brookings. Stan Jensen of Brookings served as the program’s chairman.
The program aimed to give youth the opportunity “to run, jump, or throw” and to experience the enjoyment, recreation, and sense of well-being associated with physical activity and fitness. It culminated in a state championship for boys and girls aged 15 to 18, with winners qualifying for the 6th/5th Annual U.S. Jaycee Junior Track and Field Championships at the University of Minnesota. Food, lodging, and transportation were provided by the sponsors.
From 1970 to 1973, the South Dakota Jaycees and the American Dairy Association of South Dakota continued supporting the Junior Track Program, with state meets held in Brookings.
The Sioux Falls Jaycees Developmental Meets, affiliated with the Sioux Falls Recreation Department and directed by Rich Greeno, were held from 1974 to 1976 and had reached their eighth year by then.
V.J. Smith, a 1978 graduate of South Dakota State University, began his career at Allied Signal Aerospace in Kansas City during the 1980s. In 1990, he returned to SDSU as Assistant Athletic Director and became Executive Director of the SDSU Alumni Association in 1996, a role he held until 2007. He is the author of The Richest Man in Town and has built a career as a motivational speaker. Smith was elected to the South Dakota State Senate in 2018, representing District 7, and served until January 2021.
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (pronounced S-navy) (b. February 21, 1933) is a celebrated Lakota writer, educator, and historian, renowned for her significant contributions to Native American literature and cultural preservation. An enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, she was raised on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.
Sneve attended Bureau of Indian Affairs day schools and graduated in 1950 from St. Mary's Episcopal High School for Indian Girls in Springfield, South Dakota. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota State University in 1954 and began her career as an English and music teacher in White and later Pierre, South Dakota.
After a period devoted to raising her three children, she returned to teaching in 1965 at Flandreau Indian School, where she taught English, speech, and drama, eventually becoming a guidance counselor. In 1969, she earned a Master of Education degree from South Dakota State University.
Her literary career was launched in 1971 when her manuscript Jimmy Yellow Hawk won a competition held by the Council on Interracial Books. This led to a publishing contract with Holiday House, which released Jimmy Yellow Hawk and High Elk's Treasure in 1972. Expanding into nonfiction, Sneve edited South Dakota Geographic Names and authored The Dakota's Heritage in 1973. Her body of work has grown to include a history of the Episcopal Church in South Dakota, Completing the Circle (1995), and The First Americans Series, a historical series about Native American tribes.
Sneve's work has garnered numerous honors, including the South Dakota Governor's Award in the Arts for Distinction in Creative Achievement and the South Dakota Humanities Council's Distinguished Achievement in the Humanities Award. She has also received honorary doctorates from South Dakota State University and Dakota Wesleyan University. In 1996, she was awarded the National Education Association's Author/Illustrator Award, and in 2000, she became the first South Dakotan to receive the National Humanities Medal, presented by President Bill Clinton.
Throughout her career, Sneve has been a respected voice at literary festivals and educational forums, including the International Reading Association, the National Book Festival (2002), and the Native Writers Series at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (2005). With a prolific career spanning decades, she has authored fiction, nonfiction, short stories, articles, editorials, and book introductions solidifying her legacy as a leading figure in Native American literature.
Clav Snow was from Onaka, South Dakota. In 1930, he enrolled in the engineering program at South Dakota State College and served as a military cadet in Company B, 4th Squad. He died at the college infirmary in January.
The South Dakota State University (SDSU) Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) was established in 1937. SPJ, originally founded as Sigma Delta Chi in 1901, is a national journalism organization committed to promoting ethical standards, defending First Amendment rights, and fostering the free flow of information vital to a democratic society.
From 1940 through the mid-1970s, the SDSU chapter produced The Bum and The Junior Bum—game-day programs for Jackrabbit football and basketball, respectively. The Bum was prominently associated with Hobo Day festivities. Revenue from these publications supported the chapter’s annual travel to Sigma Delta Chi national conventions.
In the mid-1970s, the chapter lost official sponsorship from the national SPJ organization, rendering continued publication of the programs financially unsustainable. Responsibility for producing The Bum and The Junior Bum was subsequently transferred to the Jackrabbit Sports Information Service within the SDSU Athletic Department. Archival copies of The Bum can be found in the Jackrabbit Sports Information Service Records (UA 46).
The scientific research society Sigma Xi is an honorary organization dedicated to encouraging original investigations in the pure and applied sciences.
In the 1940s, faculty members at South Dakota State University formed the Natural Science Research Club. Meeting monthly, members shared reports on their research to foster awareness of ongoing work, promote discussion, and encourage scholarly activity among faculty. The club served as a platform for exchanging ideas and supporting a culture of research on campus.
Recognizing the benefits of broader affiliation, members of the club voted in 1952–53 to affiliate with Sigma Xi as a local club. This affiliation allowed them to maintain their existing activities while gaining formal recognition and access to the national organization’s network.
