South Dakota Corn Utilization Council (SDCUC)
SDCUC Board Members
Francis Hass - District 8
Francis Hass lives south of Raymond, S.D., with his wife Debby and son Lonnie. Their farming operation consists of corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and stock cows. Francis is a third generation farmer who began farming in 1965 at the age of 16, after his father and uncle passed away.
Elected to the SDCUC Board in 2004, Francis has held several leadership positions in the ag industry as is very active in his community. Francis is currently a Clark County Commissioner, where he has served for 9 years; he also is an active member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Raymond and is part of the Development Corporation of Clark.
Francis said he chose farming as a profession not only to carry out a family tradition but also because he enjoys the everyday challenges involved with farming. The most important issue facing today’s corn producers, according to Francis, is ag processing: “We need to expand our value-added ventures and promote our livestock industry in South Dakota.” Overall, Francis says he looks forward to working with the Corn Council to represent the corn producers who participate in the Check-Off program.