Membership grew significantly in the following years, aided by the arrival of new faculty who held Sigma Xi membership from other institutions. By 1959, the club was deemed ready for elevation to full chapter status. A formal petition was submitted in 1960, and chapter status was officially granted in May 1961.
Sokota Hybrid Producers, Inc. was a South Dakota-based agricultural cooperative that supplied hybrid seed corn to farmers in South Dakota and neighboring states. The organization traces its origins to 1924, when Clifford Franzke, an agronomist with the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, began inbreeding local corn varieties to develop hybrids suited to the regional climate. In 1942, a new hybrid seed was released to farmers, and efforts to standardize seed grading were initiated by Fred Baldridge, a retired farmer.
The cooperative formally incorporated in 1944, with 24 farmers purchasing certificates of equity to establish the organization. E.G. Sanderson served as its first president. In 1945, W.L. Davis, a vocational agriculture instructor in Brookings, became manager and oversaw construction of Sokota’s processing plant in southern Brookings. Davis remained in the position for nearly 35 years.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sokota operated one of the largest corn breeding programs in the region, reportedly exceeding the scope of similar efforts at South Dakota State University. The cooperative was sold in 1985 to North American Plant Breeders, marking the end of its independent operations.
Also known as Commercial Science, the Department of Commerce at South Dakota State University existed in the early 1900s and disappeared from college catalogs around 1903. The department offered both secretarial and commercial courses. Secretarial instruction included business law, commercial methods (such as letter writing and filing), typewriting, money and banking, shorthand, and accounting. Commercial courses covered topics such as bookkeeping, business methods, commerce and industry, business affairs, and related subjects.
The Faculty Round Table was established on November 1, 1901, with the purpose of fostering professional and social engagement among its members. Membership was limited to the college’s faculty and instructors, along with their spouses. The group held regular monthly meetings during the academic year, with the goal of encouraging intellectual exchange through the presentation and discussion of scholarly papers.
Biochemistry research at South Dakota State University developed within the framework of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, established in 1887 under the Hatch Act. Early scientific work at the station was rooted in agricultural chemistry, with investigations focused on soil composition, fertilizers, crop quality, and animal nutrition. These studies laid the foundation for later biochemical research by emphasizing the chemical processes underlying agricultural production.
By the mid-twentieth century, advances in scientific methods and increased specialization led to the emergence of biochemistry as a more distinct area of research within the Experiment Station. Station scientists began to examine metabolic processes in plants and animals, the chemical composition of feeds and food products, and the biological mechanisms influencing growth, nutrition, and productivity. Research findings were disseminated through Experiment Station bulletins, reports, and other publications intended for agricultural producers and the public.
In the 1970s, biochemistry research at the Experiment Station became more formally integrated with academic programs at South Dakota State University, particularly through the merger of chemistry and biochemistry functions. This integration strengthened connections between basic scientific research and applied agricultural studies, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty and expanding research capacity.
From the late twentieth century forward, biochemistry research within the Experiment Station broadened to include environmental and molecular approaches. Areas of emphasis included nutrient cycling, plant and animal stress responses, food quality, and the development of value-added agricultural products. The establishment of initiatives such as the Biostress Center of Excellence in 1998 further supported research on the interactions between biological systems and environmental stressors.
Biochemistry continues to play a central role in the research mission of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Through laboratory and field-based studies, it contributes to advancements in agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and human and animal health, reflecting the land-grant mission of applying scientific knowledge to practical challenges.
The Hatch Act of 1887 established the Agricultural Experiment Station and required all colleges created under the Morrill Act of 1862 to form a department designated as an Agricultural Experiment Station. These stations were tasked with acquiring and disseminating practical and useful agricultural information for the people of the United States, as well as promoting scientific investigation and experimentation. The act required annual reports from all stations and the distribution of periodic bulletins or progress reports. Federal funds supported this work, and in 1887 Dakota Agricultural College, the predecessor of South Dakota State University, established its Agricultural Experiment Station in accordance with these requirements.
Today, much of the station’s research is conducted in Brookings, with additional work carried out at six field stations and at the West River Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Rapid City. Field stations address local or specialized agricultural problems, and further research is conducted on farms and ranches, in wildlife areas, in streams and reservoirs, and in cooperation with businesses and institutions across nearly every county in the state.
The research program of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences is based on structured experiments that provide new knowledge and service to the citizens of South Dakota. This information is used by farmers, ranchers, homemakers, industry, university classrooms, and extension education programs. Research covers livestock; crops and soils; community and public affairs; animal health; fertilizers; garden and orchard; home and consumer topics; water resources and irrigation; forestry; insects; farm machinery; marketing; business management; farm buildings; pollution; range and grass; fisheries; plant diseases; wildlife; sociology; and biostress in plants, animals, and humans. Funding is provided through state and federal appropriations, industry grants, and federal and state grants. Research findings are published in Experiment Station or Extension bulletins, scientific journals, and in the quarterly publication Farm and Home Research.
The South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum was established in 1967 by South Dakota State University (SDSU). From 1975 to 1995, it operated as a program of the South Dakota State Historical Society. In April 1995, the museum was reaffiliated with SDSU and now reports directly to the Vice President for Administration.
The museum is dedicated to preserving, studying, and interpreting materials related to South Dakota agriculture and rural life from 1860 to the present. Its scope includes agricultural technologies, crops, livestock, and the social, cultural, and institutional aspects that have influenced and been influenced by the state’s rural environment. The museum’s permanent and part-time staff carry out key museum functions, including collecting, restoring and preserving, researching, exhibiting, and interpreting items relevant to its mission.
In 1947, the South Dakota General Federation of Women's Clubs voted to raise funds for an art center to provide the people of South Dakota with a dedicated space to view works of art. In 1950, the Federation selected the campus of South Dakota State College in Brookings as the location for the facility. Construction began in 1969, and the Memorial Art Center was dedicated in 1970. In 1976, it became the first museum in South Dakota to receive accreditation from the American Association of Museums. Reflecting its expanded programming and statewide role, the South Dakota Board of Regents renamed the institution the South Dakota Art Museum in 1987.
The museum's mission is to collect and preserve works of art that represent South Dakota’s diverse artistic heritage. The tradition of building the museum’s collection began with a donation from the Women’s Club at the time of the building’s completion. Additional acquisitions were made through support from the South Dakota State University Alumni Association and the South Dakota Arts Council. The museum’s permanent collection has since grown through both purchases and private donations, and it serves as a key resource for exhibitions, educational outreach, and scholarly research.
The South Dakota Art Museum features galleries dedicated to works by Harvey Dunn, Oscar Howe, Native American tribal art, and Marghab Linens. Additional galleries host rotating exhibitions showcasing a range of themes, media, and artistic styles. The museum also offers public programming including lectures, exhibition briefings, receptions, children’s activities, films, and other events.
Home economics extension work in South Dakota developed through neighborhood and community clubs, often organized at the county level and coordinated by county demonstration councils that advised local home demonstration agents. A state council met annually during State Farm and Home Week to share recommendations and guide programming. Early efforts grew out of Farmers’ Institutes and local women’s clubs, which provided educational programs on farm and home topics in rural communities.
After passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, Venia Keller became the state’s first female Extension worker, linking Extension work with homemakers’ clubs and public demonstrations. Home demonstration programs expanded during World War I through federal funding that supported county agents promoting food conservation and home production. Growth continued in the 1920s with new clubs, leader training, and expanded instruction in food, clothing, and home management.
In 1928 the Capper-Ketcham Act increased funding for Extension work, and the South Dakota Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs was organized at the State Fair. The Federation encouraged participation from local clubs, coordinated statewide meetings, and supported educational projects and contests. District meetings introduced during the Great Depression helped reduce travel costs and continued into the 1940s.
By the mid-twentieth century, clubs also supported charitable and educational initiatives, including sponsoring an international exchange student and contributing to organizations such as the Crippled Children’s Hospital and the South Dakota Art Museum. Although the organization’s name changed over time, its purpose remained consistent: supporting education, strengthening local participation, and improving home and community life.
Formed in 1971, the South Dakota Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was a state-level governing body for collegiate women’s athletics in South Dakota. It organized competitions, coordinated with national organizations such as the Division for Girls’ and Women’s Sports and the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, and worked to standardize competition and promote women’s athletic programs across the state. Membership included most public and private institutions in South Dakota. The association concluded its activities in June 1982 as national governance shifted, particularly with the NCAA assuming responsibility for women’s athletics. Its work marked an important transitional period during the early implementation of federally mandated equity in collegiate sports.
The South Dakota Home Economics Association was founded in November 1913 when Eva Dawes, the first home economics instructor at the University of South Dakota, was appointed by Dean Parish of the South Dakota Education Association to organize home economics teachers across the state. The inaugural meeting, held in Sioux Falls, was attended by 16 teachers, and Dawes served as the association’s first president for three years.
In 1994, following a nationwide survey by the American Home Economics Association recommending updated terminology, the organization was renamed the South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.
The association’s purpose is to advance education, science, and research in family and consumer sciences, establish professional standards, and provide leadership on social, economic, and psychological issues. It sponsors seminars and conferences and advocates for legislation aimed at improving home and family life.
In 1890, the South Dakota Legislature established a governing board for higher education, creating a nine-member Board of Regents appointed by the governor and officially known as the Regents of Education. This board operated in conjunction with each institution’s individual Board of Trustees, which retained primary authority over local decision-making and institutional operations.
This dual system of governance continued for six years. However, administrative inefficiencies and conflicting oversight prompted legislative reform. In November 1896, the South Dakota Constitution was amended to establish a single, centralized five-member Board of Regents with full authority over all public educational institutions in the state.
Over time, the Board’s structure evolved. Today, the South Dakota Board of Regents is composed of nine members, including one student regent. Regular regents serve six-year terms, while the student regent serves a two-year term. The Board acts as the constitutional governing body for six public universities and two special schools in South Dakota. Its responsibilities include approving institutional budgets, curricula, faculty appointments, and salary structures, among other governance duties.